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Traveling/Schedule Questions

Hello Everyone, and thanks in advance for taking a look and hopefully offering some suggestions about my question.
We are traveling to Ireland, and will arrive in Dublin on Sunday Sept 17, we are planning on spending one night in Dublin and then on Monday heading over to the CastleRea/Ballinlough area (that is where my family/ancestors) are from---staying in that area for one night, and then heading over to Fanore/Doolin (I'm thinking of staying there for two nights), then heading down to Dingle and the Ring of Kerry area---is it possible to explore both and stay in Kenmare (staying there for two nights), then off to Kinsale,---but I also want to do Adare (is that just a day trip ?) , and I also want to do Cashel---we leave to fly Dublin on Monday, (afternoon) September 25th---any suggestions would be greatly recommended.
Thanks in advance for your replies, we will be renting a car to pick up on Monday in Dublin and then plan on returning it to the airport on Monday the 25th.
If anyone has favorite Bed and Breakfast's/Castles/Pubs that they have gone to please let me know.
All the Best from the Colorado Rocky Mountains!
Terry

Posted by
459 posts

hey Terry we were in Doolin, Dingle, Kenmare in late April early May. My favorite B&B for the trip was in Doolin,
http://www.dalys-doolin.com/, Susan was wonderful as is the B&B, also in the Doolin area we went to the Doolin music house one early evening and if you like traditional irish music it is a must see. https://www.doolinmusichouse.com/ if you play an instrument take it along, they encourage additional players, it was a blast. In Dingle we stayed at Brownes and really enjoyed it, close to town, we got the downstairs room and it was large, great meals at both spots. In Kenmare I have two recommendations, for B&B http://www.ashfieldkenmare.com/ and for an awesome private tour of the ring of Kerry or other local tours we really enjoyed Paul Brown http://www.kenmaretaxitours.com/home.html. I hope you are not moving too late to reserve these spots, they fill quickly. We enjoyed O'Connor's Pub for music and food in Doolin. For me it would have been difficult to do the Dingle/Slea Head tour and the Ring of Kerry and stay in Kenmare. We did the Dingle Penn. while staying in Dingle and Ring of Kerry and Ring of Berea while staying in Kenmare...it is possible to do both from Kenmare but for me I would split it up...you will be rushed with all you have on your plate, you'll have a great time regardless, I guarantee!!!! Dave, Bedford, Indiana

Posted by
337 posts

A couple of small things:

I think Kenmare is too far from Dingle to explore Dingle from there. Maybe spend a night in Dingle town before continuing to Kenmare?

Adare is very small and will take a couple of hours to explore at most. There is really nothing to see beyond the main street.

Have fun!

Posted by
48 posts

Thank you both for your recommendations, I appreciate it, I was thinking that perhaps not to stay in Adare and just drive through and see the town, and then head off to the Dingle area, but we also have planned Bunratty Castle that day, do I need advance tickets to tour that ? We will be there in late Sept ( the 16th through the 25th). Thanks again for your advice.
Terry

Posted by
337 posts

Hi Terry,

I don't know if you need advance tickets for Bunratty Castle. Maybe post a new question with that as the subject line?

Posted by
48 posts

Hello again, and thanks for the info---so thinking of skipping Bunratty---any thoughts, I have read that it's very touristy ? and we will be visiting Rock of Cashel later in the trip, I am doing this because I think we can just drive through Adare, stop for a little bit and then continue onto Dingle and stay in Dingle some place for the night ? and then after Dingle stay in Kenmare for two nights---I am torn as I have heard great things about both Dingle and Ring of Kerry---I think I want to spend time in both ? But some I have read enjoy Dingle better than Ring of Kerry ?