Please sign in to post.

Please Help - Overwhelmed with options

Posted by (Valparaiso, IN) on

We are traveling with another couple in mid-August for 7 nights - first trip to Ireland for all of us. We agreed to fly into Dublin, get there early in the AM - and do the first day there. Get up early the next day and drive to the western /southwestern area.

I know we will take the M6 - renting a car - but are staying in Lahinch ( airbnb) for 3 nights and at the Milton House in Dingle for 2, then heading back to Dublin for an early flight the next day. We decided we did not want to pack up every day so are using these spots as a base. The idea was to visit Galway, Cliffs of Moher, maybe golf with Lahinch as a base. Any other thoughts? I searched on the forum and there was not too much inforamtion about Lahinch. I was also looking for ideas of what could be some excursions - something different - like a sheep shearing experience or something like that.

Is there anything to see from Dublin as we travel to that region? I would like to stop somewhere because I know it will be a long ride. (I know this will be a lot of driving - and we decided not to fly out of Shannon.)

From Dingle as a base, we thought we could see the Killarney Nat'l park, Slea Head Drive. We are still deciding on what our plans will be and both couples are doing research on our top picks of what to see and do. On the way back to Dublin, it was suggested we see the Wicklow Mountian area.

We know we can't see everything ( we opted out of seeing the Ring of Kerry). Can you help me with any ideas with these two spots as a base? Is this reasonable? I think the Milton House can be cancelled. Any other ideas? I have been reading the topics in this Forum, but am so overwhelmed. I appreciate all the help and honest feedback I can get.

Posted by
602 posts

That's a lot of ground to cover in 6 days if you are going to have any moments to raise a glass, take in some music in a pub, or stroll the streets of a little town or village. Take advice from others who know the area better (I've only visited Ireland twice and have not been to the National Park) over mine, but I would try to visit Galway on your way to Lahinch, if that is a must see. The Burren is an unusual area not too far from Lahinch.

With only 2 nights in Dingle, you only have a full day and a couple of parts of days. I don't think you can go to the National Park and still see much of anything in or around Dingle. There are many interesting spots on the peninsula but you will also want time to visit the town.
If you are taking a full day to drive back to Dublin, perhaps visit Kilkenny before driving through the mountains before Dublin. Do you have to have the car back before a certain time the night before your flight?

Is the driver experienced with driving on that side of the road? The little roads could be very busy---other cars or sheep!

Posted by
3006 posts

Time is tight on this itinerary. You could maximize your time by saving Dublin until the end of your trip and taking one of the express buses directly from DUB airport to Galway on your arrival and overnighting in Galway to get over jet lag. Since you have to be in Dublin the night before your return flight home anyway, you’ll save a lot of time if you do two nights in Dublin at the end of the trip. That way, you’re only going into and out of Dublin one time toward the end of your 7 nights,
If you can adjust your time in Lahinch to two nights, you will pick up a second night in Dublin which I think you are really going to need if you are to have any time at all to see Dublin—the heart of Ireland.

The car rental can be picked up in Galway before driving on to Lahinch— a 1:20 drive—and the Cliffs of Moher.
If you really want to see Killarney National Park, you’ll need to see it en route to Dingle the day you anrrive in Dingle. Otherwise, you simply don’t have time.
It’s only 30 miles but allow 4-6 hours to drive the Dingle Peninsula so you can spend time stopping spontaneously to absorb the scenic highlights,
The drive from Dingle back to Dublin will take about 5 hours. As mentioned above, the medieval city of Kilkenny will make for a great stop to stretch your legs and perhaps have lunch. My Irish friends say that, to a Californian, the Wicklow “mountains” will seem more like hills so I think you can safely skip the Wicklow mountains.
Check out www.AutoEurope.com for your car rental. They broker car rentals for the big rental agencies ( Hertz, Avis, Sixt, Budget etc.) throughout Europe and, for your itinerary, you can pick up a car in Galway and return it to any number of locations around Dublin.

Slainte Mhath!

Posted by
2669 posts

Lahinch is a great place to explore the Burren. With its limestone scenery it is completely different to the rest of Ireland. It has everything from prehistoric remains to wonderful walks, Monastic sites, sheepdog demonstrations and even a perfumery. You could easily spend a full day just exploring th area. The drive along the coast is wonderful. Have a look at this website for lots of ideas of things to do and see.

You can also do boat trips from Doollin to teh Aran Islands and to see the Cliffs of Moher frrom the sea. - much more dramatic than seen from the land.

Add Reply

Please do not reply to violations of our Community Guidelines.