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Travel Advice from Locals or Experts Needed

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I surprised my husband with a trip to Ireland for his 50th birthday! We arrive in Dublin on a Saturday morning and depart the following Wednesday midday. So we have 4 days to travel. I know it's short. I don't have other options. The good news is that it's not our first trip, but we haven't been together to Ireland and it's been over 20 years since our visits.

We will stay with a friend in Dublin. Saturday we will tour Guinness. Take a nap and go out to eat. Sunday we will drive to Gallway, spend the night. See the Cliffs of Moher on Sun or Mon. Monday we will drive to Adare/Limerick (at suggestion of our American friend who lives there.) Tuesday we will drive back to Dublin via Killney. Have dinner in Dublin to celebrate my husband's actual birthday and fly out on Wednesday midday...at least that was the plan I routed before the surprise. It may b aggressive and I'd love any thoughts on if it's too much or if there are must-sees aside from the major sites.

Here's the caveat, my husband has been researching his Irish ancestry. His great grandfather immigrated from Ireland to America in 1880. My husband found the town. It's called Coolavorheen in County Kerry not too far from Killarney. It seems to be a tiny town with about 6-8 modern houses. My husband is feeling very drawn to go visit.

He would like to go to Galway, skip Limerick, then head to Killarney/Coolavorheen and back to Dublin via Kilkenny. This is a LONG route as it appears on the map and I know there are hundreds of beautiful sites to take in. I suggested we try Dublin to Limmerick to Killarney and back to Dublin but he's set on Galway too.

I need advice/suggestions. I do have hotels booked that are able to be cancelled (Glenlo Abby in Galway and Glenraven in Adare).

We leave a week from tomorrow. If you have a helpful opinion, I would be grateful to hear it. If you have an alternative route that could accommodate sites along the way, please let me know. If you have thoughts on visiting the birthplace of his ancestors, please share.

Thank you so much

Posted by
301 posts

Given how pressed for time you will be, you might consider skipping the Guinness tour. Full disclosure: I have not actually been on that tour, but I know several people who have and they were all disappointed. Apparently you tour a big building, watch a few videos, and then have a pint.

I stayed in Adare a LONG time ago with my mother, and we both loved it. It's a really nice village with pretty scenery and friendly people.

Caroline

Posted by
4 posts

Thank you Caroline. I'm mostly interested in help with the two days of travel from Dublin and consideration of my husband wanting to visit the town of his ancestors. I appreciate your thoughts on the Guiness Tour. We are doing that regardless. We will be staying in Dublin that day and night and are taking the Connoisseur tour as recommended by our friend. So, we can't change that.

Posted by
248 posts

Cliffs of Moher to Killarney is 117miles. Galway to Killarney is 129 miles. I wouldn't backtrack if I were you. Spend Sunday and overnight in Galway, go to Cliffs of Moher early Monday then drive to Killarney to spend night. If you have time and still want to, you could make a stop in either Adare or Limerick en route. Sunset is 9:30 so you have plenty of daylight. Killarney to Dublin via Kilkenny is roughly 200 miles. This seems like a very rushed trip to me but it checks off everything on your list. I would think you'd want to take a peek at Killarney National Park while there- you'll also go through Cashel to reach Kilkenny. Perhaps a visit to Rock of Cashel? Eat LATE dinner in Dublin. Good luck.

Posted by
4 posts

Susan, thank you. This is quite helpful and I will use your suggestions. I know it's ambitious but we've told each other that we will allow ourselves to be flexible and slow down if we feel too rushed even if that means skipping a stop. I don't want my husband to miss seeing the area of his ancestry. It's just hard to figure that in with wanting to see the other sites. I'm glad to know that sunset is as late as 9:30 which is so helpful. Thanks again.

Posted by
4 posts

Question: All the above aside... What would be a doable and enjoyable 3 day/2 night trip from Dublin? We will be in Dublin a full day and night before we head out and return to Dublin for our last night. I appreciate all of the help and understand that this is a short trip.

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