Printable Version of Topic
Click here to view this topic in its original format
Celtic Radio Community > Ireland > Ireland Vacation


Posted by: AShruleEgan 02-Apr-2014, 12:05 PM
Ireland vacation is booked for 17 days in May and June. We land at Shannon and head out to Doolin for 2 days and stay at Sean O'Connor's B&B, son of Gus O'Connor. http://www.dolls-cottage-doolin.com/
From there, we take the ferry out to the Aran Islands and Inishmore and stay at a B&B for 2 days.
Take the ferry back to Doolin and head out to the Dingle Peninsula for a ride around there and then later in the day head to Cork and stay at my cousins B&B, http://www.belvederelodge.com/ . After two days there and checking out the area, we head up to Waterford, to check out the Waterford factory. Then on to Multyfarnham for 8 days at the house we rented behind Weir's Pub. http://www.homeaway.com/vacation-rental/p75252?utm_source=sy&utm_medium=email&utm_term=20131203&utm_content=prop_text_t_LPROP&utm_campaign=InqiryConfirmation . From there, we will do day trips in any direction we feel like covering.
Then, we head over to Bunratty and stay at a B&B just down the road from Bunratty Castle for two days. Then, head back to Shannon for the flight back home. sad.gif

New Canon Rebel T3 camera with multiple lens for the trip. smile.gif

Posted by: togo 04-Apr-2014, 04:49 AM
Sounds like a dream vacation!
Have a great time and I hope you can share some of your pictures with that new camera.

Posted by: haynes9 05-Apr-2014, 09:02 PM
So, you didn't invite any of your Celtic Forum family to go with you? Where's the love?? :-)

We covered some of the same places a few years ago. We loved Doolin. Stayed at Glasha Meadows where our son and his wife honeymooned before. What a great area! Good staging place to go exploring.

Also did Dingle. That place is magical! We had the guide book from Rick Steves and we found that if we followed it, his directions were impeccable. There are other good guide books, but that one was especially helpful.

We also stayed near Bunratty at the end of our trip. I'm jealous of how long you get to stay!

Can't wait to hear how the trip goes!! Safe travels and give us a full report! Take care and have a great day!!

Posted by: heartsong 08-Apr-2014, 06:18 AM
Sounds like a great trip. I only got a few days in Ireland and they were very rushed.

Posted by: Avonlea22 20-Apr-2014, 06:21 AM
That sounds like a grand itinerary. You might want to look further into the Waterford factory, though. I was there last month hoping to see it, and it's been torn down. My sat nav took me right to it, but it's just a cement slab now. It was very disappointing. It closed in 2009.

Posted by: AShruleEgan 21-Apr-2014, 09:47 AM
QUOTE (Avonlea22 @ 20-Apr-2014, 08:21 AM)
That sounds like a grand itinerary. You might want to look further into the Waterford factory, though. I was there last month hoping to see it, and it's been torn down. My sat nav took me right to it, but it's just a cement slab now. It was very disappointing. It closed in 2009.

Brian, Waterford page says it's open.
http://www.waterfordvisitorcentre.com/Information/Opening_Hours

Posted by: Avonlea22 22-Apr-2014, 08:25 AM
So it is. My bad. I was going by this article:

http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0122/126691-wedgwood/

It looks, though, that the new facility is not the behemoth the company once was. You'll have to let us know how it is.

Posted by: AShruleEgan 15-Jul-2014, 11:09 AM
Waterford was a total disappointment. I doubt we were in the place for more than 20 minutes. The new (old) patterns, didn't match with the original designs and were clunky looking. We spent more time in the Irish goods store around the corner between the parking lot and Waterford. They had a nice selection of things.


First two days were great in Doolin. We spent most of that time driving around the Burren, hitting all the historic spots. Pol na Bron and the Burren Perfumery were the highlights. We stayed in Sean O'Connor's B&B, which was right behind Gus O'Connor's Pub. Gus O'Connor's is not owned by the family now. I would highly recommend you stay away from the place. It was filthy, food was nothing to write about and the service wasn't much better. McDermitt's, about a half mile away, was far better.

Spent some time in Cork with the cousins. Wish we has spent more time there. Cork was GREAT!!! Good pubs all over town.


Took the train from Mullingar to Dublin. Walked around town a bit and hit Trinity College and the Book Of Kells. Very crowded and made it hard to view the exhibit but was still enjoyable.

Rock of Cashel is under construction, so, some of that was off limits to view. Still a pretty awesome place to stroll about.

Since Tara and Newgrange aren't far from each other, we hit both in one day. Newgrange was both fascinating and disappointing. You were bussed in from a mile away and were given a half hour to view the whole place and then loaded back on the bus. Wasn't enough time for you to see everything.

Saw many other historic places and I think we did a good job in covering most of what we wanted to see. Next time we head over, we are planning on just hanging with the rellies and not be tourist. smile.gif

Posted by: AShruleEgan 15-Jul-2014, 11:27 AM
Roscommon Castle.

Posted by: AShruleEgan 15-Jul-2014, 11:31 AM
Tara

Posted by: AShruleEgan 15-Jul-2014, 11:33 AM
Newgrange

Posted by: AShruleEgan 15-Jul-2014, 11:41 AM
I know it feels like home, when I come down to the end of St. Mary's road and I see this sign.

