Hi, I am planning to spend nine days in Ireland as part of my trip OS at about this time of year in 2010. We are both in our fifties and from Australia. So far the plan is as follows - Fly in to Dublin ( from Glasgow ) and spend the next day there looking around. Then hire car with the overnight stops in Tranmore, Bantry Bay, Limerick and Galway then return to Dublin for a further three days of relaxing, eating, drinking and doing the laundry. Is this OK without rushing too much to see the sights ? We like scenery, history and pubs. Also how far ahead should I book the hotels - tentative dates are 9/5/10 to 17/5/10 inclusive.
1
timothysolberg
Unless there are some places you particularly want to see between Dublin and Tramore, I suggest that you consider flying from Edinburgh to Cork on Aer Arann and proceed from there with your driving tour. Since you like scenery, is there any reason you are skipping the Dingle Peninsula or the Ring of Kerry?
2
halefredginger
We were going to do the Ring of Kerry via the N70 which is about 310km between Bantry Bay and Limerick. However if we did as you suggest and fly into Cork we could drive on the first day to Kenmare on the N71 (about 150km) and then do Kenmare to Limerick on the next day via the N70 which cuts the distance down to about 235km. Another option would be to do Kenmare to Dingle (about 170km) and then on to Limerick the next day. Being from Australia it is hard to estimate travel times. Here for country driving we would expect to do about 100km an hour (staying well under the speed limits). Would it be better if I worked on say a maximum of 200km a day or less ?
3
nixus
hi, i would just like to suggest not staying in limerick overnight, but rather ennis, as limerick is quite a rough place after dark. ennis is a lively, pleasant town with plenty of friendly pubs.
4
yofletch
check out SHANNONFERRIES.COM
there's not much to see in Limerick, better going to county Kerry
then take the ferry to county Clare, you could stop in Doolin on your way to
Galway.
enjoy.
5
halefredginger
O.K. - Revised schedule. Fly into Cork then car hire and drive to Kenmare (152km.) via N71 for overnight stop. Next day do Ring of Kerry with overnight at Dingle (170km.). Next day drive to Doolin for overnight (168km.) via N86,N69 & N67 and Shannon ferry. Finally Doolin to Galway (72km.) for overnight then next day train to Dublin for 4 day stay. Distances seem doable with lots to see and do. Thanks for the suggestions and any further comments would be appreciated.
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