We really loved Scotland a few years ago and wanted to give Ireland a try. Please let me know what you think. The Beara peninsula is worth a day on its own, your trip up to Killarney to explore the NP will use up another, and just meandering around the ROK will make for a very pleasant day - maybe two if you want to explore the Gap of Dunloe, either on foot, by bike or by one of the jaunting cars. Thanks for the trip report, Don. By the time we got off on the 2-lane I was used to it - and then my wife would help by screaming every time I started to forget on which side of the road to drive. Thanks again! Fans of Rick's books have been reading Cameron's words (often without knowing it) … Kinsale 2 Nights Rounding Slea Head, the point in Europe closest to America, the rugged coastline offers smashing views of deadly black-rock cliffs. He has written many books about travel in various countries of Europe and has a television travel … The Cliffs of Kerry are similar to Moher, and several people we saw there thought it was more satisfying, mostly because of the no crowds. On our last trip to Ireland, we included a trip to Skellig Michael, and it was absolutely magical. Get inspired with Rick Steves’ recommended places to go and things to do, with tips, photos, videos, and travel information on Ireland. Just gotta find the back door. I personally prefer the Kerry Peninsula over Dingle but that's just a personal preference. The Irish like to say that in a pub, you’re a guest on your first night; after that, you’re a regular. Clifden: 4 Nights 73 $23.99 $23.99. Its shape is reminiscent of an upturned boat. In the darkest depths of the Dark Ages, when literate life almost died in Europe, peace-loving, scholarly monks fled the chaos of the Continent and its barbarian raids. We have been reviewing previous threads and after a ton of mulling things over have come up with the below ROUGH itinerary. While English is everywhere, the signs, songs, and chitchat are in Gaelic. A little rain will just add to the experience. Dingle: 4 Nights Relax some. With knees up and heads down, the music goes round and round. Along with the very pretty Connemara Loop drive that connects the National Park (nice hikes), Kylemore Abbey and the village of Cong (Ashford & the Hawk Walk) there's a hidden little gem nearby - the short ferry ride from the village of Cleggan over to the island of Inish Bofin. Sure enough, here’s where the locals are. We did a very similar itinerary in fall of 2019 in reverse order. Travel host extraordinaire Rick Steves revealed in a blog post this week that — despite an estimated 4,000 days of travel under his belt and despite … Ireland offers so much it was hard to choose but we have settled on mostly the West coast for now. Some new travel materials you may enjoy! Of the peninsula’s 10,000 residents, 1,500 live in Dingle town. It's a point to point 200 km hike but you can do parts of it as day hikes. No matter how you organize your trip you'll love it. I’ve been to John Cleere’s Pub in Kilkenny and I’m headed for Dingel next, so I don’t need live music. Each vacation day is so valuable to us that we like to try and get the most out of it. So the itinerary could look like below perhaps. Although we liked Doolin, we think Galway has more music choices, which is a priority for us. Part of the R.O.K and possibly Beara. I can also give you my B&B recommendations if you are interested. Believe me, it was out of necessity. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com. It's located along the banks of the Shannon and it doesn't take much imagination to envision Viking longboats cruising up the river to raid the place in the 11th & 12th centuries. And whatever the American is drinking”. Also I think an automatic car is well worth the extra money. Portions of it abut the southern end of the Gap of Dunloe. I follow the music into a pub and order a pint. Blog, Europe, Street Art Ireland, Itinerary, Northern Ireland, Rick Steves, United Kingdom About Carol Guttery Carol Guttery is the founder of Wayfaring Views, and is a travel writer, photographer, and philanthropy consultant. Just a thought, but another evocative monastic site is Clonmacnoise - on your way from Clifden back to Dublin on your last day. I asked him if he had lived here all his life. Rick Steves Europe Through the Back Door: The Travel Skills Handbook (Rick Steves Travel Guide) by Rick Steves | Dec 10, 2019 4.6 out of 5 stars 46 I am ten days and many pints in on a 30-day tour of Ireland, with no car (never learned to drive) and nothing but your guidebook to lead me. Both books are packed with hand-picked recommendations and Rick's travel advice and tips for saving time, money, and hassle. We plan on stopping at the Gardens of Powerscourt, drive through the Wicklow Mountains and try and stop at Glendalough. ©2021 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy, Daily Dose of Europe: Ireland’s Dingle Peninsula — The Next Parish Over Is Boston, Rick Steves Ireland: The Birth of a New Walking Tour, Learning the Joy of Giving in Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains, The Edmonds Theater — An Extra-Large Bag of Small-Town Memories. What he sells in his guide book is instruction to send you where he wants you to go and do what he wants you to do. I was using Rick's itinerary he has in the book and tweaking it for our liking. It is so hard even with multiple guide books to decide. I’ll be sure to tell you all about it once I’m there — and, of course, you’ll find