Ireland

[seger]

Hi . Planning to visit South/West Ireland in June. Any advice on roads and places to stay would be appreciated. Four bikes for five days starting at Dublin.
Regards, Bill.
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Roll Me Away

[motobiker]

Follow your nose south to Cork then onto the N71 via Bantry to killarney.. then onto the Ring of Kerry road. thats the N70.

its ALL good.

I camped.. so can't help with lodgings.
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1999 R1100GS + 2006 F800S
(Nottingham)
Sooner or later opinions fade and the name on the tank matters not. I think that happens somewhere between 3rd and 4th gear. Enjoy the ride... everything else takes care of itself.

[Major Doss]

Like motobiker says, head for the RoK, Dunloe gap, Muckross, Torc waterfall.. Spectacular. We stayed at Charlie Foley's in Killarney last year, €50 a night for a double with off road parking. Make extensive use of the bar as this will help you sleep through the all night chav car rally that goes on all night. Every night.
Probably full of Americans at that time of year, but a handy LUP for SW Eire.

TBH That bit of the World is full up of gaffs to stay, so shouldn't be hard to find something.
Pack some exquisitely comfortable waterproofs as you will wear them a lot. The driest we saw was a lazy drizzle (Killarney default setting 'A').
I have to admit I had a little cry to myself after the 5th day of piss wet mouldy steam. And I was a pro courier. But this was supposed to be a holiday. Dat grass don't get green on it's own, and with the Atlantic constantly falling on it, it is green... exceptionally green. Having said that, would and probably will go again at the drop of a hat.

[goldwingrider]

Hi Lads, Best of luck with your Irish Trip. If your looking for another bike I would love the chance to go back for a few days. Few things I would suggest is maybe to stay away as much as possible from the known tourist spots. King of Kerry etc is worth a look if you have not done it before, but as far as good riding and getting a real look at the country I would suggest if you are starting in Dublin take the Wicklow mountains, this is a favourite spot for Dublin bikers, pass through the Wicklow gap and into Glandalough, some great biking roads as you pass over the mountains, and follow on to Carlow and Kilkenny. Kilkenny is a traditional market town famous for its Hurling, Beer festival and Castle.

After a stop there head for Callan and take the road to Carrick on Sure and into Dungarvin this route takes you over the Commeragh Mountains with some great bends and one particular tight horse shoe bend. When you reach Dungarvin you are out on the coast and head for Youghal. This is a favourite summer destination for families from Cork. Stay in the Walter Raleigh Hotel in Youghal and enjoy the night you can also visit the Moby Dick pub where the film was made and enjoy some oysters on the harbour.

Next day head for a place called the V , when you reach the top you can see seven different countries this is a brilliant site especially on a good day when the sun is shining on the forty shades of green. You can take a short walk up to the grave of a man who is burred in stones standing up with a case of whisky this was his dying wish and locals still make a wish as they pass by. here is a link to the Vhttps://www.knockmealdownactive.com/see-do/the-vee/

Contuine into Ballyporeen and have a nice pint of Guinness where USA president Roland Regan had one , its where his Grandparents come from. The village is now covered in the Stars and Stripes and a full size picture of the Actor having a pint. Head on to Cashel and into Cork city for the night.
Cork is Ireland's real Capital and take time to have look around the City in the morning especially the fish markets and the Shannon Bells.
next day head out of Cork and on to a village called Ahilies which is on the Beara Peninsula stop off in Castle town bear and then on the Ahilles. You can either go direct from Cork or take the coast road trough Kinsale and Skibeereen. Depending on weather etc.

Ahillies is a fantastic Irish Village with great views of the north Atlantic Sea, the copper museaum is well worth a visit where child labour was the order of the day and English labours and their families came to work in the mines and became white slaves.link https://www.acmm.ie/
loads of private guest houses that are biker friendly and great Traditional music every night in the summertime.

Next day head off to Kerry via Kenmare around the ring taking in Slay Head and stop in Dingle for the night.
Use the whole day for this as you will need plenty of stops and look out for the stone at dan murphy's door , if you want to pick up a bottle of the best Poteen (purely for medical purposes) this is where you can get it.

Next day head for Tarbert and take the short ferry ride to Kilrush Co clare. Co Clare is Burren country and some great roads as you pass along the old country roads with the original stone walls travel along the coast to the cliffs of Mohar and Spanish point heading for Galway.
I would not stay in Galway but head out for An Spidal this is an Irish Speaking part of the country and well worth a visit always a popular spot in the Summer. Next day head back to Dublin this will take about two to three hours allowing for a stop if you use the motorway to Dublin or time permitting take the national roads into Athlone .

Best of luck and hope you dont mind my long winded reply, which ever route you decide I am sure you will have a great time. The route I have suggested is really suited for bikes and takes some of the major tourist spots but also a lot of places that people never get a chance to see. All the usual rules apply when parking etc dont leave anything on show and keep an eye out for travellers in vans who are always looking for a quick buck. I am from Dublin but living in Scotland now and for my sins operated a tour coach company in Ireland during from 1986 to 1996. If I can help in any way please let me know.

[seger]

PM,d you Goldwingrider.
Cheers, Bill
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Roll Me Away