Please sign in to post.

Ireland vacation

I will be traveling for 3+ weeks in the Republic of Ireland, beginning around September 15. I will be using a mix of public transportation. I would like to remain flexible in my travels, starting and ending in Dublin and covering SE,S,SW to Galway, so would I would necessarily need to book B&B before I go - I hope not? Will there be sufficient B&Bs open during this time frame? Thanks, Dorsey

Posted by
9363 posts

Yes, B&Bs will be open all over at that time. If they close for the winter, it's usually not until November.

Posted by
189 posts

Thanks, Nancy! I am traveling alone using a bus/train combination, using Rick's 2-3 week tour by car, albeit, by public transportation. Dorsey

Posted by
189 posts

Nancy, another question; I do not want to make reservations, due to my flexibility needs, is this OK, i.e., would I need reservations during this timeframe? Dorsey

Posted by
9363 posts

I don't think you'll have any problem finding places to stay. September is after the heavy tourist season.

Posted by
1806 posts

I don't know when you are passing through Galway, but the Oyster Festival takes place every September. You may want to check your arrival date for Galway and possibly book ahead during this time as with any festival, rooms can sometimes be scarce (especially budget ones).

Posted by
67 posts

Dorsey,
I, too, will be in Ireland in September. I am going to be using some public transportation - the websites for the bus and train systems in Ireland have schedules, fares, etc.
www.buseireann.ie has the bus info for all Ireland.
www.irishrail.ie for the trains.

I would not worry about booking B& B's in advance (except for Galway) since you are going to perhaps change your schedules as you travel. You may want to stay a day longer or shorter than your original plans.

I will be mostly in the SW and SE of Ireland (Cork, Kerry, Clare Counties) on this trip and am playing it mostly unstructured with the places I want to see as the framework.

Definately see Dingle Peninsula and give yourself a couple of days to do it. We took a taxi instead
of a bus (just about same $) and had a personal tour.

I also took a bus tour to Connemara last trip and another day trip to Wicklow/Glendalough (both from Dublin) and they were GREAT tours.

Have a GREAT trip!

Posted by
189 posts

Ceidleh, thanks for the heads up. I will be in Galway September 27 (Saturday) to October 1 (Wednesday). Will the Oyster Festival still be goining on during this time? I couldn't find the Festival mentioned in the RS book. Thanks, Dorsey

Posted by
189 posts

Ceidleh, never mind my last posting, I did find the dates of the Festival (9/25-28). Thanks for your help. You are right, I will have to readjust my Galway arrival. Dorsey

Posted by
156 posts

Anybody have any comments on what kind of weather (temps and rainfall) might be expected from mid-Sept thru late Oct? We're thinking about a visit to Ireland about that time and wonder what we can expect.

Posted by
9363 posts

Jim, at the top of the page is a link for Favorite Links. If you click on that it will take you to a link for European weather. That should give you the information you need.

Posted by
522 posts

We were in Ireland last year for the last week of Sept/first week of Oct. Only had rain on 2-3 days of the entire trip, and only for short periods of time.

Be prepared for anything though. Pack layerable clothes and perhaps a small travel umbrella.