Who wants to talk to me about Ireland and hols....... you know you want to

[catinthehat2]

So, wise Eireophiles:

for our week's hol I am hoping we will stay for a few days in Dublin and stay the rest of the week ...

WHERE??????

Cork?

Limerick?

Galway?

Waterford?

SOmewhere else entirely?

(we want somewhere to stay and drive every day in a different direction IYKWIM)

I am having trouble with the spoilt for choice thing. I am very grateful for any recommendations.

Thank you

Oh maryz was I supposed to stick to traffic limits?? I did it in 4 hours and 35 mins.

yes, that's always the way - it can take a very long time to cover very little ground

I spent most of my childhood holidays in Connemara, Killary Harbour, and remember it as being a wild, magical place - would definitely recommend!

We are a couple of old farts with under tens in tow Maryz. we all like Eating on hols, as we are greedy foodies. Not sure about accommodation, usually drive round and crash wherever- much more interested in the sights

The ice cream is called Maxi Twist and is still fairly widely available I think.

Rob a bank before you go :)
I'd recommend the North Coast where I'm from, it's lovely and N. Ireland is cheaper than the south. Prepare yourself for rubbish weather - not being pesimistic but really do put yourself in the mindset of "we don't give a hoot about the weather" as it will rain. I hope you have a lovely time - people are second to none. You'll want to emigrate there (but weather and cost of living in the South might send you running back).

Skip Dublin. Get the ferry from Swansea to Cork. Get food in the English market, and a nice bottle of Tanora. (Did the icecream have a gobstopper at he bottom). Then Kinsale for posh food, Baltimore for posh food but a good pizza place, Dingle for icecream. Then head up to Galway via Clare, whizz back to the east and ferry home. (Dun Laoghoire or Rosslare to avoid Dublin!)

DH reckons Dublin to Tralee should take around 3 hours these days with the motorway the whole way from Dublin to Limerick.
I would recommend Westport too, and Achill Island is astonishingly beautiful if the weather is good.

Actually, it WAS very early on a Sunday morning and I tend to drive a leettle bit fast when I'm on my own.

Kinsale Co. Cork is lovely too and Roberts Cove but Galway/Connemara would always be my first choice.

Nah go to Knock then north. Driving from Dublin to Galway is no fun any more since they made you bypass Athlone and lunch in the Bon Bouche I think it was. Then into Easons for sweets and mags and back in the car.

Best
Thread
Ever

I have only been in Athlone once. We had a picnic beside the river. We had the best tomato sandwiches ever, that day....Any votes for the middle? Cashel and Cahir are good for kids who like castles and ruins, but the cafes are rip off central.

I think the Bon Bouche did ice cream cones. Great big creamy rabbits' ears. We had three each once and were as sick as dogs...

Oh Maxi Twist! I am buying one tomorrow:)

Oh definitely West Cork. You want to visit Clonakilty, Rosscarbery, Skibbereen, Glandore, Union Hall, Schull, Balatimore and Loch Hyne. Take a ferry across to Sherkin island you'll swear you're in the middle of an Enid Blyton Famous Five adventure!! You are making me homesick (it's a long way from Oz ).

My best Irish holidays have been those where we just got in the car and went wherever the day took us!

Other than that I can recommend Clare. It's beautiful, and when you drive from Limerick past Clarecastle it's so rugged - completely different than the rest of the country that I've been to. The Cliffs of Moher are amazing (as long as you ignore the 'do not pass beyond this point' signs). I'd recommend a tiny little village called Liscannor.

C

Spent many happy summers in Mayo, Dad from Achill and would second that recommendation, stunning scenery (I love it even when blowing a gale!). Mum from Belmullet and there are also some gorgeous spots along the Mullet peninsula. Is so special to me am spending my honeymoon there in June. I borrowed a book from the library called 'Take the Kids: Ireland' which might be of use to you. Sure you'll have a great time wherever you end up .

My grandfather was from Belmullet

Maybe we are related