BootsnAll Travel Community

I'm beginning my RTW in Shannon, arriving May 31st, and I can't really decide what way to head from there. I'm not sure how long I will be in Ireland either as I have a lot of ground to cover in order to get to Cairo by October. So I was thinking of heading to Ennis for a few days and from there onto the Galway area. Then again, maybe head down to Limerick. Any suggestions for a good route as I make my way to Dublin? If I do head to Ennis, good hostels? Also, I'm traveling solo, so anyone going to be traveling around the same time?

I suggest heading towards Galway. Limerick didn't impress me in the least.

And I did learn one thing when I flew out of Shannon on my way back home--there is NO reason to spend any more time than absolutely necessary in Shannon--it's a dog of a place.

yeah, get away from shannon and limerick.
Spend some time in clare - doonbeg, Ailwee Caves, lisdoonvarna, cliffs of moher should keep you occupied for the first couple of days plus its a nice way to start the trip. Head on up to galway then, always good for a nights craic - take in the aran islands on a day trip. Try and make your way up to donegal - along the way there is a tonne of cool stuff to check out, look out for killary harbour, achill island (check out the pub beside the main beach with the really crappy pool table, the guinness there is class), spend a night westport, travel on up to bundoran and explore donegal - head on over to belfast then down to dublin.

Pretty good itinerary plus you get away from the well beaten tourist trail of kerry and cork (plus the head wrecking accents)

Head for the Clare coast and travel up to Galway! The coastal road will take you along the cliffs of Moher, the Aran islands and through the burren with beautiful little villages like Doolin, Ballyvaughan and Kilkee along the way
its one of nicest streches of road i've been on. Shannon and Limmerick (stab city) are deffinatly not Irelands prettiest, Ennis is ok to stroll through in a few hours but not worth going out of your way for.

i went to shannon last summer and hired a car down to cork.
limerick and cork wheren't that impressive.

Although the blarney castle / stone (20 miles north of cork) was ok

Definately recommend the 'ring of kerry', with a good hostel in Killarney (it really is beautifull)

I love Derry (londonderry) in N.I. the women are gorgeous and usually 6 to every local man. Nightlife is great, Belfast is nice too..

Dublin is a must, from there ryanair should get you a cheap flight anywhere in europe.

have fun and try kilkenny, caffreys and murphys 'irish' stout much better than guiness