Our 2016 IrelandTravel Experience
County Antrim in Northern Ireland.
Our 2016 travel experience to Ireland:
John and I had a wonderful opportunity to spend two weeks in Ireland in 2016. Neither of us knew just how much this trip would impact us. The history, the inspiration, the beauty. We enjoyed it all so much. Since that memorable travel event we have had many conversations with others and encourage those interested to get to Ireland and experience it for themselves. On several occasions we have been asked to share some of the recommendations for a visit to Ireland so I will try to do that here. We hope you enjoy this as much as we enjoy sharing...
☘️ Slainte! (The Celtic toast to health! 🥃 ) ☘️
Our plan for Ireland travel:
Hotel Reservations:
We did not make reservations for all of our 14 nights and instead opted to leave some nights open and flexible. Since we had not ever traveled in this manner we were a bit nervous, but found it to be a successful way to slow down and take the time to experience more in each location.
Food and dining out:
We found that if we ate a “full Irish” breakfast we could get through the day with just a small snack and then happen upon a nice evening meal at a local pub or restaurant. In addition to the full Irish there are many hotels that serve a substantial selection of fresh cheeses, breads, honey, meats, and fruit that you may not want to be in hurry to hit the road. Breakfast always seem to be simply lovely way to spend a relaxing morning before starting our day of travel.
Car rental:
Definitely rent a car and plan to drive around the country if you have the time. Every area is unique and filled with history, greenery, old castles, ruins and so much beauty. Just be sure and rent the “Automatic” as it can be a challenge driving a manual on the left hand side of the road. The roads in the countryside tend to be very narrow and coming across those large tour buses in not uncommon and a bit intimidating as you can see above. Our little Peugeot got us around but John definitely missed having an automatic! 😂
Famine Statues of Ireland along the River Liffey.
Ireland Locations and our Travel Experience:
Dublin - 2 nights:
Hotel: Crown Plaza Airport
Best breakfast during our two week stay.
While it is a bit out of the main area of Dublin, we easily jumped on a bus and were dropped off on O’Connell Street, the main thoroughfare of Dublin.
Visiting Dublin:
Ride the Hop On - Hop Off bus. It is a wonderful tour of the city and you can step off any time to visit one of the many sites.
Tour the Guinness Storehouse and then spend time enjoying a fresh pour on the top floor as you overlook the city.
Teeling Distillery was just a short walk from Guinness so we made our way for a tasting.
Take the tour of Kilmainham Goal Museum- The historic Irish Jail... Fascinating.
We stopped and viewed the St. Patrick’s Cathedral as the choir practiced for Sunday celebrations.
A walk through St. Steven’s Gate park was a good way to stretch the legs on a clear day.
A walk along the River Liffey is so worthwhile. The Famine Statues along the path are sobering.
Temple Bar: We found a local pub called the Trinity and enjoyed Irish Stew and Guinness.
Our evening was spent whiskey tasting at the local shops.
Stop in to any location that is playing Irish music and sip a pint as you enjoy the culture or follow the dancers as they move from one location to the next.
The Heritage Sites of Ireland: We purchased a pass for two adults and it was well worth it. We ended up stopping at several locations that we may not have otherwise known about. This was the Newgrange passage tomb, a tour we would definitely recommend.
The Parliament Building of Belfast in Northern Ireland is just one of the many added tour options you can plan for.
Driving North to Belfast - 2 nights:
Hotel: Holiday Inn at City Center
Breakfast was black pudding, beans, fresh breads, and a cappuccino. Not bad for a last minute booking.
Visiting Belfast:
Along the way you have the opportunity to stop at Bro’ na Boinne Co. Meath, one of the many Heritage Sites. We only had time to take the tour of Newgrange and would definitely recommend it. A walk through this historical passage tomb will “lighten” your day.
After a 3 hour drive to Belfast we only had enough time to settle in for the night with a Jamseon’s from the downstairs bar.
The City Tours bus of Belfast was another tour we would recommend. We caught the bus in front of our motel and toured the city. Hearing the history from the driver is eye opening. Most impressive was the The Security Gates (the town is still divided) murals and the past conflicts. The Parliament Building can be toured if you have time.
Take a tour of the Titanic Museum. You can’t miss the H&W ship building docks as you drive through the city.
We ate at the historic Crown Bar for the famous Fish and Chips.
We drove from Belfast and head north to Glenarm in County Antrim. (John’s family home.)
The Giant’s Causeway is a bit touristy. We enjoyed taking photos there but we might have preferred to use our time taking a tour of Bushmills. Be sure and check on line for times and tickets prior to arriving.
While in Northern Ireland we took the time to stop at The Giant’s Causeway - an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption. Located in the beautiful County Antrim, about three miles northeast of the town of Bushmills.
Continuing on to Derry:
Hotel: Ramada Da Vinci’s Hotel - 1 Night
This last minute plan worked well. We could walk the 20 minutes to the Peace Bridge that divides Derry and Londonderry.
Activity while in Derry / Londonderry
The view from Butcher’s Gate and the “Walled City” is a piece of history worth learning about.
We would have enjoyed exploring this area more if we had planned more time.
