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Galway visit, driving the Wild West Northwest Coast and Yeat's Country

Posted by (Central Coast California) on

This will be the second trip for my wife and I to Ireland (first one to Dublin, Kilkenny and Dingle Peninsula).
Based on that trip, which involved inter-city travel by rail, we plan to fly into Dublin, take the train to Galway, then rent a car to visit some of the northwest coast, but especially Yeat's Country.

Is there a Yeat's Museum, or a center/periphery for Yeat's Activities in his old haunting grounds?

Additionally, our other interests are: early inhabitants (the Monks) to Viking Invaders, to Medieval to Cromwell to Independence; Natural History, Live Music (Trad and Mod), local food and drink, and getting to some of out of the way places that only a rental car get us.

How is it for driving in the out of the way places?

We're planning on going for two weeks in the fall; September or October 2025.

Any or all recommendations are welcome and appreciated.

Sláinte !

Posted by
446 posts

I'm no expert on Yeats, but I knot that Sligo is Yeats' home county. Here is the Yeats Society website: https://www.yeatssociety.com

You can take the train (or a bus directly from the airport) to Sligo town and pick up your car from there, perhaps after spending a couple of days. It's a nice small city. I can recommend an AirBnB at the south end of town. The Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery is nearby, accessible by bus, but you could just as well use the rental car.

Sligo is a good starting point for Donegal. The Slieve League (cliffs) are much higher than the Cliffs of Moher, though they aren't as dramatic with the crenelations, etc. Killybegs is a nice little harbor town to stay in. Best fish and chips of our trip this summer. From Killybegs, so up and around Donegal. I would expect the roads to be what you fear most (narrow, twisty), but the scenery will be worth it. From northern Donegal, you can head towards Derry, home of the Museum of Free Derry (a great little museum dedicated to Bloody Sunday and the fight for independence) and Grianan Aileach, a hill fort that I haven't personally been to but I have seen recommended on this site.

From Derry, you're not far from the Causeway Coast, so you can check out the Giant's Causeway, Dun Luce castle and Bushmills.

If you really want to go out of the way, drive through the Sperrins Mountains. Check out the Sculpture Trail, featuring three giant trolls by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. https://discovernorthernireland.com/blog/read/2023/08/the-sperrin-sculpture-trail-a-giant-adventure-b302
Finish up in Omagh town, which is probably a couple of hours drive from Sligo. There, I made a loop for you.

Posted by
53 posts

Hello G3rryCee !

Thanks so much for your wonderful recommendations. I especially appreciate the links for Yeats and lodging and more.

We'll be starting to plan in earnest after the first of the year.

Happy Holidays and enjoy your future travels. With your kind advice, I know ours will be full of great memories!

Tymochtee

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