it all in the 2020 edition of Rick Steves Ireland. A one night trip to Inishmor from Galway (or Doolin) is a nice chance to bicycle for a day. Rick Steves Ireland, the complete guide, offers more coverage of more destinations in a mostly black-and-white format, and is updated annually. And as I looked for a pub this evening I thought, “Oh, I see what Rick means”. It’s available for pre-order.). Rick Steves' Europe is public television's travel series focusing on European travel. If you are into whiskey the Powerscourt Distillery opened last year. I will look forward to your replies and I am so thankful for your help. Fishing once dominated Dingle, but tourists and moviemakers are well onto the region now. Hi Ireland Forum- My husband and I are being overly optimistic and have booked refundable airfare into and out of Dublin in September. We love the area around Clifden. My advice is to get an early start from Dublin in order to arrive at Glendalough well before the tour buses start to roll in at 9:30. Rick Steves' Ireland 2011 By Rick Steves "You can count on Rick Steves to tell you what you really need to know when traveling in Ireland. When the squall blows over, I continue up the rugged one-lane road from the oratory to the crest of the hill, then coast back into Dingle town — hungry, thirsty, and ready for a pub crawl. About 30 miles around, the peninsula is just the right size for a daylong driving or cycling tour. Join us there now. Just in time for Halloween and All Souls Day, we'll explore the legacy of the real-life pirates who operated off the Carolina coast of colonial America. ... Blog; About Amazon; Sustainability; Press Center; Investor Relations; Amazon Devices; What had been a trickle of visitors has surged into a flood as word of Dingle’s musical, historical, gastronomical, and scenic charms spread. I’ve been inspired by many of the emails I’ve read, such as this one from Don, who shared how — even when he found himself in a tourist trap — he was able to dig deep and connect with the locals. Kinsale 2 Nights : After stopping at the Rock of Cashel head to Cobh and end up in Kinsale. When I asked if he was born here, he paused, breathed deeply, and said, “No, ’twas about five miles down the road.”. When I mention tour buses my husband cringes so we typically like to hit places like this early or late. Seeing he is my chauffer I am not going to argue with that one. That’s certainly true in Dingle…the next parish over from Boston. The vertical ridges of those bleak potato beds are still visible — a barren and godforsaken place. Not crazy about one night stays but it would break up the Dingle- Clifden leg. We spent 3 nights in Doolin back in 2018. Keep on travelin’. I’m grateful for the help of a trusted team of co-authors and researchers — many of them old friends — who travel in the Rick Steves style and are dedicated to making our guidebooks the best in print. And I recently spent a few days there, after a stop in Dublin, researching the next edition of our Rick Steves Ireland guidebook. That was the reason I was trying to decide on over nighting there or Kilkenny. Residents are fond of gazing out at the Atlantic and saying with a sigh, “Ahh, the next parish over is Boston.”. So, my point is…even in Killarney, it’s possible for guys like us to have a good time. We try to avoid one night stops ourselves but will do them occasionally if it helps to break up an otherwise long driving day. " Rick Steves .com has made a lot of money from travel media, his past guide books have put forward advice that was not only inadvisable but also borderline illegal in Ireland. Before posting, please read our Community Guidelines. Here’s another one of my very favorite travel dreams-come-true…a reminder of what’s waiting for you in Europe on the other end of this crisis. In Dingle, there’s live music most nights in half a dozen pubs. Start a New Topic. The shorter Rick Steves Best of Ireland guidebook focuses on Ireland's top destinations and sights, is in full color, and is updated every other year. I just wanted to chime in that I concur with Robert that Inishbofin island is a hidden gem. That does sound like a better way to do it, followed by a a convivial pint listening to a good trad session at one of the local pubs. This sparse but lush peninsula marks the westernmost point in Ireland. Today, the farmers are gone and everyone else, it seems, has moved in. Yes we know it might not happen but thought we would try. Regarding Powerscourt, my memory is that there isn't much in the house itself but offices and shops. Join me in this clip as I meet with my wonderful Rick Steves Ireland co-author, Pat O’Connor. Add the fact that at midday it's a congested mess and we vowed never to return. With Travel a Distant Dream, Let Rick Steves Take You Away I don’t historically enjoy binge watching . So far it’s been great following your advice…Dublin, Kilkenny, Cashel, Kinsale, (all surprisingly easy to connect without a car). I spend four months of every year in Europe, notebook in hand, lovingly researching and updating my guidebooks. I have always found the feedback on Rick's forums to be helpful so I am hoping to get some feedback here. We do not mind moving every few days. The only cable car in the country connects the tip of the peninsula with Dursey Island, pretty much deserted now except for some grazing sheep and cows, and replete with a number of famine era ruins. Pat came by my office to propose a new self-guided walk through the south side of Dublin, beginning at St. Stephen’s Green and heading past Trinity College, Dublin Castle, and Christ Church Cathedral, and then down Temple Bar to the O’Connell Bridge. I was going to ask about stops back to Dublin On our last day in a separate thread so thank you for sharing your insight. Thanks again for your feedback. 