We have six full days in Ireland and want to spend 2 to 3 in Dublin, then the rest in the countryside, hoping to go to the Dingle Peninsula. We'll need to end back at Dublin Airport. Any advise - including what towns to stay in would be welcome!
Posted by
RIchmond, BC,Canada
852 posts
Will you have a car?
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Yes, we'll have a car.
Posted by
Birmingham AL
346 posts
Our favorites are:
Kilkenny area -- we prefer to stay in a tiny village outside town called Thomaston, specifically at Lawcus Farm B&B. Look it up on TA. See Jerpoint Abbey (get the cheap or free tour with a docent), Kells Priory, as well as Kilkenny Castle and the National Craft Galley/Gift shop. There are other ruins worth seeing nearby. One evening as we were returning to Lawcus after dinner in Kilkenny, we passed by a small athletic field that was lit up and fulll of people. We pulled in and found hurling practice for one of the local schools. We struck up a conversation with one of the waiting moms and got to learn a lot about the sport and had a pleasant conversation with someone we would likely have never met any other way.
Kinsale. Quaint, beautiful village on the ocean. We like The Cloisters B&B.
Killarney National Park (but not the town).
Dingle. Pax Guest House is our favorite, situated up the Hill from town, overlooking the harbor. Slea Head drive with many stops along the way. Gallarus Oratory, The Blasket Center, beehive huts, etc.
Newgrange. Irish National Heritage Park, Dunbrody famine ship.
Posted by
Vantage, WA
30 posts
Sherrie is right on. You probably only want to stay 2 nights in Dublin, though, if you want to take in some of these other things. I would add St. Canice's Cathedral in Kilkenny, which is at the other end of town. You can see it from almost anywhere in the area.
As a side note, If you want to look at some pottery, the Design Center in Kilkenny has a sampling from around the country. Nicholas Mosse pottery is in Bennettsbridge, on the way to Jerpoint Abbey, not far from Kilkenny. In Dingle, if you drive around Slea Head, you will pass Penny's Pottery in Ventry and Louis Mulcahy's shop (he is quite famous) further down the road. I bought some things from Penny's because she is not as famous and her prices were better. Plus she had espresso!!
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thanks for all the great recommendations! We are so excited . . .
Posted by
Birmingham AL
346 posts
Also, on the Slea Head drive one of the pottery places mentioned (Mulcahy's I think) has a lovely tea shop/spot for lunch.)
And one of the prettiest (and oldest) churches we visited was St. Mary's Collegiate in Youghal. We happened to be there on Sunday morning, and attended the service. Lovely welcome and conversation with the parishioners.