We took a three week vacation to visit Ireland. There is a lot more to Ireland than can be covered in three weeks, but three weeks were all we had, so we packed in as much sightseeing as we possibly could with the time we had. April is the driest month, so we tried to skew our vacation toward late spring to get the least amount of rain. Ireland is very far north - Dublin is just north of the 53rd parallel, the same latitude as Edmonton, Canada. This meant long hours of daylight - which we wanted to exploit for maximal sightseeing time!
Here is a map of our route - the red numbers on the map correspond to the red numbers of sights on the itinerary shown below, and they match the red numbers show in the boxes that link to the photo webpages.
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Saturday: May 19Fly from Seattle 8:00 AM on Delta #968 to Atlanta, arrive 3:49 PM 2 hour 51 minute layover Fly from Atlanta 6:40 PM on Delta #176, arrive Dublin at 7:30 AM |
Sunday: May 20Land in Dublin 7:30 AM Pickup compact car from Thrifty 1 Trinity College Tour & Book of Kells 1 Ha'penny & Millenium Bridges Dublin 59 + 10 for parking Anchor House + Trip Advisor |
Monday: May 21Drive from Dublin to Enniskerry Enniskerry 70 Ferndale + Trip Advisor |
Tuesday: May 22Drive from Enniskerry to Wicklow National Park 3 Sally Gap via Rte R115 4 Wicklow National Park + Trail Map
Laragh 75 Trooperstown Lodge + Trip Advisor |
Wednesday: May 23Drive from Wicklow to Kilkenny 5 Browne's Hill Dolman 6 St Canice Cathedral Trip Advisor Drive from Kilkenny to Waterford Waterford 50 Dunroven B&B + Trip Advisor |
Thursday: May 24Drive from Waterford to Cahir 8 Waterford Crystal Visitor Center 9 Ahenny and Kilkeeran High Crosses 10 Cahir Castle Drive from Cahir to Cashel 11 Ruins of Hore Abbey Cashel 70 Ard Ri House + Trip Advisor |
Friday: May 25Drive from Cashel to Cork via Lismore 12 The Vee Viewpoint Drive from Cork to Kinsale 13 Charles Fort Cork 80 Avondale B&B + Trip Advisor |
Saturday: May 26Drive from Cork to Killarney 14 Torc Waterfall 14 Ross Castle 14 O'Sullivan's Cascade Hike Killarney 80 Larkinley Lodge + Trip Advisor |
Sunday: May 2714 Muckross Lake Hike 14 Ross Island Mining Trail Killarney 80 Larkinley Lodge + Trip Advisor |
Monday: May 28Ring of Kerry Drive 17Cliffs of Kerry Viewpoint 17 Skellig Experience Visitor Center 18 Cahergal & Leacanabuaile Ring Forts Cahersiveen Skellig Side B&B + Trip Advisor |
Tuesday: May 29Drive the North side of Ring of Kerry to Dingle 20 Connor Pass 20 Holy Stone Dingle 65 Cill Bhreac House B&B + Trip Advisor (Moon 202) |
Wednesday: May 30Dingle Penisula Tour - Slea Head Drive (Moon 204)(RS 210) 21 Dunbeg Stone Fort 21 Gallerus Oratory 20 Harry Clarke Stained Glass Windows 20 Minard Castle Drive from Dingle to Doolin
22 Cliffs of Moher + Hags Head Walk Doolin 65 Trildoon House + Trip Advisor |
Thursday: May 3123 Parknabinnia Wedge Tomb 23 Dysert O'Dea Archaeology Trail 24 Kilmacdough Leaning Round Tower Drive from Doolin to Galway Galway 66 Marless House + Trip Advisor |
Friday: June 1Drive to Rossaveel Ferry to Aran Islands 25 Aran Islands + Bicycle rental to get around island 25 Dun Aenghus Return to Galway Galway 66 Marless House + Trip Advisor |
Saturday: June 2Drive from Galway to Connemara National Park 27 Killary Harbor (Ireland's only fjord) 27 Ashleagh Falls 27 Doo Lough Valley Drive from Connemara National Park to Westport via Cong 28 Cong Abbey Westport 66 Cillcoman Lodge + Trip Advisor |
Sunday: June 329 Murrisk Abbey & Coffin Ship Memorial Drive from Westport to Sligo via Boyle Sligo 70 Tree Tops B&B + Trip Advisor |
Monday: June 432 Knocknarea & Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetary 33 Florence Court Yew Tree Walk 33 Marble Arch Caves Tour (Moon 492) Donegal 65 Arches Country House + Trip Advisor |
Tuesday: June 5Drive from Donegal to Slieve League Drive from Slieve League to Letterkenny Letterkenny 60 Mountain View B&B + Trip Advisor |
Wednesday: June 637 Glenveagh Castle Grounds & Lakeside Hike Drive from Glenveagh National Park to Derry 38 Grianan of Aileach Iron Age Fort 39 Peace Bridge Derry £60 Abbey Bed & Breakfast + Trip Advisor |
Thursday: June 7Drive from Derry to Portrush 40 Cliff Hike 41 Carrick a Rede Rope Bridge (RS 321)(Moon 445) Portrush £60 Beulah Guest House + Trip Advisor |
Friday: June 8Drive from Portrush to Newcastle 42 Glenariff Waterfall hike
43 Antrim Coast Drive 44 Legananny Portal Tomb
Newcastle £65 Briers Country House + Trip Advisor |
Saturday: June 9Drive from Newcastle to Trim 46 Brϊ Na Bσinne
47 Trim Castle Drive from Trim to Dublin Dublin 62.10 Holiday Inn at Dublin Airport + Trip Advisor |
Sunday: June 10Fly from Dublin 9:30 AM on Delta #177 to Atlanta, arrive 1:05 PM 3 hour 43 min layover Fly from Atlanta 4:45 PM on Delta #129, arrive Seattle at 7:15 PM |
Monday: June 11 |
Tuesday: June 12 |
Wednesday: June 13 |
Thursday: June 14 |
Friday: June 15 |
All the graphic images are my own design, but the textured background is taken from a site, EOS development, that offers non-profit users free use of their graphics. Click below to visit their site.
