Ireland, the next trip

On our honeymoon, Moira and me took a self-driven tour in a Micra, staying at B&Bs with two nice hotel stays. There are two more trips I would like to take to Ireland. One is to go to New Grange for the winter solstice and then on to Rome for Christmas Eve Mass at St. Peter's. The other is for the summer solstice, which I will describe here.

It will start a few days early with first class tickets from Baltimore to Shannon Airport (6/17), landing the following morning and going to Dromoreland Castle for their marvelous breakfast and a few hours sleep. Upon waking, if we are with my in-laws, golf will be on the agenda.

The next day, we will rent a Jaguar and drive to Galway, staying at the Galway Bay Resort Hotel (6/19-20) and visiting Royal Tara China, the Burren, the Cliffs of Mohr and Doolin - and the Aran Islands if we have time.

From there, its off to Donegal for the solstice and a stay at St. Ernan's House (6/21), from there going to Giants Causeway in Ulster, as well as Armaugh and a stay at the Conyngham Arms in Slade (6/22).

From there, it is back to Dublin, staying at the Sherbourne (6/23-24) and visiting metro Dublin and eating at Dobbins and Lord Edward, as well as a little restaurant on Merchant's Quay that I can't seem to find online.

From there it is down to Waterford to buy a few place settings of the Dolman pattern at the crystal factory, staying at the Waterford Castle Hotel (6/25) before heading out to Cork, where we will visit the emigrant center at Cohb and the Cathedral (and possibly kissing the Blarney Stone - I know, its campy) before heading to Bantry House (6/26), which will be home base to see Drombs Stone Circle and Timoleague Abbey.

After driving through the Ring of Beara, it is back to Kilarney, to stay at Foley's Hotel and Restaurant (6/27-29).

In Kilarney, we will visit relatives in Glenbeigh, the lakes of Kilarney, the Dingle Peninsula and the Ambassador Crystal workshop.

From there we will go to Limerick to look for Hayes family history and/or a Shannon River cruise and then to the Cashel Palace Hotel and the Brian Boru historial center for one last night (6/30) before flying home July first (just in time to rest up for July 4th at the Mall).

UPDATE 2011: Aer Lingus no longer flies from BWI, but they do fly from JFK. Luckily, we will move to Brooklyn later this year, so by 2012 (assuming I am not involved in a presidential campaign) we will have to funds to actually take this trip and be back in time for fireworks at South Street Seaport and NY Harbor.