1 VHS Rick Steves Travel the World Ireland Western Ireland Dublin and Belfast(1997) Compiled from the TV and video series "Travel in Europe with Rick Steves Discover the World Many Travelers Miss Western Ireland:Explore the unspoiled land of the Emerald Isle, Including Dingle Peninsula and the Aran Islands.Bicycle through the Gaeltachts, national parks for traditional Celtic culture. With him giving Dingle 3 nights I felt that maybe we could use the extra day but I would totally consider adding night to either Kenmare or Connemara. Rick Steves' Europe: Britain and Ireland. The second day will be spent in Kinsale. Rick Steves' Europe. Enjoy the planning. Despite how obscenely well-traveled Pulkit is he had never been to Ireland, so I was excited to introduce him to the country. This is the Black Valley which is fairly isolated and quite stunning. Traditional music is alive and popular in Ireland. I’m home for a week before continuing my 2019 travels, and I’ve been catching up on my mail. I expect we will see a bit of a change in season while we are there. Kilkenny was a fun afternoon stop on our way from Waterford to Dublin and I'm sure a night there would be enjoyable. We will be there mid month so not late. Kenmare: 4 Nights I once met an elfish, black-clad old man in the little town of Ventry, on Ireland’s Dingle Peninsula. Doolin or Galway 2 Nights: Not sure on a stop here. Hi Robert-Thanks for your feedback. Circling these roads is like a trip through an open-air museum. Buy a discounted Paperback of Rick Steves Ireland 2019 online from Australia's leading online bookstore. But tonight — and most nights — I make a point to wander the town and follow my ears. Some of the best hiking and day walks in Ireland are out on the Beara peninsula. In September you'd miss the gardens of Powerscourt in all of their glory but the house would still be open. Happy to know that the gardens of Powerscourt should still have some life in September. Hi KBK- Thank you for your input. On Bombay Street, we stopped at the Clonard Martyrs Memorial Garden. People are there to have a good time and visitors from far away are considered a plus. It was a rainy day on the Emerald Isle, and I was somewhere I had never been before: St. George’s Market. With a diverse array of street food and homemade goodies added to the mix, it’s a fun place for lunch (5 blocks east of City Hall, at the corner of Oxford and East Bridge streets, tel. The landscape is littered with a half-million sheep and dozens of monuments left behind by Bronze Age settlers, Dark Age monks, English landlords, and even Hollywood directors. I veer off to the side streets in search of somwhere real and decided to trade music for sports. Here’s how I wrote this place up for our Rick Steves Ireland guidebook: St. George’s Market was the largest covered Victorian produce market in Ireland. Cameron's Travels. Listen in as Rick's friends from Germany, Spain, Sicily, Ireland, and Scotland tell us how they have traditionally enjoyed the holidays where they live. I have been told the area around there is really nice which is why I was struggling with staying near there or pushing onward to Kilkenny. Whatever you miss you can always return it is the kind of place to me that is worth a return. Time to go back. We had to change planned hiking days because of rain. The ferry from Rossaveal isn't far from Clifden ... for the daytrip out to Inishmore. Join Rick on an unforgettable journey while he learns lessons, makes new discoveries, and shares his experiences working and traveling around the world… Read Rick's Blog . Tour Account › Travel Forum › Home / Travel Forum / Ireland; Please sign in to post. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Who are my favorite writers? For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com. Ireland. When we landed we drove out from Dublin Airport and then returned to Dublin for the last part of our trip. The crashing surf races in like white stallions. Another thought would be to stop in Doolin for just one night and skipping Galway altogether so giving us again another night. So many beautiful places and so little time. I would love your feedback. Rick Steve’s Ireland (DVD) --- by --- Rick Steve. If the weather is good/seas not too high you can take a ferry to the Aran Islands (Inisheer) from Doolin Harbor (maybe 30 minutes each way) and it was great. in favor of slowing down a bit and having a few three to four night stays. This article was adapted from his new book, For the Love of Europe. Thank you!! Westport or Clifden 3 Nights: Explore Connmara, possible hawk walk at Ashford Castle, hiking.. And.. That is a wrap!! We keep going back. We have been working on this for several weeks and scrapped trying to get up to Donegal etc. As far as driving out from the airport it was discussed. I agree that your itinerary looks good. 4.8 out of 5 stars 380. Thanks again. I have heard that the cliffs on the ROK are just as amazing.. Edmonds resident Rick Steves writes European guidebooks, hosts travel shows on public TV and radio, and organizes European tours. We normally are able to fill in a lot a day on trips but it will be a bit later in the year and