3 days in Ireland

Cody montana

Never actually gone on a proper holiday in Ireland, however a friend is over for 3 days in May and is asking me about an Plan of Action.
He's flying in and out of Cork.
And ideas or recommendations would be grateful, thanks.

First Up

Cody montana wrote: »

Never actually gone on a proper holiday in Ireland, however a friend is over for 3 days in May and is asking me about an Plan of Action.
He's flying in and out of Cork.
And ideas or recommendations would be grateful, thanks.

It would help to know what are your interests. Can we assume you have transport?

Cody montana

Yes, I drive.
Raw natural beauty, music, good food and company.
Any of the above would be a good start.

athtrasna

Cody montana wrote: »

Yes, I drive.
Raw natural beauty, music, good food and company.
Any of the above would be a good start.

West Cork/Kinsale and the ring of Kerry should be doable

First Up

athtrasna wrote: »

West Cork/Kinsale and the ring of Kerry should be doable

I'd agree. Kinsale for a bit of sophistication and Schull, Ballydehob, Crookhaven for craic. A bit of time in Cork city would be worthwhile too. The roads aren't great around West Cork and South Kerry so don't try to cover too much ground or you will spend half the time in the car.

Cody montana

So pushing for Galway, cliffs of Moher, Ring of Kerry is a bit much?

veetwin

Cody montana wrote: »

So pushing for Galway, cliffs of Moher, Ring of Kerry is a bit much?

Personally if you're starting and finishing in Cork and doing all that in 3 days you're going to spend most of it in the car.

I would do one night in Cork city, one in west Cork and one in Kerry and take in the ring of Kerry during one of the days.

Cork to Galway even by the most direct route is a long journey on poor enough roads.

The Bishop Basher

If you're into raw beauty, be sure not to miss Slea Head and the Conor Pass in Kerry.

Slea Head on a good day is absolutely stunning.

Cliffs of Moher are a bit meh imo.

Ailwee Caves are well worth a visit though.

The drive over the mountains from Bantry to Killarney is my favourite stretch of road simply for the scenic beauty.

Can't really go too far wrong in that neck of the woods anyway.

Enjoy !!!

First Up

Cody montana wrote: »

So pushing for Galway, cliffs of Moher, Ring of Kerry is a bit much?

You could just about squeeze in the ROK but Clare and Galway are not realistic. Have a look at the AA website Route Planner and note the journey times.

kerry4sam

Cody montana wrote: »

Never actually gone on a proper holiday in Ireland, however a friend is over for 3 days in May and is asking me about an Plan of Action.
He's flying in and out of Cork.
And ideas or recommendations would be grateful, thanks.

Cody montana wrote: »

Yes, I drive.
Raw natural beauty, music, good food and company.
Any of the above would be a good start.

Cody montana wrote: »

So pushing for Galway, cliffs of Moher, Ring of Kerry is a bit much?

Righteo your own transport; your own freedom; your own sense of adventure; your own sense of fun! 3-days anywhere in Ireland is never enough imo however,
What I'll say first-off is: don't plan too much. Have a general idea. Have your ideas, maps, activities/locations to hand, but don't plan too much. Explore. Go off the beaten track. Bring comfy shoes and just go where you feel like once you've the general areas determined and you've a sense of the area from research . Don't pre-book accommodation, plenty available out there and you might not end up where you've booked in the 3-days anywhoo.

Now,
~ get outta Cork right away. You have to end up there for the flight back out so leave Cork til last.
Next,
~ head up the WestCoast: drive upto Ballyvaughan/Lisdoonvarna/Burren area and work your own down toward Kilkee - Beauty beyond words in Clare! (1-day)
~ amazing heritage/castles, ruins, monastic sites, abbeys etc all right through from the mid-lands toward ... (2-day)
~ Kerry: forget the Ring of Kerry. Unless you plan on cycling the Ring of Kerry then forget it! Drive toward Inch Beach, Dingle, the Peninsula Drive instead - far more inspiring imo. (3-day).

The amount of people who walk into me saying "tell me about your Ring of Kerry. I mean, what is this 'Ring'. We've been told we've to do this 'Ring' but what is it?!" - Please do some research yourself also. Walk into your local Tourist Office; browse the info there etc and don't walk in anywhere this un-prepared about the area you find yourself in, especially with only 3-days!

The Ring of Kerry is Amazing! 180km town-hopping that's truly best experienced on a bicycle rather than being stuck in a car/bus for hours on end. Far more variety in your surroundings en route toward Dingle imo.
^^^ Now in saying that, I've not seen the Ring since I cycled it last July

~ make your way back toward Cork: Blarney and even just explore the City from there also; Midleton; Cobh; Kinsale... Crikey, Cork alone has such variety in itself.

Hope that helps in some way,
kerry4sam

Cody montana

Thanks guys, much appreciated, 1 day in Clare, 1 day in Kerry and 1 day in Cork, sorted!

First Up

Cody montana wrote: »

Thanks guys, much appreciated, 1 day in Clare, 1 day in Kerry and 1 day in Cork, sorted!

Too much driving but its your call.

keithclancy

kerry4sam wrote: »

Righteo your own transport; your own freedom; your own sense of adventure; your own sense of fun! 3-days anywhere in Ireland is never enough imo however,
What I'll say first-off is: don't plan too much. Have a general idea. Have your ideas, maps, activities/locations to hand, but don't plan too much. Explore. Go off the beaten track. Bring comfy shoes and just go where you feel like once you've the general areas determined and you've a sense of the area from research . Don't pre-book accommodation, plenty available out there and you might not end up where you've booked in the 3-days anywhoo.

Now,
~ get outta Cork right away. You have to end up there for the flight back out so leave Cork til last.
Next,
~ head up the WestCoast: drive upto Ballyvaughan/Lisdoonvarna/Burren area and work your own down toward Kilkee - Beauty beyond words in Clare! (1-day)
~ amazing heritage/castles, ruins, monastic sites, abbeys etc all right through from the mid-lands toward ... (2-day)
~ Kerry: forget the Ring of Kerry. Unless you plan on cycling the Ring of Kerry then forget it! Drive toward Inch Beach, Dingle, the Peninsula Drive instead - far more inspiring imo. (3-day).

The amount of people who walk into me saying "tell me about your Ring of Kerry. I mean, what is this 'Ring'. We've been told we've to do this 'Ring' but what is it?!" - Please do some research yourself also. Walk into your local Tourist Office; browse the info there etc and don't walk in anywhere this un-prepared about the area you find yourself in, especially with only 3-days!

The Ring of Kerry is Amazing! 180km town-hopping that's truly best experienced on a bicycle rather than being stuck in a car/bus for hours on end. Far more variety in your surroundings en route toward Dingle imo.
^^^ Now in saying that, I've not seen the Ring since I cycled it last July

~ make your way back toward Cork: Blarney and even just explore the City from there also; Midleton; Cobh; Kinsale... Crikey, Cork alone has such variety in itself.

Hope that helps in some way,
kerry4sam

ROK on a bicycle jeebus I'd go sky diving in Libya first

dixiefly

Cody montana wrote: »

Thanks guys, much appreciated, 1 day in Clare, 1 day in Kerry and 1 day in Cork, sorted!

While I love Clare, you should cut your cloth to suit. There will be ample to do and see in Cork city, Kinsale, West Cork and Dingle peninsula staying in Dingle one night and a few beers in Dick Macks and Foxy Johns. Clare would stretch it a bit. keep the jewels of Spanish Point, Cliffs of Moher and Loop Head for their next visit.