[Idyllchat] Ireland

[Jerry Clancy]

Saw this after my last post. This changes the suggested itinerary 
from my point of view. I wouldn't go farther south than the Cliffs of 
Moher (and Ennis), and Dingle will be too far south. Pity. After 
Galway, might do some of the Connemara (but maybe not), Sligo (not a 
great town but a nice area -- drive around the penninsula to the 
Strand (beach)), Co. Donegal, Lietrim and in towards Monaghan and 
Ulster. The Aran Islands off the west coast of Donegal are popular 
but the ferry schedules may make visiting impossible in your limited timeframe.

And, as I noted in the earlier post, forget hotels and do B&Bs. You 
can visit the Irish Tourist Board website and probably just book your 
first night somewhere. They publish a handbook of B&Bs. This is high 
season so if you can sketch out a rough itinerary you might try to 
book ahead in Galway, anyway. We went in August and were able to find 
places on the fly when we needed to. You just may not get first 
choice and may have to call around.

This is where we stayed just outside Donegal Town: Island View House, 
Tullaghcullion, Donegal Town, 073 22411. It was very pleasing.

One other note: The north-south route, for the most part, to Sligo is 
good but the side roads in Ireland tend to be narrow. It will take a 
day or so to get used to driving on the "wrong" side of the road, so 
take it easy and watch the blind corners and curves.

Jerry

At 03:33 PM 7/4/2007, healdsb444 at aol.com wrote:



>When I sent the message below, I neglected to say that we will be 
>renting a car and heading to Belfast where our son will be studying 
>for three weeks.  Does anyone know if it is really risky to go 
>without any hotel reservations?  We are sort of "seat of our pants" 
>kind of travelers.  How is the best way to find and contact good B & 
>Bs?  I have been told that those in Ireland are some of the best.
>
>Thanks again