<p>Adding on to what others have said (I’ve been there since this thread first appeared, and used suggestions from it–what a great trip!)</p>
<p>I agree that ou don’t need to spend too much time in Dublin. Besides what’s mentioned here, I highly recommend a trip to Kilmainham Jail. It was a moving experience. The best pub for music that we found is called The Celt. Can’t remember the address, but it’s between OConnell Street and the bus station area.</p>
<p>Rather than Ring of Kerry, we stayed in the Peninsula above it, still Kerry but not as crowded. We stayed in Dingle and drove from there. Unbelievable countryside, did a lot of hiking up and down mountains and to beaches at the foot of cliffs.</p>
<p>cliffs of Moher is a definite must. They’re near Doolin, which we loved (reading over this, I saw teriwtts warning about no ATMs in Doolin–which is so funny because I forgot that at the time and ran into problem with this–also ended up back at C of M to use ATM there.) Music in Doolin was great.</p>
<p>Loved Galway–just a fun, easy to get around town in a beautiful setting. Loads of great restaurants and pubs. Very youth-filled; has almost a new Orleans feel with all the out door places and walking only streets.</p>
<p>Our favorite place was the Aran Islands–spent three nights there. Lots of hiking and biking. Dun Aengus–a cliff fort, is magnificant. Lots of great B and Bs.</p>
<p>When we go back again, it will be most likely to spend a bigger block of time on Aran–we fell in love with it.</p>
<p>We got around in a rental car–H drove and I navigated. Interesting experience ,what with the left side driving and a different style of road signs, but we did okay.</p>
<p>If you go to Dingle and are not scared by the narrow roads and it’s a sunny day, drive over the Conor Pass between Tralee and Dingle. Quite simply the most amazing scenery. But it is almost a single track road, with sheer drops to the valley below - and German tourists like to drive their RVs on it :)</p>
<p>From Wiki:
The Conor Pass, which runs from Dingle on the southern end of the peninsula towards Brandon Bay and Castlegregory in the North, is the highest mountain pass in Ireland, a tight, precarious road, weaving its way around the sharp cliff faces and past the high corrie lakes</p>
<p>Soccergirl–We drove the Conor Pass on an overcast, rainy day. Gorgeous, but I seriously expected to plummet over the edge at some point. By the time we got to the top, the sun had come out, and the view was spectacular. And we met a German biker who’d pedaled all the way to the top!</p>
<p>When we left, I told H we were driving the other way; once was enough.</p>
<p>Onward–I was in Donegal many years ago. I spent a week in GlenColumbkille–very remote and beautiful. I wish I’d been able to fit that in the last time i went.</p>
<p>A few years ago, while H was golfing with clients, I took their wives to the Royal Irish Stud Farm. Some of the most expensive and beautiful horses in the world! Got tours of the stables, etc., and they also had a Japanese garden there (go figure) …very interesting.</p>
<p>When we returned home, H got a call from Corporate accounting. They were questioning my reimbursement request, since the $60 credit card receipt listed the merchant as
“Royal Stud” …</p>
<p>We had a 5 day tour of Ireland in 2003 with Celtic tours (highly recommended). The tour bus gave us a great view over the hedgerows that line the roads. And the driver/guide was very helpful the whole way. No planning needed on our part, and not driving on the “wrong” side of the road either.</p>
<p>We landed in Dublin and spent one night there. (If we had known about the option to come a day early and get another day in Dublin we would have done that). Then we had 1 night in Cork, 2 nights in Kilarney (we did day trips for Ring of Kerry and Dingle), and then a final night in Shannon before flying out from there. It was a short but delightful trip.</p>
<p>The Rick Steves book on Ireland is very helpful.</p>
<p>Parts of Donegal are spectacularly beautiful - particularly the Inishowen peninsula. We did the drive all the way to the tip of Malin Head and I really recommend it. Do a google search for photos of this area.</p>
<p>I would definitely travel to Killarney while you’re in Limerick. If you can, stay in a B & B for a night while in Killarney-- one of my favorite cities. I would try to at least visit the Cliffs of Moher while you’re in the southern part of the country. I agree about skipping on kissing the Blarney stone. Long lines and narrow steps to the top make for an unpleasant experience, imo. I enjoyed the Ellis Island Immigration Museum in Cork. </p>
<p>While in Dublin definitely go see Phoenix Park (on the western edge of the city), the Temple Bar district of town, Grafton Street/St. Stephens Green, Trinity University as other have said, and of course the Guiness Brewery! The easiest and most efficient way to see some of these attractions and many others is to take the “On and Off Bus Tour”. You can get on and off whenever you feel like it and see the sights at your own pace. One attraction I highly recommend is Powerscourt Gardens, a relatively short trip outside of town.</p>
