Additional week in Ireland?

Galway is an easy base for day trips without a car - the Burren, Connemara, Cliffs of Moher and Aran Islands are easy to get to. Any number of tour operators can book you (check with the Tourist Info office or at your hostel, B&B or hotel).

For part of the 3rd week, I would recommend you take the ferry over to the Aran Islands and stay on one or more of the Islands for a few nights. With your luggage at the B&B or hostel, you can rent a bicycle to get around.

Spend whatever time you have left in Cork if you didn't get to it during the first 2 weeks. You can get some day trips out of there as well.

Have you given any thought to Northern Ireland and/or Donegal? It is a part of Ireland overlooked by most Americans but has some of the best scenery and far fewer tourists than the more well known areas in the south.

Pat,
Yes, I have wanted to see Northern Ireland but I thought I read in another topic that it is harder to do without a car. I thought maybe N. I. would be better as it's own trip in the future.
What do you all think?
Thanks.

Northern Ireland and Donegal are definitely worth a trip on their own. Would have recommended Northern Ireland previously, but you mention you are on a tight budget for the 3rd week. Northern Ireland runs on the pound - and right now the exchange rate is really bad, so it just doesn't seem like an appropriate place to go if you are trying to budget as even a 20 pound hostel bunk is going to end up costing you $40+ a night.

Since you'll be in the West, I'd recommend Galway for your extra week. It is a small city with a compact center and so it is easy to get around on foot. As a previous poster noted, you can also take numerous day trips to some of Ireland's best sites.

Since you mention you'll be in Clare earlier, I assume you'll already have seen the big sites there like the Cliffs and the Burren. In that case, the Arans are a great idea. Connemara is as well.

Enjoy your trip!

I would just make it a 2 week trip. If you've already seen Dublin and Galway and you're not going to have a car, I think that the last week will be overkill.

The only thing I can think of is to fly to Scotland and spend the last week there (I managed fine there without a car).

Hey Dale!

I would definately add a 3rd week. I did that on my last trip and am planning on doing the same when I go home in June 2009. I agree w/Ceideh Galway would be a fantastic base for your third week; since you will be w/out a car. You can get basically everywhere either by train, bus or foot. I usually stay in the Lower Salthill/Salthill area when in Galway. It is well w/in walking distance of Galway's City Centre.

I would suggest that you hit the TI in Galway for your options for day trips out of Galway. The main train/bus station is right off of Eyre Square in City Centre.

You may want to take a day trip via bus to Donegal; which is one of the easiest treks; as N18/N17 is a really nice road and I am sure even Bus Eriann has routes North.

The best thing about the 3rd week is you can totally relax and just breath in the sights and sounds of Galway. Cafe's, book shops, Buskers etc.. I love to have a late lunch/early tea at Lynchs Cafe on Shop street w/it high Victorian ceilings and turf fire in the grate while looking out over the medievel streets of Galway.... have fun... i am jealous!

Thanks everyone for the great advice.
Unfortunately we just had to get some expensive furnace work done and my trip to Ireland will have to wait until the spring - probably May.
I'm sure I will be back posting more questions after the first of the year.

my last trip was 14 days, and it wasn't enough for me. 3 weeks would have done it.