Engaging Ireland - Episode 11 - A Whirlwind Tour of Ireland

04/01/09 • 38 min

In response to a listener's questions and comments, we produced this show in order to illustrate what a two-week vacation in Ireland could look like. This is only one of an infinite number of options available to travellers, but it will give you an idea of what you *can* do.

Fasten your seatbelts for a whirlwind tour of the Republic and Northern Ireland!

Ferries from Rossaveel (Bus available from Galway City)

Aran Island Ferries

www.aranislandferries.com

Aran Direct

www.arandirect.com

Ferries from Doolin

Doolin 2 Aran Ferries

http://www.aran-island-ferry.com/

Aran Doolin Ferries

http://www.doolinferries.com/

Doolin Ferry

http://www.doolinferry.com/

Moher Cruises

http://www.cliffs-of-moher-cruises.com/

(This carrier provides service to Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher cruises, as do some of the other Doolin operators.)

Flights to the Aran Islands

Aer Arann

http://www.aerarannislands.ie/

Shuttle buses for ferries and flights leave from Galway (and Kilronan) daily, but you can drive yourself out to the airport or ferry docks if you prefer.

Other Links

Kylemore Abbey

http://www.kylemoreabbey.com/

Connemara Region

http://www.connemaraireland.com/

County Mayo Home Page

http://www.mayo-ireland.ie/

(with links to towns and attractions in County Mayo, including the village of Murrisk and the town of Westport)

County Sligo Home Page

http://www.countysligo.com/

Sligo Heritage Page

http://www.sligoheritage.com/

Enniskillen Home Page

http://www.enniskillen.com/

Ulster American Folk Park

http://www.folkpark.com/

Dungiven Castle

http://www.dungivencastle.com/welcome.html

North Antrim Information

http://www.northantrim.com/

Giant’s Causeway

http://www.northantrim.com/giantscauseway.htm

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

http://www.northantrim.com/carrick_a_rede.htm

Dunluce Castle/Carrickfergus Castle

http://www.geographia.com/northern-ireland/ukiant03.htm

Monasterboice

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/ireland/monasterboice.htm

Mellifont Abbey

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/ireland/mellifont-abbey.htm

Bru na Boinne

http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/MidlandsEastCoast/BrunaBoinneVisitorCentreNewgrangeandKnowth/

Loughcrew

http://www.loughcrew.com/cairns.htm

(When you return the key to the cairn, be sure to take a trip through the Loughcrew Gardens or buy a cup of tea or coffee and a snack at the Coffee Shop.)

National Museum of Ireland

http://www.museum.ie/en/homepage.aspx

Dublin Bus Tours (we’re not making a recommendation of one over another...)

http://www.dublintours.net/tours/tourDetail.cfm?tour_id=7192

http://194.106.151.179/sightseeing/index.aspx

Kilkenny Self-Guided Walking Tour

http://www.knockahopple.com/Kilkenny.pdf

Kells Augustinian Priory

http://www.kellsvillage.bravepages.com/priory.htm

Cashel town and the Rock of Cashel

http://www.cashel.ie/

Mallow Information

Fasten your seatbelts for a whirlwind tour of the Republic and Northern Ireland!

Ferries from Rossaveel (Bus available from Galway City)

Aran Island Ferries

www.aranislandferries.com

Aran Direct

www.arandirect.com

Ferries from Doolin

Doolin 2 Aran Ferries

http://www.aran-island-ferry.com/

Aran Doolin Ferries

http://www.doolinferries.com/

Doolin Ferry

http://www.doolinferry.com/

Moher Cruises

http://www.cliffs-of-moher-cruises.com/

(This carrier provides service to Aran Islands and Cliffs of Moher cruises, as do some of the other Doolin operators.)

Flights to the Aran Islands

Aer Arann

http://www.aerarannislands.ie/

Shuttle buses for ferries and flights leave from Galway (and Kilronan) daily, but you can drive yourself out to the airport or ferry docks if you prefer.

