Holiday to Ireland: any suggestions?
Too tips...if you are planning to drive from Dublin Airport keep in mind these...
1.The M50 Dublin ring road gets extremely busy and slow moving to the north and west
2. The road which joins the M50 to the M7 and M8 is not a motorway. By the town of NAAS there are widening works ongoing( since years) which make this section truly horrible. AVOID AT ALL COSTS
3,Consider leaving the M50 to join the M6 in the direction of Galway making that part of your itinerary
4. Several car rental companies have contracts to pay the M50 tolls electronically and recharge the customer.All other tolls MUST be paid in cash at the respective toll plaza...keep coins handy.
FINALLY...to avoid the tourist buses clogging up the Ring of Kerry consider doing the Ring of Beara instead.even more spectacular and the roads are too narrow for the full size buses/ coaches
1.The M50 Dublin ring road gets extremely busy and slow moving to the north and west
2. The road which joins the M50 to the M7 and M8 is not a motorway. By the town of NAAS there are widening works ongoing( since years) which make this section truly horrible. AVOID AT ALL COSTS
3,Consider leaving the M50 to join the M6 in the direction of Galway making that part of your itinerary
4. Several car rental companies have contracts to pay the M50 tolls electronically and recharge the customer.All other tolls MUST be paid in cash at the respective toll plaza...keep coins handy.
FINALLY...to avoid the tourist buses clogging up the Ring of Kerry consider doing the Ring of Beara instead.even more spectacular and the roads are too narrow for the full size buses/ coaches
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If you are coming from the UK, why don't you drive and avoid the rental car charges? Go to Rosslare and avoid Dublin completely. Base all distances / times on distance km / 50 kms.
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Too tips...if you are planning to drive from Dublin Airport keep in mind these...
1.The M50 Dublin ring road gets extremely busy and slow moving to the north and west
2. The road which joins the M50 to the M7 and M8 is not a motorway. By the town of NAAS there are widening works ongoing( since years) which make this section truly horrible. AVOID AT ALL COSTS
3,Consider leaving the M50 to join the M6 in the direction of Galway making that part of your itinerary
4. Several car rental companies have contracts to pay the M50 tolls electronically and recharge the customer.All other tolls MUST be paid in cash at the respective toll plaza...keep coins handy.
FINALLY...to avoid the tourist buses clogging up the Ring of Kerry consider doing the Ring of Beara instead.even more spectacular and the roads are too narrow for the full size buses/ coaches
1.The M50 Dublin ring road gets extremely busy and slow moving to the north and west
2. The road which joins the M50 to the M7 and M8 is not a motorway. By the town of NAAS there are widening works ongoing( since years) which make this section truly horrible. AVOID AT ALL COSTS
3,Consider leaving the M50 to join the M6 in the direction of Galway making that part of your itinerary
4. Several car rental companies have contracts to pay the M50 tolls electronically and recharge the customer.All other tolls MUST be paid in cash at the respective toll plaza...keep coins handy.
FINALLY...to avoid the tourist buses clogging up the Ring of Kerry consider doing the Ring of Beara instead.even more spectacular and the roads are too narrow for the full size buses/ coaches
2. unless heading away from Dublin at rush hour it's rarely bad.
3. Would also work
4. Most if not all tolls now take card also.
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Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: South of there, north of here
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Too tips...if you are planning to drive from Dublin Airport keep in mind these...
1.The M50 Dublin ring road gets extremely busy and slow moving to the north and west
2. The road which joins the M50 to the M7 and M8 is not a motorway. By the town of NAAS there are widening works ongoing( since years) which make this section truly horrible. AVOID AT ALL COSTS
3,Consider leaving the M50 to join the M6 in the direction of Galway making that part of your itinerary
4. Several car rental companies have contracts to pay the M50 tolls electronically and recharge the customer.All other tolls MUST be paid in cash at the respective toll plaza...keep coins handy.