Donegal Castle is on the way from Londonderry to Galway. Who wouldn’t enjoy visiting a castle? Just look at it. 😂
Heading West towards Galway:
Hotel: Maldron Inn Hotel in Galway - 1 night:
We drove to Boyle Abbey (looking for O’Boyle history of course:)
Along the way we spotted a hiking sign and pulled off the road and traveled up to the gate. The sign said “be sure to lock the gate to keep the sheep in.” We made our way up to the top of the hillside, just John and I and several herd of sheep. The views were amazing! Finding a bit of peace and quiet away from people and traffic was a welcome respite. That said, we also stumbled onto several passage tombs along the upper ridge!
The Poulnabrone Portal Tomb.
We check in to our hotel and freshen up. The 15 minute walk from our hotel into Galway lead us to an outdoor meal along the plaza that let us enjoy the sights and sounds of the “youngest town” in Europe.
We made our way towards the local pubs and waited until we heard the music of Irish fiddles, flutes, accordions, and Celtic Bodhrans. Stop in for a beer or an Irish Whiskey and listen to the inspirational talents of the local musicians! A definite must when in Ireland.
We arise early to drive to the Cliffs of Moher. We found a detour to Poulnabrone Dolman - a Portal Tomb that weighs over 2 tons and dates back 5000 years. Very interesting once you arrive but be warned - the roads are narrow, there are many tour buses, and it is a bit out of the way.
The Cliffs of Moher are a classic stop and simply stunning. We did experience high winds and fog but no rain and we were glad we stopped.
Limerick
Hotel: Limerick City Hotel - 1 night
We would skip Limerick and this hotel. Either we did not have enough time or it just did not hold our interest. In the past it was known as “Stab City” for the gang violence. We did not encounter any safety issues. We stayed in and took the time to rest up, do a little laundry, and prepare for the next day.
From Limerick we drove to Dingle rather than drive the popular Ring of Kerry. This fantastic drive was filled with sunshine and warmth and one our more beautiful days in Ireland.
After stopping at the Dingle visitor center we took the clerk’s advice and drove around the peninsula.
Be sure to stop at the Gallarus Oratory along the peninsula for the 1300 year old stone church.
Killarney:
Hotel: Killarney Court Hotel - Breakfast was eloquent with table service. Very nice.
Once in Killarney you can tour the Ross Castle: It is just out of town and a short castle tour. It has been rebuilt and the tour was quite entertaining.
On to County Cork:
Hotel in Cork - Clayton Hotel Silver Springs: - Non-discript but functional. We stayed 2 nights to take in the local sites and tours.
Blarney Castle: Do you really need to “Kiss the Blarney Stone?” If you do go, know that there is a fee to the gentlemen that guide you. Somehow John had enough flexibility to “Kiss the Blarney Stone” and will forever be blessed by the “Luck of the Irish.” ☘️😂
The grounds are beautiful and if you do decide to visit, be sure and walk to the Fern Garden...the largest ferns we have ever seen!
Take the Jameson Distillery Tour in Middleton just out of Cork. Be sure and add the extended Whiskey tasting. We found it informative and the whiskey very good: Red Breast, Yellowspot, Greenspot, etc.
From Cork we drove to Kinsale where the Lusitania went down. If we could do it again we would have spent more time here, even a night or two. It is just a quaint town and seems like a nice place to take a leisurely walk through town, stop for dinner, and enjoy the views along the water.
Charles Fort Tour:
If you want British and Irish history you will get it here and the views the bay and surrounding area are fantastic.
We walked from our hotel in Kilkenny to “Matt the Millers Tavern.” If you can find the band “The Kilkenny’s” playing anywhere in Ireland we would recommend dropping in. The upbeat Irish tunes are the best. They happened to be playing at Matt the Millers while we were in town.
Kilkenny:
Hotel: Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel - 1 Night
A spa like 4 star hotel with pool, gym, and a great Irish breakfast.
The Kilkenny Castle: A Heritage Site. An impressive museum in a Medieval Town. We only had a half hour for the tour but did experience some of the impressive rooms with over 600 paintings and the outdoor gardens and grounds were amazing.
Rock of Cashel:
Along the way we stopped at the Rock of Cashel. This may have been one of John’s favorite stops. The Abbey ruins, the cemetery, and the views really made for a nice day.
Return to Dublin for our final walk along the River Liffey.
Things we may have missed or were recommended by others:
Stay in a Castle: The Dromoland Castle is nice.
Pick up a map of Heritage Sites of Ireland to have on hand as your drive.
Drink Murphy’s in the South and Guinness in the North. 😊
The Ring of Kerry - a bit of a drive but people say it is well worth the effort.
And always... when you hear it playing, follow the music to that pub. You will not be disappointed.
I hope this gets you started on your plans! Let me know if you have any questions.
And, if you find the time be sure and share an email with a full report after your trip!
Caroline ☘️
Our recommendation for a travel book of Ireland.
Rick Steves will always give some great recommendations for your travel. We found that watching videos, checking out library books, and talking with others is a great way to know what you want to do when you make it to this wonderful country!
Ancient Ireland may have been some of our favorite stops.
This Ireland Travel Guide includes hidden gems and ancient castles. I am using this for our next adventure to this beautiful country!
John and Caroline - Ireland, 2016
Just a few more photos to entice you to visit this beautiful location. It seemed that every picture we took was print worthy and each photo brings back such warm memories.
Thanks for reading!
