Trip to Ireland (1 Viewer)

[Kanil]

I think this is where we are...

Day 1 - arrive in Dublin early am, sounds like priorities for the day are locked in, plow through the jet lag and enjoy as much of it as we can then crash. Staying at Academy - looks about a mile NE of Temple Bar. Gonna keep long bar and buxelles in my back pocket though.

Day 2 - leave Dublin early, head north - Giant's Causeway is the destination, whether we stop for 'lunch' prior (not sure) or after (Derry?), we'll see. Got a walking tour in Derry booked and ending the day at Donegal - staying at Diamond Lodgings in the village. Long driving day, so any must's on the morning route north or the afternoon trek east? May not be any space for anything anyway.

Day 3 - Donegal water bus is inked, unsure on the other to do item.

Day 4 - Leave Donegal and head towards Westpot via Silgo. Anything along this route? Much more free time than day 2. Staying at a B&B.

Day 5 - this is crough patrick day, weather depending. What else?

Day 6 - head south through Galway and finish in Ennis. We have family in Ennis, so that's where we will be that night. Any priorities prior? Like day 4, we have time.

Day 7 - golf at lahinch then the cliffs of mohrer, golf is nonrefundable so this is a weather be damned experience. 

Day 8 - leave Ennis for Dingle, we're here til day 10 then we fly out in Shannon...nothing's booked for this part.

...we are wing it vacationers, but to apease our vacation planners are trying to tee up a base plan. I tossed out hurling, petanque, and gaelic football ideas but no idea if there are any games being played on our route nor where to look.

What say you?

For multistep trips we use Tripmasters.  You can find some real gems and save some money on multileg trips there.

 

[Don Quixote]

Day 6 - head south through Galway and finish in Ennis. We have family in Ennis, so that's where we will be that night. Any priorities prior? Like day 4, we have time.

Day 7 - golf at lahinch then the cliffs of mohrer, golf is nonrefundable so this is a weather be damned experience. 

Day 8 - leave Ennis for Dingle, we're here til day 10 then we fly out in Shannon...nothing's booked for this part.

...we are wing it vacationers, but to apease our vacation planners are trying to tee up a base plan. I tossed out hurling, petanque, and gaelic football ideas but no idea if there are any games being played on our route nor where to look.

What say you?

Ireland Gaelic site is here if you wanted to look at schedule (I think this has both Gaelic football and hurling on it): https://www.gaa.ie/

I spent a couple of nights in Ennis. On drive down from Galway, maybe could check out The Burren.

In driving from Ennis from Dingle, family will probably let you know, but there's a ferry that could cut some time.

In time between Dingle and Shannon, you could consider driving down to Killarney National Park near the eastern edge of the Ring of Kerry -- Ross Castle one of my favorite spots. 

 

[MAC_32]

Ireland Gaelic site is here if you wanted to look at schedule (I think this has both Gaelic football and hurling on it): https://www.gaa.ie/

I spent a couple of nights in Ennis. On drive down from Galway, maybe could check out The Burren.

In driving from Ennis from Dingle, family will probably let you know, but there's a ferry that could cut some time.

In time between Dingle and Shannon, you could consider driving down to Killarney National Park near the eastern edge of the Ring of Kerry -- Ross Castle one of my favorite spots. 

Appreciate the link, we mentioned seeing one of those 2 sports or petanque if it's going on somewhere on the route. 

 

[jamny]

If you have the time, drive the eastern shore from Belfast to Giants Causeway. Beautiful drive. You can drive the highway back.

 

[wikkidpissah]

Part of our group (myself included) will be doing this climb, weather depending. Any tips?

Well, it's a walk but it's not an easy walk and i wouldnt do it in the wet. i done it barefoot as i could - many crawl - for the penitente factor (i have NO beliefs, but holy pain can be cleansing), but i wasnt going anywhere the next day.

I think this is where we are...

Day 1 - arrive in Dublin early am, sounds like priorities for the day are locked in, plow through the jet lag and enjoy as much of it as we can then crash. Staying at Academy - looks about a mile NE of Temple Bar. Gonna keep long bar and buxelles in my back pocket though.

Day 2 - leave Dublin early, head north - Giant's Causeway is the destination, whether we stop for 'lunch' prior (not sure) or after (Derry?), we'll see. Got a walking tour in Derry booked and ending the day at Donegal - staying at Diamond Lodgings in the village. Long driving day, so any must's on the morning route north or the afternoon trek east? May not be any space for anything anyway.

Day 3 - Donegal water bus is inked, unsure on the other to do item.

Day 4 - Leave Donegal and head towards Westpot via Silgo. Anything along this route? Much more free time than day 2. Staying at a B&B.

Day 5 - this is crough patrick day, weather depending. What else?

Day 6 - head south through Galway and finish in Ennis. We have family in Ennis, so that's where we will be that night. Any priorities prior? Like day 4, we have time.

