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Killarney? New itinerary?

Any one have experience in Killarney at Christmas? Have had a very difficult time with December accommodations in general - and am currently not in love with my resulting itinerary - we have 8 nights, Dublin to Dublin. First night Athlone, 2 near Cliffs of Moher ( this will likely make us drop Connemara as it might be too much in the car), 2 in Killarney (12/24 and 25) and three nights in Dublin (would hit rock of castle or Kilkenny/both? on drive back to Dublin).

I'd like to make dinner reservations for Christmas night -- the suggestions I had received from family have been fruitless, and reaching out to the Killarney hotel that is booked has been fruitless ( a vague, lots of things closed for meals message in reply).

Anyone with Killarney background and thoughts on Killarney restaurants that might actually be open that week? I know our travel times are less than ideal? Everyone told me Italy would be completely closed on Easter and I had a wildly different experience on the ground...

Starting to think I may have to go back to drawing board on accommodations and replan? I had originally wanted to Dublin, wicklow, Dingle, Dublin - but Wicklow is a hotel desert that week. Maybe I go Dublin - Belfast - Giants Causeway Dublin?

6 Traveling with 4 kids - 3 college age, one high school senior (18). Hoping for scenery, castles and a few pubs with music. I've been too must attractions on this wild Atlantic way solo years ago and am familiar with the slow roads and the driving. I've done fewer in the north but have been to the giant's causeway.

My favorites were cliffs of mother, kinsale and dingle and CG -- we can't do them all with this amount of time and again - there are so few open hotels for 6 available. My ring of Kerry trip was a weather bust - saw nothing

Posted by
2279 posts

Christmas isn't a good time to be away as it is very much family time. Places (and especially restaurants) are shut, although you may find a Chinese or Indian open??? They also need tto be booked well in advance and are likely to be very expensive. Shops will be shut I(although small stores may be open for a few hours on Christmas day) so there is limited opportunity to buy food.

Posted by
125 posts

Christmas is also expensive for flights, but when working against multiple work/school schedules we are a bit stuck.

I'm not opposed to an expensive holiday meal -- or Chinese for that matter. Just would like to have a reservation booked or another list of open places to work from. Have emailed many individually and am awaiting reply, but thought the board might present some "local knowledge."

I do know Book of Kells closed when we are there, but the majority of other Dublin stuff appears to be fine -- also more hotel availability. Therefore, the reason I was wondering if Belfast (another larger city) or itinerary pivot might make more sense than say Killarney over the holiday.