RS Tour Aran Islands

I can't comment on the tour part of your question. I did want to mention that you will want to take special care when sweater buying, no matter where you are shopping. There are different versions of sweaters. A common variant is something called "Aran Island pattern" or similar that are really made in China but based on traditional patterns. These are quite a bit cheaper and may indeed be satisfactory for you. If you want an authentic sweater be prepared to shop carefully and pay the price.

Just went on the Best of Ireland tour, and on the Aran Island day our group got back on the ferry back to the mainland at 4PM. It took almost two hours to get back to the hotel (ferry from Inis Mór to Rossaveal was about 45 minutes, then the coach back to Galway was the rest of the time), so I would schedule anything you want to do that evening for after 6PM.

Thank you for that very helpful information. Disappointing as it sounds like there is no free time in Galway. Do you happen to remember what time the tour left for Westport the next day. I would like to go to mass. I may skip Aran Islands. Thanks again

Hmm, that day appears to be the one day I neglected to take a photo of the daily itinerary posted in the hotel lobby by our tour guide. I believe we loaded the coach and left at 8:30 AM the following day, though.

Having spent time on Inishmore and in Galway, if I had to skip one in order to have time to do the other, I'd skip Galway. Galway is pleasant enough, but the Arann Islands are special and it would be a shame to miss the opportunity to visit.

Disclaimer: I did not buy a sweater (in either place), and I did not go to mass (and I was not on a tour), so YMMV.

My thoughts were the same as David's. If you are going skip a place- skip extra time in Galway and definitely go to the Aran Islands.

I agree with David and Carol, Innismore is well worth the day it takes. You'll be back in Galway around 6, so time to wander around and get dinner. I doubt if you'd find a mass available Saturday evening but it might be worth a look at church websites. Departure the next day (and all moving days) will be early, around 8:30.

It’s been a while since I did Best of Ireland but I’m pretty sure the guide pointed out shops where authentic sweaters could be purchased. I’d tell them ahead of time that you are interested.

I just returned this Sunday from RS 14 day tour in Ireland. I’m looking at our schedule for the day and we left at 8:45 in the morning and caught the 4 o’clock ferry home putting us in Galway at 5: 45. I had my heart set on buying a wonderful Irish sweater but I felt the Aran sweaters were not Irish. They are absolutely every place so you’ll have no problem finding them and I do think they were a bit cheaper on the island.

@Ellen. Thank you for the times that will help with my planning. did you stay at the Victoria hotel Galway ? I was wondering what did you do in Dingle on the free day?