Day 7 - golf at lahinch then the cliffs of mohrer, golf is nonrefundable so this is a weather be damned experience. 

Day 8 - leave Ennis for Dingle, we're here til day 10 then we fly out in Shannon...nothing's booked for this part.

...we are wing it vacationers, but to apease our vacation planners are trying to tee up a base plan. I tossed out hurling, petanque, and gaelic football ideas but no idea if there are any games being played on our route nor where to look.

What say you?

the problem i see with this is The Wet. i didnt see when you were doing this, but, if it aint right around bank holiday, you're going to lose a lot of days to it and you wont know which. i was eventing in the Burren once and it rained turteen toimes in a day, all in different ways. golfing's not a problem, they play when it's raining sideways and it's a blast if you dont care about your score. and you'll find out what wool's for...

as far as filling in your drive - if you get lucky - the greatest spot in the upper west is Keem Bay at the end Achill Island (no ferry - bridge to the island). tis a holy place that'll make you feel like a just-landed Viking but, again, its a treacherous drive so i wouldnt go in the wet. went most yrs until 10 yrs ago - cant fly anymore - and last time they were doing some interesting digs still at Ceide Fields in north Mayo which might have paid off by now, read up on it. the Sligo headlands are worth a drive if that's your lucky day. my favorite spot and where i wanted to retire is Uggool, where rolling sheeplands meet LOTR mountains meet a brilliant surfer beach to fashion what i call paradise (except for the chiggers), in the Murrisk below Westport. i'll post more as i think of it, but i recommend flexibility and unhurriedness above all things in trekking the Emerald Isle. GL -

 

[MAC_32]

i'll post more as i think of it, but i recommend flexibility and unhurriedness above all things in trekking the Emerald Isle. 

I get that it doesn't read like it, but that's who we are and who we are travelling with. Original plan was just to wing it, but after talking about it over beers last weekend we all agreed that we don't want to waste time each day deliberating about what to do. So let's set a plan now knowing that we'll pivot based on mother nature when we're there. The route is set for lodging purposes, but what we do in between...we'll see where that day takes us. Just want to have priorities laid out and backup plans in the holster - thanks for adding to the list! Only thing beyond lodging we're bound to is golf at Lahinch and this is a group of people that don't care about their score and would embrace a day with the west coast winds howling if that's the day we're given.

 

[wikkidpissah]

I get that it doesn't read like it, but that's who we are and who we are travelling with. Original plan was just to wing it, but after talking about it over beers last weekend we all agreed that we don't want to waste time each day deliberating about what to do. So let's set a plan now knowing that we'll pivot based on mother nature when we're there. The route is set for lodging purposes, but what we do in between...we'll see where that day takes us. Just want to have priorities laid out and backup plans in the holster - thanks for adding to the list! Only thing beyond lodging we're bound to is golf at Lahinch and this is a group of people that don't care about their score and would embrace a day with the west coast winds howling if that's the day we're given.

i wish you a day of sideways golf above of all things - tis a panic.

tho i prefer the wilder northern counties of the west, to the tamer more touristy southern ones, i'd be remiss not to mention the holiest place on earth - Skelling Michael. i've been to Giza and it aint even close. if you have a brilliant day and you're anywhere near, make a mad run. i'm sure since the Star Wars connection that its an insane tourist rush now. took me a week of bothering Portmagee fishermen and four failed attempts to get out there - the end of the world - the first time, but i bet there's a dozen excursions a day there now. you dont wanna be there when its not perfect - medieval monks counted on that.

 

[MAC_32]

i wish you a day of sideways golf above of all things - tis a panic.

tho i prefer the wilder northern counties of the west, to the tamer more touristy southern ones, i'd be remiss not to mention the holiest place on earth - Skelling Michael. i've been to Giza and it aint even close. if you have a brilliant day and you're anywhere near, make a mad run. i'm sure since the Star Wars connection that its an insane tourist rush now. took me a week of bothering Portmagee fishermen and four failed attempts to get out there - the end of the world - the first time, but i bet there's a dozen excursions a day there now. you dont wanna be there when its not perfect - medieval monks counted on that.

Thanks, will keep that in the back pocket. Blasket islands is plan A that day, but if the winds aren't blowing right there but are to the south I'll chime in.

Can't believe I forgot about Slieve League - that was the other trek tossed in while at Donegal.

Sligo's on the list from Donegal to Westport and Burren's on the list when en route from Westport to Ennis.

Looks like the bank holiday we'll have to navigate is crough patrick day. Planning on Matt Malloy's in Westport upon our return. This is probably a dumb question, but will the bank holiday cause any problems with that? I suspect the only way Keem Bay happens is if it's a pivot from crough patrick.

 

[Zasada]

I took in a hurling match in Dublin a couple of years ago, and it was a blast.  Cliffs of Moher are fun as well.