<p>I’m lucky to be married to an Irish lass with hundreds of relatives throughout this delightful country and we’ve been over many times. Imo, the countryside is more beautiful as you get outside the city of Dublin, but what makes the country the MOST beautiful are the people! Enjoy your trips geezermom and garland!!</p>
I think flying into Dublin and out of Shannon is a fine idea. In Dublin, I think your sons would enjoy Trinity College (for the Book of Kells exhibit and the library) and perhaps a walking tour of the city (you can find them online; some are given by college students). I think they’d enjoy St. Stephen’s Green. Also recommend Kilmainham Jail. Finish up with dinner served “family style” (food brought out on platters heaped with veggies, served to the whole table) at a restaurant in Temple Bar and maybe a walk to see Ha’ Penny Bridge. If you think they’d enjoy it, see a play in the evening at the Abbey Theatre, the national theater of Ireland.</p>
<p>If you head south out of Dublin, they would probably enjoy a stop at the Royal Irish Stud Farm. It’s located in a gorgeously lush part of Ireland, and the Japanese gardens are beautiful, too. You might check to see if Waterford is still giving tours at the factory; I heard they stopped a few years ago. Your sons would enjoy that I think.</p>
<p>From there I’d head over through Cork to Killarney to stay overnight then spend the next day on the Dingle Peninsula. If you don’t have enough time, skip SE Ireland and Cork and just head for Tralee. Stay there and see Killarney and Dingle.</p>
<p>Next head north through the Burren to Galway. Stop at the Cliffs of Mohr and stop (or don’t) at the Aran Islands (the Islands will take a full day; you have to get a ferry there and back). There are some caves in the Burren I think your sons would enjoy; take about two hours to tour. Stay in Galway at least a day. Eat fish and chips down by the bay, drink, and be merry. Your sons will love it.</p>
<p>Take the long way NW out of Galway through Connemara and along Irish fjords up to Westport, a charming seaside town I think your sons would like. Eat the best salmon you’ve ever had. From there, head to Sligo, Yeats country. Stop at his grave. Then take the coastal route to Donegal, which is really just a little town with spectacular scenery and some fine pubs. Buy something woolen. On your way back, stop in Enniskillen to watch Belleek porcelain made by hand in the little factory. By then your sons will have had enough of bucolic countryside and you’ll need a good strong Irish coffee made with Jameson’s, of course. So stop at the very touristy Bunratty Castle and pubs before you head out of Shannon. Enjoy!</p>
<p>Most of it has been posted …
Trinity Univeristy - wonderful tour.
the CAstles and churches in Dublin - can be done by walking/ bus.
Guinness - we enjoyed it.
Golf - if you golf, they were incredible, you can rent clubs. Might take extra balls!
We stopped at a sheep ranching place - on a drive - and were given a demonstration on how the dogs herd sheep - it was well worth it.
food is great. I would get on trip advisor and check out restaurants.</p>
<p>Enjoy - it’s a great trip. Beautiful country. Nice people.</p>
<p>Jshain–thanks for the best wishes, but actually this is an old thread, and geezermom and I took our trips already. I envy your being able to get there so often; I can’t wait to go agaon.</p>
<p>My 18 yo daughter will be heading to Ireland this spring with a group. Any advice/suggestions on what my shopper-daughter should look for or classic brand names?</p>
<p>Any purpose to get Aran woolen knitwear (sweater, hat, mittens…) there rather than here (other than the emotional impact)?</p>
<p>I’ve also read about grandfather linen shirts or nightshirts (tailored shirts without collars).</p>
<p>And, also looking for suggestions on the low-end stores that might appeal to her (comparable to H&M, Forever 21 here in the states).</p>
<p>I’ve been wearing my shamrock earrings from Ireland this week. And of course tomorrow (3/17) I will be thrown a corned beef and cabbage meal into the crockpot. </p>
<p>After turning down jewelry temptations tthroughout the trip, I impulsively bought modestly priced pair at the Shannon airport.</p>
<p>I bought a classic Irish sweater in Galway and a beautiful wool blanket in Dingle–both from random stores I happened to pass. I think it’s more about randomly finding a pretty thing, rather than brands or specific stores. The sweater cost me much less than I think I could find it in the US (at least, in euros it seemed like less. :)). Tell her not to spend too much time looking for stores and brands. There’s too much beauty and fun there to be inside stores that much.</p>
<p>thanks folks - I’m sure she’ll be busy with her co-travelers and planned events. Just wanted some ideas as I know she’ll want some distinctive item from the trip.</p>