FINALLY...to avoid the tourist buses clogging up the Ring of Kerry consider doing the Ring of Beara instead.even more spectacular and the roads are too narrow for the full size buses/ coaches
1.The M50 Dublin ring road gets extremely busy and slow moving to the north and west
2. The road which joins the M50 to the M7 and M8 is not a motorway. By the town of NAAS there are widening works ongoing( since years) which make this section truly horrible. AVOID AT ALL COSTS
3,Consider leaving the M50 to join the M6 in the direction of Galway making that part of your itinerary
4. Several car rental companies have contracts to pay the M50 tolls electronically and recharge the customer.All other tolls MUST be paid in cash at the respective toll plaza...keep coins handy.
FINALLY...to avoid the tourist buses clogging up the Ring of Kerry consider doing the Ring of Beara instead.even more spectacular and the roads are too narrow for the full size buses/ coaches
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Join Date: Dec 2017
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Hi
Suggest you base yourselves in Galway, a medieval city on the west coast. It is approx 50 minutes from Shannon Airport or about an hour from Ireland West Airport.
Galway sounds ideal for you as there is easy access to tourist attractions (Cliffs of Moher as mentioned) or into the rugged landscape of Connemara.
There are plenty of short walks, including the prom overlooking Galway Bay which looks across the bay to the Burren in Co. Clare. The Arran Islands is just a short boat trip from Rossaveal fishing port.
There are also numerous other attractions and restaurants, festivals etc
PM me if you wish.
Rower
Suggest you base yourselves in Galway, a medieval city on the west coast. It is approx 50 minutes from Shannon Airport or about an hour from Ireland West Airport.
Galway sounds ideal for you as there is easy access to tourist attractions (Cliffs of Moher as mentioned) or into the rugged landscape of Connemara.
There are plenty of short walks, including the prom overlooking Galway Bay which looks across the bay to the Burren in Co. Clare. The Arran Islands is just a short boat trip from Rossaveal fishing port.
There are also numerous other attractions and restaurants, festivals etc
PM me if you wish.
Rower
Thanks for the help
Son of Slot
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Many thanks for all contributions on a destination closer to base than we are usually asked for. EnglishMartyn you will see that mentioning your airport [ORK/EICK] is a vital part of cabin conversation! 
Some passengers in the past have asked about transfers and all sorts - without mentioning those magic letters. Then they have to have it dragged out of them 
Being a public holiday in the UK, it must be time for a cup of tea.
Some passengers in the past have asked about transfers and all sorts - without mentioning those magic letters. Then they have to have it dragged out of them Being a public holiday in the UK, it must be time for a cup of tea.
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Take plenty of spending money, and make sure you are hungry (the Irish don't skimp on food portions). Galway as a base is a good call. Whatever you decide to do, it's difficult not to enjoy Ireland!
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Speaking of motorway tolls in the Dublin area; at least one of them"clocks" your car going through and you can then go on line and pay the toll later. I can't remember which motorway just now but I will remember by tomorrow as I shall be driving that way, en route to Carrick on Shannon.
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If you are travelling to Galway from Cork Airport you will by pass Limerick, St Mary's Cathedral and King John's Castle (yes, That King John) are worth a visit, both are in the same area of the city
The main road between Limerick and Cork is not great but once you are 10 miles south of Limerick you will pick up the motorway and it is then only an hour to Galway at motorway speeds.
There are numerous restaurants in Galway with a great selection of seafood places, McDonaghs in Quay St. is frequented by the locals.
A walk down Shop St on Saturday morning would remind you of the Gothica in Barcelona with markets, stalls and buskers, full of life. Call in to Garavan's Pub for a quit pint and local chat.
Jeez I must sound like a tourist brochure but it has a wonderful atmosphere with every nationality under the sun wandering about
Rower
The main road between Limerick and Cork is not great but once you are 10 miles south of Limerick you will pick up the motorway and it is then only an hour to Galway at motorway speeds.
There are numerous restaurants in Galway with a great selection of seafood places, McDonaghs in Quay St. is frequented by the locals.
A walk down Shop St on Saturday morning would remind you of the Gothica in Barcelona with markets, stalls and buskers, full of life. Call in to Garavan's Pub for a quit pint and local chat.
Jeez I must sound like a tourist brochure but it has a wonderful atmosphere with every nationality under the sun wandering about
Rower