Other Links

Kylemore Abbey

http://www.kylemoreabbey.com/

Connemara Region

http://www.connemaraireland.com/

County Mayo Home Page

http://www.mayo-ireland.ie/

(with links to towns and attractions in County Mayo, including the village of Murrisk and the town of Westport)

County Sligo Home Page

http://www.countysligo.com/

Sligo Heritage Page

http://www.sligoheritage.com/

Enniskillen Home Page

http://www.enniskillen.com/

Ulster American Folk Park

http://www.folkpark.com/

Dungiven Castle

http://www.dungivencastle.com/welcome.html

North Antrim Information

http://www.northantrim.com/

Giant’s Causeway

http://www.northantrim.com/giantscauseway.htm

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

http://www.northantrim.com/carrick_a_rede.htm

Dunluce Castle/Carrickfergus Castle

http://www.geographia.com/northern-ireland/ukiant03.htm

Monasterboice

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/ireland/monasterboice.htm

Mellifont Abbey

http://www.sacred-destinations.com/ireland/mellifont-abbey.htm

Bru na Boinne

http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/MidlandsEastCoast/BrunaBoinneVisitorCentreNewgrangeandKnowth/

Loughcrew

http://www.loughcrew.com/cairns.htm

(When you return the key to the cairn, be sure to take a trip through the Loughcrew Gardens or buy a cup of tea or coffee and a snack at the Coffee Shop.)

National Museum of Ireland

http://www.museum.ie/en/homepage.aspx

Dublin Bus Tours (we’re not making a recommendation of one over another...)

http://www.dublintours.net/tours/tourDetail.cfm?tour_id=7192

http://194.106.151.179/sightseeing/index.aspx

Kilkenny Self-Guided Walking Tour

http://www.knockahopple.com/Kilkenny.pdf

Kells Augustinian Priory

http://www.kellsvillage.bravepages.com/priory.htm

Cashel town and the Rock of Cashel

http://www.cashel.ie/

Mallow Information

Previous Episode

Engaging Ireland - Episode 10 - Ardmore and Lismore

Ardmore http://www.travelireland.org/waterford/ardmore/index.html Scenic Walks around Ardmore http://www.newtownfarm.com/walksinardmore.pdf Kathy likes this travel blog about Ardmore http://travelblog.viator.com/ardmore-yes-ardmore/ Waterford Scenic Drives http://www.waterfordtourism.org/drives.htm Lismore Castle http://www.lismorecastle.com/ The art gallery in the West Wing of the castle http://www.lismorecastlearts.ie/ Lismore Heritage Center http://www.discoverlismore.com/ Comeragh Mountains and Nire Valley Information http://homepage.eircom.net/~gracedieu/Walking.htm http://www.waterfordcoco.ie/en/tourism/activitiesandattractions/walkingroutes/nirevalley/ http://www.traildatabase.org/countries/ireland.html General Information about things to do in County Waterford http://www.countywaterford.com/waterford_environment_lismore.htm Follow us on Twitter: Podcast Updates - http://www.twitter.com/EngagingIreland Travis - http://www.twitter.com/TD_Nelson Kathy - http://www.twitter.com/Kathy_SixEight

Next Episode

Engaging Ireland - Episode 12 - All Ireland Travel Interview (Part 1)

All Ireland Travel website (Kemberlee and Peter’s website)

http://www.allirelandtravel.com/

Peruse the site and check out the information related to travel to and within Ireland, as well as information about car rental and accommodation. As Kemberlee notes in our interview, the information/descriptions for many of the attractions and accommodations listed on the website were recently updated and expanded.

While you’re there, be sure to check out their blog. The link to it is found under “More Information” (select “blogspot”). You can also link to the Ireland Yahoo group from the website and sign up to join the discussions!

Dublin Pass and Ireland-at-a-Glimpse guides

Please visit the All Ireland Travel website for links to purchase these. They are also a great deal, if you are going to visit several of the places covered under each pass. Check the website to see if the places you are planning to visit are covered!

Lee Valley Clothing: http://www.leevalley.ie/

We had lunch and conducted our interview with Peter and Kemberlee at the Lee Valley Retail Outlet in Inchigeela (west of Cork City just off the N22 on the R584), which just happens to have a lovely cafeteria upstairs.

Other things to do in the Inchigeela (or Inchigeelagh)/Lee Valley area

http://www.inchigeelagh.com/Activities.htm

This is (yet another) lovely part of Ireland with a lot to offer the outdoors enthusiast.

OPW Heritage Card

http://www.heritageireland.ie/

The Heritage Card is a pass for entry to sites maintained and operated by the Office of Public Works in Ireland. You can purchase passes before you go to Ireland by downloading and completing the form (available at the website) and mailing it in with payment. Or you can just purchase the pass at the first OPW site you visit while in Ireland. (You may also pay per site if you don’t care to purchase the Heritage Card. You don’t have to have a card to get into the sites.)

Check the online site while you’re planning your vacation to see how many of the Heritage Sites you might visit and the cost per each entry. Some sites cost as little as €2, while other sites cost as much as €11 (for Newgrange/Knowth/Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre).