@made_in_ireland (or anyone!)- what's your opinion on Aran Islands vs Saltee?
There's no real reason for Saltee I suppose. I hear the birds, flowers and seals are wonderful. I'm not sure how much of each will be visible in early September, but it seemed promising to have a lot of nature. (I think the seals should be there and various types of birds - no puffins).
In my opinion I would prefer the views and landscape of the Aran Islands. Im not interested in Bird sanctuaries! So I would prefer the Aran Islands also there would be alot of different spiecies of sea birds there too! Logically speaking wexford /saltee is way out of your plans! you will waste too much time stick the connemara side of Ireland forget the south east!
TO cdffirefliy: You posted on July 10, 2012, saying you had arrived in Ireland on July 17th. Not sure if you meant the 7th or what??? I have a friend in Ireland NOW, just in their 6th day of a 15-day tour. They have had sun and rain both. Just hope that July doesn't outdo June with rainfall!
I updated the itinerary and removed the caves, Ardmore and Saltee.
We have a tiny bit of extra time in Killarney or Galway and incorporated the Aran Islands.
Are we crazy to do all this?
Sat: arrive, explore Dublin
Sun: Dubin
Mon: Rental car, Kilkenny, Rock of Cashel, Cahir overnight
Tue: Cahir Castle, Cahir to Kinsale to Mizen Head area overnight (Try to go to Mizen Head)
Wed: Mizen Head if didn't see on Tuesday, Beara Peninsula, Killarney overnight
Thu: Killarney until lunch, Dingle/Conor's Pass, Ferry to Doolin (Cliffs of Moher) & Doolin overnight
Fri: Cliffs of Moher, Burren & Galway overnight
Sat: Galway to Aran Islands & Galway overnight
Sun: Connemara National Park, head to Shannon for overnight before flight (Bunratty Castle maybe)
Mon: Depart 9:30 am
If anyone happens upon this thread later I thought I would leave an update that we modified the itinerary a little more.
We dropped Mizen Head due to distance and time. This also made the driving route to get to Beara shorter. Previously when going to Mizen Head we were going to stay overnight in Skibbereen which is a longer route on the way to Beara.
Some may be surprised that we dropped Aran Islands, but the thought is if we make it back to Ireland, this would be easier to see next time and we just didn't have a lot of time to really enjoy some of the towns when trying to pack so much in.
New itinerary is:
Sat: arrive, explore Dublin
Sun: Dubin
Mon: Rental car, Kilkenny, Rock of Cashel, Cahir overnight
Tue: Cahir Castle, Leave Cahir around lunch time and head to Kinsale (have afternoon and evening), stay overnight
Wed: Beara Peninsula, Ladies view (on way to Killarney) Killarney overnight
Thu: Killarney day and overnight
Fri: Dingle/Conor's Pass, Ferry to Doolin (Cliffs of Moher??) & Doolin overnight
Sat: Cliffs of Moher, Burren & Galway overnight
Sun: Connemara National Park, head to Shannon for overnight before flight (Bunratty Castle if we somehow leave Connemara really early)
Mon: Depart early am