our days will be getting shorter and shorter. “Pub” is short for “public house.” A convivial mix of good craic (that’s the art of conversation, pronounced “crack”) and local beer on tap complements the music. I wouldn't agonize too much over the odd day spent in one place or the other. A “session” is when musical friends (and strangers who become friends) gather and jam. We like natural scenery, castles, historic homes, day hiking, and other outdoor pursuits. Kids next to me say hi and before you know it one tells the tender, “Another for us, please. Some say the Cliffs of Moher shouldn't be missed others say it is a must do. Making myself right at home, I “play the boot” (tap my foot) under the table in time with the music. Because of the coronavirus, Europe is effectively off-limits to American travelers for the next few weeks (and likely longer). There’s generally a fiddle, flute or tin whistle, guitar, bodhrán (goat-skin drum), and maybe an accordion. revelsnn- That would be awesome. I found the times given at locations particularly helpful. During these challenging times, I believe a daily dose of travel dreaming can actually be good medicine. Please do not reply to violations of our Community Guidelines. Explore Europe with Rick Steves, best-selling travel author and host of public television's "Rick Steves' Europe" and public radio's "Travel with Rick Steves." Please let me know what you think we should toss, keep, or change. Several films feature the peninsula, including Ryan’s Daughter and Far and Away. But travel dreams are immune to any virus. If you think it's inappropriate for a travel writer to stir up discussion on his blog with political observations and insights gained from traveling abroad, you may not want to read any further. And one of my favorite corners of the Emerald Isle is the dreamy Dingle Peninsula. The drummer dodges the fiddler’s playful bow. The master distiller is Noel Sweeney who is a legend in Irish whiskey. Just a few comments: the first thing that jumped out at me was the 4 nights in Dingle. Just regular people who become great writers by traveling well and sharing their feelings and discoveries thoughtfully. If you think of anything else we shouldn't miss please let me know. Title Author Replies Last Post ; Enniskillen : Sheena: 0: 03/06/20 03:40 PM: There’ll be no second guessing but you’ll want to catch that Aer Lingus flight for the old sod after you’ve sampled some of the sights of this video. Just buy a beer and make yourself at home. And I can give you directions to an old deserted famine village dating from the 1860's if you're interested. Its few streets, lined with ramshackle but gaily painted shops and pubs, run up from a rain-stung harbor. A weekly one-hour conversation with guest experts and callers about travel, cultures, people, and the things we find around the world that give life its extra sparkle. After we landed in Dublin we drove right out of the airport and on to the main highway to the west coast. Yes we know it might not happen but thought we would try. Good to know you enjoyed Glendlough. In general I think you've put together a pretty good looking itinerary. By skipping Glendalough you could make an easy day of it from Dublin by driving down to Powerscourt via the Old Military Road thru the Wicklow Mountains, then proceeding on to Kinsale from there. The airport concessions open around 6 AM, the ones in the city not until 9 AM or later. We were there in June when the puffins were everywhere and very curious, so Sept. would be pretty archeological. Do we need more time here? Travel in Ireland Post-Brexit by Rick Steves Audio Europe published on 2017-09-15T21:07:17Z Irish tour guides discuss travel in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in a post-Brexit world, and recommend their favorite destinations for visitors to explore. Rick Steves: Three of Europe's most spectacular journeys. Dublin Airport: 1 Night. I appreciate it. Doolin or some where around this area.. 1 Night That sounds like a great stop. Spending St. Patrick’s Day stuck in my house makes me very nostalgic for many wonderful visits to Ireland. There’s never a cover charge. Wednesday, December 8, 2010. Others here have suggested flying which does look like a good way to do it if you're at all concerned about rough seastates and the off chance of a cancellation if things get too rough. The floor on the musicians’ platform is stomped paint-free and barmaids scurry through the commotion, gathering towers of empty, cream-crusted glasses. Rick Steves (ricksteves.com) writes European guidebooks, hosts travel shows on public TV and radio, and organizes European tours. You have given me a lot to chew on. Be there mid month so not late know you ’ re in the city this will be mid. It ’ s not packed with Americans…in fact there ’ s not one. Coastline offers smashing views of deadly black-rock Cliffs ; please sign in to post when we landed we drove out! If you 're there early when the potatoes rotted in the little town of,... Overrun with Yanks, it was nothing like this early or late by Rick (. They skillfully maintain a faint but steady buzz in one place or the other fall of 2019 in reverse.... With my name on them, rick steves travel blog ireland believe a daily dose of travel dreaming can actually be medicine. Out of Shannon and we vowed never to return Clifden... for next! 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You my B & B recommendations if you 're interested with knees up and heads down the...