Suggestions For My Irish Itinerary?

Ken - Thanks. We're using Cork, Dingle and Galway as bases to do day trips. We're staying in Limerick for one day b/c it's close to the Shannon airport. We don't plan on staying in Cork City every day that we're there, but we're doing day trips from Cork City. We had to book all of our accommodations in advance (2 hotels and 2 self-catering cottages) and sleep in bigger towns b/c we're traveling with a person who uses a wheelchair, so accessibility issues largely determine where we're able to sleep. I'm just wondering what sort of day trips we can do from Cork, Dingle, Galway and Limerick, as well as whatever can be seen/done in those cities themselves.

There is little to do in Limerick. It's dirty and crowded and the traffic is terrible. I usually suggest that people spend their last night at Bunratty instead. It's just six miles from the airport, and is the home of Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Durty Nelly's Pub, and a small shopping center, as well as an Avoca Handweavers shop. You really do, as the previous poster suggested, need to start by looking at guidebooks to determine what you might like to see in which area. Cork is near Blarney, Cashel, Cahir, Cobh, Waterford, and Kilkenny. Galway is near the Cliffs of Moher, Doolin, the Burren, and the Connemara area. and has lots to do in its own right. Kylemore Abbey is on the north edge of the Connemara. To the west are the coastal towns of Roundstone and Clifden, but they aren't a short drive from Galway. Use a mapping site like viamichelin.com to determine approximate driving times from each stop to each thing you want to see to see if they are doable as day trips. Remember to add maybe 25% to their estimates (plus times for lunch and photo stops).

Nancy - Thanks! We've heard some bad things about Limerick, but, unfortunately, it's the only city reasonably near Shannon airport that had accessible accommodations for our friend who uses a wheelchair. That's the main reason why were staying overnight in Limerick. The good news is the hotel we're staying at in Limerick is really nice, so hopefully that will make things brighter. By the time we reach Limerick we'll probably be too tired and just crash in our hotel, anyway. I am reading several guide books about Ireland, including Rick's, but it's helpful to communicate with people who have been there. Other people can tell me what's worth seeing and what's just touristy hype.

I suggest you consider adding the Rock of Cashell, Glendaloch or Clonmacnoise, Killarney National Park, Connomera and the Aran Islands. I'm not sure what you are planning on doing for 4 days in Galway unless you use it as a base for Connomera and the Aran Islands. Clonmacnoise is also not far from Galway. I also don't know what you'll do in Cork for 3 days. It's pretty busy and crowded. I don't see it as much of a tourist destination. You'll find it more convenient and cheaper to move where you sleep to fit your travel destinations. There are as many opinions on what to see in Ireland as there are noses of contributors. I suggest you get a guidebook or two and start seeing what you'd enjoy. There are also many sites in and around Dublin I'd put high up on the list but you can only see so much in 11 days. Figure out how you want to spend them.

I recommend a day trip driving to Kinsale, see the sights, wander around, eat lunch, drive south to Clonakilty and back (you can make a nice loop on 2 lane roads, sorry, I can't recall which but we did it last December and it was great). Another day trip up to Cashel via Cobh and then up through Cahir and then back to Cork on another 2 lane road (also can't recall but it's also a nice loop). I think Cork was lovely and worth some time, too.

To clarify what Laura said, you go through Cahir before getting to Cashel. Cahir has a wonderful castle, so don't miss that. Cobh is a bit out of the way to the east, but you could see it, and perhaps also see Fota Wildlife Park on one day. Also, Midleton, and its Jameson distillery, isn't too far from Cobh.

There have already been so many great suggestions here! I would definitely recommend Cashel, Cahir (we had a blast here because we had almost the entire castle to ourselves!), Blarney (wander the grounds around the castle, not just the castle itself), Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, and Killarney National Park. We stayed in Kinsale for 3 days and really liked it there, but not as much as Dingle. Depending on what days you're in Dingle, I know The Marina Inn Pub has traditional music on Sundays at 5:30.

Not sure if you need 3 full days in Dingle. Also you need to check out if the Cliffs
are accessible by wheelchair, I seem to remember quite a few steps but not sure.

The Cliffs have a beautiful new visitor center and I believe it is accessible.

Hello Katie, It sounds like you have already settled on Limerick as a base. We have the Hunt museum (Irish history and art)in Limerick on our list for our next visit to Ireland. On our last visit we visited Craggaunowen,a reconstruction of an Irish crannog. It is located near Quin in County Clare. If your other bases are not totally locked in, you might want to consider switching to Kenmare and Clifden. Both are small Irish towns (not villages) with several restaurant choices and choices of accommodations. Surely there are some handicap accessible choices in those small cities which are better situated for sight-seeing IMHO. Kenmare is good for Ring of Beara and Ring of Kerry and you can even do Dingle from there if you don't mind a longer driving day or perhaps a one-nighter in Dingle...... Clifden is good for Connemara, the Aran Islands, the Sky Road, and the gorgeous area up near Delphi. You could visit Galway (good shopping) on the way there. Kylemore Abbey is not too far from Clifden, but unless things have changed drastically it is only a photo op-I believe it is still a private girls' school..... Have you found the website irelandexpert.com ? It is similar to this one, but only about Ireland and has a resident expert who advises.