Posted by: AShruleEgan 15-Jul-2014, 11:46 AM
Rock of Cashel.

Posted by: AShruleEgan 15-Jul-2014, 11:51 AM
Downtown Killarney. Very depressed area.

Posted by: AShruleEgan 15-Jul-2014, 11:55 AM
Cliffs of Moher, from Doolin Harbor.

Posted by: haynes9 16-Jul-2014, 12:02 AM
What a great report and photos! It brought back really good memories! You covered some of the same areas the wife and I did. Sure made me long to go back.

Really sorry to hear about O'Connors. When we were there, it was just great. Too bad it has deteriorated. I do remember McDermitt's as being really good. My wife had lamb shank there and it was fabulous. Doolin is a great place! I would definitely plan to go there again if I ever get to return to Ireland!

Thanks for letting us know how things went. I've GOT to get back there.

Did you get to make the Aran Islands? I believe that was on your original itinerary. We wanted to but just flat ran out fo time.

Posted by: AShruleEgan 23-Jul-2014, 06:54 AM
Worm Hole, Aran Islands.

Posted by: AShruleEgan 23-Jul-2014, 06:57 AM
While riding the bikes on the Aran Islands, we came across Patrick Connelly, who was our jaunting car driver from 7 years ago. Annabelle wanted to take a picture with him.

Posted by: AShruleEgan 23-Jul-2014, 07:00 AM
After a few hours of riding the bikes around Inishmor, we hightailed it when a thunderstorm was moving in and relaxed at Joe Watty's Bar.

Posted by: AShruleEgan 23-Jul-2014, 07:06 AM
Near the Worm Hole on Inishmor.

Posted by: AShruleEgan 23-Jul-2014, 07:14 AM
Kylemore Abbey

Posted by: AShruleEgan 23-Jul-2014, 07:16 AM
Found my cousins gravestone at Kylemore Abbey, Sr. Teresa, aka, Ellen Greaney.

Posted by: AShruleEgan 23-Jul-2014, 07:22 AM
Bunratty Meadows B&B. Nice place and 10 minutes from Shannon Airport. Five minutes to Bunratty Castle and all the local restaurants.

Posted by: AShruleEgan 23-Jul-2014, 07:25 AM
We didn't get sucked into the tourist trap, Bunratty Castle. Very good restaurants across the street from the castle.

Posted by: AShruleEgan 23-Jul-2014, 07:27 AM
In the parking lot of the Rock of Cashel, is the Brian Boru Museum. Has the history of Ireland. Very interesting place.

Posted by: AShruleEgan 23-Jul-2014, 07:33 AM
My cousins B&B in Cork. It has 24 rooms available. The Belvedere Lodge. Downtown Cork is less than a mile away.

Posted by: AShruleEgan 23-Jul-2014, 07:35 AM
Waterford Bridge

Posted by: AShruleEgan 23-Jul-2014, 07:40 AM
Cobh, the dock at the White passenger ship lines where the Titanic left just before sinking.

Posted by: AShruleEgan 23-Jul-2014, 07:42 AM
White passenger ship terminal in Cobh.

Posted by: AShruleEgan 23-Jul-2014, 07:45 AM
Croagh Patrick, from the N59, leaving Westport.

Posted by: AShruleEgan 23-Jul-2014, 07:47 AM
Along the N59 in Connemara.

Posted by: AShruleEgan 23-Jul-2014, 07:57 AM
Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare. No other explanation needed. biggrin.gif

Posted by: AShruleEgan 23-Jul-2014, 08:00 AM
Corcomroe Abbey, the Burren, Co. Clare.

Posted by: AShruleEgan 23-Jul-2014, 08:03 AM
Templecronan Church, the Burren, Co. Clare. Had to climb over many walls and dodge lots of cow pies to find this one.

Posted by: haynes9 23-Jul-2014, 01:04 PM
Brilliant photos and commentary! Thanks for sharing. I am getting more and more "homesick" for Ireland!!

Posted by: AShruleEgan 24-Jul-2014, 09:18 AM
And you thought it was dangerous to ride around Connemara with all the sheep running around. In the Burren, the cows graze freely.

Posted by: AShruleEgan 24-Jul-2014, 09:22 AM
Parknabinnia Wedge Tomb, the Burren, co. Clare.

Posted by: AShruleEgan 24-Jul-2014, 09:25 AM
Trinity College Library, Dublin.

Posted by: AShruleEgan 24-Jul-2014, 09:30 AM
Christ Church, Dublin.

Posted by: AShruleEgan 24-Jul-2014, 09:35 AM
Nugent Castle, Delvin, Co. Westmeath.

Posted by: AShruleEgan 24-Jul-2014, 09:37 AM
Kilbeggan Distillery, Co. Offaly

Posted by: AShruleEgan 24-Jul-2014, 09:51 AM
Original Christ Church in Dublin. Will be going through some restoration in the next few months.

Powered by Invision Power Board (https://www.invisionboard.com)
© Invision Power Services (https://www.invisionpower.com)