We got last minute flights to Dublin at the end of June, and although we travel to Europe every year through the help of this forum, we have never been to Ireland !
I am reading Rick's book along with others to make quick plans for a 2 week stay.
What are your favorite villages/towns in Ireland that you loved ?
Galway, in the county of the same name for its university life, bustling pedestrian-only zone and a bundle of restaurants and pubs. You can also catch the ferry to Inishmore at the dock, a short walk from downtown.
Doolin, County Clare - the Mecca for traditional Irish music in its four pubs, especially the granddaddy of them all, O'Connor's. Also, its ease of walkability and awesome location right on the coast. A smaller ferry departs the village to Inishmore and Inisheer.
Leenane, County Galway for the absolute prettiest setting in all of Ireland at the end of the country's only fjord and between three mountain ranges. It also features one of the finest restaurants in Ireland, The Blackberry: www.blackberryrestaurant.ie Reservations a good idea in the summer. Yummy lamb stew.
Glencolumbkille at the far southwestern end of County Donegal (due west of Galway Town) is perched right on the Atlantic and offers a hike or two to the top of the surrounding hills for dramatic views. The one pub in the village - Biddy's - hosts trad music sessions many nights in the summer. Threre may be just the one restaurant left where I ate when last there in 2007. Best to check ahead, as it's a drive from anywhere.
And all have wonderful B&Bs, though Glencolumbkille has only a handful.
You'll note that all four towns are in the West, where you'll find - by far - Ireland's best scenery and experience Irish culture, language, music, etc. much, much more than most anywhere else in the country. The first three towns are also in or quite near Connemara, Ireland's most scenic region.
Slainte!
We loved Dingle, Kinsale and Westport, all of them popular tourists destinations but with enough charm that it wasn't really an issue for us, especially since we were there in mid to late September--might be different in the "high season". We also very much enjoyed spending four nights in Cahersiveen. It's a great location if you have the opportunity to visit Skellig Michael, and there are nearby ruins and ring forts to explore, as well as a beach or two. It's on the Iveragh Penisula--a beautiful drive!
Thank you for the insight ! I have never planned a trip quite this quickly and truly trying to ascertain all of the possible "best" places when I truly need a month !
Any others to add to my list ????
Can't argue with David or PJ's suggestions. Connemara is our favorite area in Ireland too - for the great hiking, scenic drives, and the history. Would add the village of Cong to David's list, as well as a visit to the Doolough Memorial for an appreciation of the Famine Years in Ireland - a very evocative place.
Dingle and Kerry are at the top of everyone's list for very good reasons. Both beautiful areas.
That said, the question is "are you city people or country people"? With only two weeks to spend, and on a first visit at that, you really need to decide what your priorities are. You could easily spend most of your time in and around Dublin, booking day trips out to Glendalough, Powerscourt, Tara, Newgrange., etc. and never need to rent a car. Belfast is a couple of hours away by train, with tours up to the Causeway Coast easily available from there. Derry is highly recommended too.
If your preference is to go off the beaten path, enjoy the countryside, and maybe avoid the worst of the crowds at the popular tourist venues then you can't go wrong with Connemara, which will require a car to do it justice.
Personal opinion here, but I think Ireland is a country that needs to be savored rather than dashing around trying to check things off an imaginary list. Point being that I'd slow it down a bit and just enjoy the journey around the prettiest country in Europe...after researching just what most appeals to you rather than what any guidebook lists as a "must see".
And assume that you'll be back one day.
Safe travels.
Carla,
I agree with the fellow travelers that you may want to home base in just a couple strategic locations as it seems like you are flying into and out of Dublin. Of course Dublin goes without saying because I think the day trips get you into the countryside.
I am basing myself on my August trip as follows:
Dublin for 2 nights since I have been there once but so much to see.
Train to Galway for 4 nights. I am using Galway tours for 3 full day tours as I have not seen the Cliffs, nor the Aran Islands or Cong.
Then Dingle since I have been in Killarney which I loved but it has a lot of tourists. Dingle to me looked magical and I have always wanted to return. So I am and I have booked 3 nights and everything is sold out due to the marathon.
I fly out of Shannon since I wanted to explore the western side. I am trying to find one more GEM to stay at for 2 nights so I am taking some of the suggestions from the fellow travelers as well.
Rick's recommendations are on the mark, based upon our two trips to Ireland (we just returned from the last one three weeks ago!). Dingle area is a real gem, although the town itself was not the highlight, it was driving the loop. We did not find the traditional music as good in Dingle as it was in Ennis, although it might have just been luck of the draw. Ennis is a favorite of ours, and we visited there both in 2002 and 2016. Grey Gables B&B in Ennis is great, we stayed there both times. Kinsale is a nice stop, although it rained the whole time that we were there on our recent trip. Charles Fort is very underrated, it was magnificent, even in the rain. Cahir, which is not in Rick's book, is also a good place to stop near Cashel. There is a very good castle there and the Swiss Cottage is right outside of town. We stayed in Trim as well on this last trip too, as a base for Newgrange/Knowth and found it to be a very pleasant stop. Every time we go to Kilkenny we seem to blast through in a day, but we also had a nice visit there on this last trip.
Thanks all ! I love the ideas !
Carla,
Wherever you go in in the west, southwest or northwest of Ireland and along the North Antrim Coast in Northern Ireland you can't go wrong. You'll find fabulous scenery, trad music, lovely towns, Gaeltacht and the like most everywhere you travel.
The first time I went, I just poked around a few western counties with no particular itinerary in mind. The second time, I went further afield. Then I was hooked. I've bicycled all over the island now nine times - yep, it's that grand.
So, for your inaugural visit, keep it short and simple and certainly don't squeeze too much into a single visit. You'll discover what you like as you travel.
Slainte!
Thank you! We do feel that this trip should be exploring rather than trying to get to every town in the guidebooks !
I just want to make sure we see Ireland as we imagine it - even if it is a short trip !
Kilkenny and Cobh (aka Queenstown), and Dublin, of course.
