summer

A suggested itinerary for your
Self - drive Vacation
Summer 2008
with Bed and Breakfast
Irish Itinerary
9 days - 7 nights in Ireland

The power of Ireland is not in its land, but in the people you meet along the way. The incredible warmth of the Irish people makes you feel welcome, and they always have time for strangers. Ireland is a land where strangers call you friend. Irishmen are born talkers, and since tradition lives on the lips, this ease of communication is much to the advantage of the seeker after local lore. Enjoy the people and the countryside of Ireland. Take your time in experiencing Ireland, see it in a new way, perhaps in the way that James Joyce would approve. He was a master of observation, a writer who well knew the power of detail.

The 15th century Bunratty Castle is the centerpiece of a fantastic folk park.
Durty Nellie's Pub, a fun place for an early supper and Irish music.

The Cliffs of Moher is a must see. The Cliffs are one of Ireland's most spectacular sights. These awe-inspiring bastions of rock rise sheer from the sea to a height of nearly 670 feet and run relentlessly for five miles.

Today you'll drive through the Burren up the coastal road to the town of Doolin. You could drive farther up the coastal road, around Black Head, to the town of Ballyvaughan. "Monks Bar" would be a great place for lunch, it's a lovely little pub. The Burren is a unique limestone platform - a startling bleak landscape. It is unlike anywhere else in Ireland. Doolin is a small Irish town, one block long, and is home to three pubs that are famous for their Irish music. We spent one evening at O'Connors, and the traditional music was great. Their reputation has spread so far, that in high season summer it is impossible to get in. Enjoy the pubs.

You can catch the Tarbet Ferry which travels across the mouth of the River Shannon and is a shortcut around Limerick City and down to Kerry County. It runs about every hour or so and costs about 14 Euros a car. ($21.00)

The town of Killarney is a good place to shop, you can hear Irish music. In the evening the Laurel is a fun place for sing alongs. In Killarney you can hire a jaunting cart and travel through the countryside and arrive at the grounds of Muckross House and Killarney National Park.

The Ring of Kerry, an abundance of natural beauty awaits you. The glacier- made mountains are left over from the ice age. The rock formations, mountain roads and scenic lakes will take your breath away. There are three big lakes: Lough Leane, Upper Lake and Muckross Lake. Molls Gap and Ladies View are among my favorite spots in Ireland. The best way to see the Ring of Kerry is by bus as you are sitting above the hedgerows, with a grand view. The bus will pick you up at the hotel and bring you back. Cost is about 21 Euros ($31.00)

Cork City is the third largest city in Ireland and a city where you can walk and shop and the day will drift away. *Cobh Harbor and the museum which tells of the exodus from Ireland during the famine times. Your visit to the Cobh Heritage Center may evoke memories of your own ancestors who traveled from here to the United States. You can trace your Sullivan Family roots. The Titanic made her last stop in Cobh on her fatal Voyage. There is a new restaurant close by called the "Titanic". Blarney Castle where you have an opportunity to acquire the gift of eloquence by kissing the famous stone. There are signs marking the way. At Blarney Woolen Mills you can find lovely woolens, linens and jewelry.

Kinsale, nestled in a hilly consummately picturesque inlet 18 miles south of Cork City, is called "The Riviera of Ireland". You can feast on some of the finest cuisine, in this, "the gourmet capital of Ireland" with its 30 plus restaurants. A great place for lunch. This rugged finger of earth, is marked by castle ruins and a lighthouse "Old Head". Walk this beautiful picturesque fishing village with it's steep narrow, winding streets and colorful ancient building. Many of the houses feature a Spanish accent that can be traced back to the Battle of Kinsale in 1601, when the Irish and Spanish joined forces here to fight the English - and lost. As you walk you will find many gift shops, restaurants and Irish pubs.

Drive to Waterford and see the Waterford Crystal Factory. You can take a tour of the factory. It's a fantastic experience to see the craftsman at work. After seeing the crystal made you will better appreciate it.

Between Waterford and Tramore is Reginald's Tower dating back to the 11th century. Built by the Vikings, as part of Waterford's defenses, it has served as a royal residence, mint and a jail.

Tramore is a delightful seaside resort, with 3 miles of beaches with 30 meter high dunes on the east end. You can stand on the dunes and watch the waves coming from the Celtic Sea into Tramore Bay. Take some time and enjoy the town.

7th Night - Adare

Leave Waterford and drive through Cahir and Tipperary to Adare.

Cahir Castle is a good stop and has a excellent audio visual show. I found it to be one of the most interesting restored castles, and there is much information on the life and battles of that time.

Adare is a lovely town with thatched roof cottages, narrow streets and ivy covered churches. Many of the cottages are craft and knitwear shops. There is a lot of history in this town. It's the picturesque Irish town that you have dreamed about.

"I've met some folks who say that I'm a dreamer,
And I've no doubt there's truth in what they say,"