My husband and I will make our first trip to Ireland this Sept- 5 days -Shannon Airport south then up the southwest coast- does the matchmaking festival in Lisdoonvarna make it and surrounding towns like Doolin one big singles bash? Is 1/2 day enough to see Muckross? To see the Beara Pennisula? Would you advise more time devoted to the Kinsale to Kenmare area or save more time for the Galway/Connemara area? Thanks for your suggestions!
Posted by
Sacramento, CA, USA
158 posts
Maureen, Muckross can be seen in a half day if you just want the house tour and a quick walk around the gardens. There is more to see and do if you want to take the extra time. It is quite beautiful.
Posted by
Kansas City, MO
56 posts
Maureen,
Around Muckross House, don't miss Muckross Abbey or Torc Waterfall. We spent about a day between the three, but if you only wanted to see the house, 1/2 day would be plenty. We also spent the better part of a day doing Beara Peninsula, but my husband and I tend to take longer than what guidebooks estimate. We stayed at a nice B&B run by a very kind lady, Birchwood, http://www.birchwood-kilgarvan.com/ in Kilgarvan, near Kenmare. When we were there in 2004, local musicians gathered at the pub in Kilgarvan and played--obviously a very community event--one of our favorite memories (can't remember the name, but I think Roughty was in the name).
I'm ready to go back!
Posted by
New York, NY
319 posts
Maureen,
I didn't make it to Connemara, but I was in Galway and though I enjoyed it if pressed for time I would prioritize the SW. Kinsale is a great town, and the SW coast is gorgeous. Have you already been to Ring of Kerry and Dingle peninsulas?? If not, I'd consider trying to squeeze at least one of them in. They were spectacular.
1/2 day is more than enough for Muckross. If you're into old mansions, then it's great. For me, it was just OK. I really enjoyed the Traditional Farms, though, as they helped to bring alive for me the way of life of my Irish ancestors in the late 19th/early 20th Century.
Enjoy your trip!
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9371 posts
Although I dearly love Connemara and can't wait to go back, if your time is limited you'll have more to see and do in the southwest. Connemara is more of a wide-open-spaces place. It is beautiful, but driving times are fairly lengthy to get from, say, Galway to Clifden and then to Kylemore Abbey. If you have to choose, I would say spend more time in the southwest.