Two days in Western Ireland
I check out from a hotel in Limerick on Sunday morning, and I have a flight out of Dublin at 2:30 PM on Tuesday. This leaves me with an ungenerous 2.5 days to explore Ireland. Where to go and what to do?
Likes, dislikes and constraints: I haven't been to Ireland in 15 years and don't really remember anything except that it was green and it rains a lot, so the country is pretty much a blank slate to me. My primary interests would probably be nature or Celtic sites, as I'm not particularly keen on whisky or Guinness. The final caveats are that I'll be limited to public transport (yes, I know Ireland's great driving country, but I don't have a driver's license), and I'll be on a fairly conservative budget, as I don't see the point in splurging on hotels or meals when traveling alone. And oh yes, I'll be spending a day in Dublin earlier on the trip, so that's not a priority.
My current thinking is to head to Galway and spend the two nights there, doing daytrips to the Aran Islands (prob. by plane) or the Cliffs of Moher depending on the weather. Then I can take the train out of Galway to Dublin (09:15->11:58) and get to the airport; I would actually have liked to try my luck with Aer Arann, but while the price is right (from 39e all in), their schedules are kinda sucky for me: to catch my onward flight I'd need to take the 07:45, because the next flight is only at 14:25.
jani
...or bus?
Hmm. NestorLink seems to have a direct bus from Galway, leaving at 09.30, arriving at 13.15. At 18e, this is probably the cheapest option, but I suspect the train would be more comfortable and allow a bigger safety margin?
Edit: No idea what I was looking at earlier, but now the schedule says the bus arrives at 12:45 -- a rather more comfortable margin (and shorter trip). So the bus it is. Citylink also has a direct Galway-DUB service, but neither schedule nor price is any better:
http://www.citylink.ie/timetable-galw2dubl.htm
Galway and Clare
Jani, Nestorlink buses are grand, the journey probably takes about 3(ish) hours with a break along the way. If it's 15 years since you've been to Ireland, you'll probably notice a few changes. Galway would be a great place to go and the Aran Islands will give you a great perspective of the wildness of Western Europe (i.e., an island (Aran) off an island (Ireland) off an island (Great Britain) off Europe!!) Make sure to visit Dún Aengus(Aengus's fort), which is on the cliff edge on Inismore, and while there, lie flat on the ground, and look over the edge of the cliff!!! Breathtaking!
Other places you could visit along the way include the Burren in County Clare, full of historic and archeological sites, an unusual flora, containing Arctic, Mediterranean and Alpine plants side-by-side, due to the unusual environment. The Ailwee Cave is nearby and worth a visit. The Cliffs of Moher are also worth visiting.
However, if you're relying on public transport, it may not be possible to get to see all of these sights, you'll just have to come back to Ireland for a further visit!! ;)
Dermot.
The.Q
logged in now
P.S. the above comment was by me, now that I've logged in.
The.Q
further info
Jani, as I'm travelling to Clare on my summer holidays this year, I had some literature which I looked up last night. I came across a brochure for "Professionally Guided Sightseeing Day Tours" from Galway Tour Company. They operate 2 guided tours which may be of interest to you, as follows:
1. Cliffs of Moher & Burren (all day, 10:00AM to 5:30PM, EUR25 Adult, EUR20 Student/senior) start at Galway, go to Oranmore, Clarinbridge (location of world famous Oyster festival), Kilcongal, Dungaire Castle (16th Century), Kinvara, Corcomroe Hill, Corcomroe Abbey (Cistercian Abbey, named for St. mary of the Fertile Rock), Ballyvaughan, Ballyalban Earthen Ring Fort (prehistoric ring/fairy-fort), Gleninsheen Gold Collar and Tomb (wedge tomb dating back to 2500BC), Poulnabrone Dolmen (Neolithic landmark, c. 5,800 years old), Caherconnell Stone Fort, Leamanagh Castle, Kilfenora (City of the Crosses, 6th century high crosses), Lisdoonvarna (annual matchmaking festival), Cliffs of Moher (2 hours stop here), Doolin, Ballyreen, Fanore, Black Head, Leprechaun head, Gleninagh Castle, and back to Galway.
2. Connemara & Cong Tour (all day, 10:00AM to 5:30PM, EUR25 Adult, EUR20 Student/senior) start at Galway, go North to Ross Errily Friary (14th Century Franciscan Abbey), Ballymagibbon Cairn, Glebe Stone Circle (Neolithic stone circles and cairns), Cong Village & Abbey (location of "The Quiet Man" and Ashford Castle), Cong Woods, Lough Nafooey (fantastic mountain lake and valley scenery), "Killer Sheep", Leenane, Killary Fjord (Ireland's only fjord, home to pods of dolphins and mussel farms), Peat Bogs, Kylemore Abbey and Gardens (late 19th Century monastic home of Benedictine Order of Nuns, with Victorian Walled garden), The Inagh Valley, Recess, Maam Cross, Quiet Man Bridge (original from the movie, or is it?), Oughterard and back to Galway.
I don't know anything about the tour company, but the tours seem to take in quite a bit of what anyone would wish to see in a day from Galway.
Hope this helps,
Dermot.
The.Q
bus or train?
Just noticed the final comment regarding bus or train. Nestor Bus will bring you directly to Dublin Airport, whereas the Train from Galway only brings you to Heuston Station in Dublin city. This is quite a bus/taxi ride to the airport in Dublin city traffic, so I'd imagine the bus is the better option.
Dermot.
The.Q
Update on tour company
Just looked up the Galway tour company on TripAdvisor.com and while you sometimes have to take them with a pinch of salt, there's not one bad review there.
Galway walking Tours
there is a company that operates walking tours and i have heard nothing but good things about them, i think the usual history plus a little bit local trivia and insight.http://galwaytours.ie
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