Ireland - 2023 - Search for the Craic

[ajgoodal.704]

 

1 hour ago, I3erto said:

 

Are you just using Airbnb to book them?  Or is there a better option to use in ireland?  Thanks for all the help!  Cheers!

I researched B&Bs in each county we stayed in and booked most of them directly.  The Benbulben Farmhouse B&B in Sligo was one of them and it is by far the best B&B I've ever stayed in.  Ian and Marita are really good people.  I know you aren't staying in Sligo, but just check out their website and you'll see what I mean.  Corrib View Lodge just north of Galway is a very close second.  I found that one on booking.com.  When I think of what is the 'craic', I think of Michelle the owner of Corrib View.  Some might disagree, but I'd never use AirBnB in Ireland because it removes the people element which makes these trips so memorable.  

[hammergolf]

On 8/17/2022 at 9:58 AM, ajgoodal.704 said:

 

I researched B&Bs in each county we stayed in and booked most of them directly.  The Benbulben Farmhouse B&B in Sligo was one of them and it is by far the best B&B I've ever stayed in.  Ian and Marita are really good people.  I know you aren't staying in Sligo, but just check out their website and you'll see what I mean.  Corrib View Lodge just north of Galway is a very close second.  I found that one on booking.com.  When I think of what is the 'craic', I think of Michelle the owner of Corrib View.  Some might disagree, but I'd never use AirBnB in Ireland because it removes the people element which makes these trips so memorable.  

Would you mind sharing that B&B info? Especially in the Sligo and Donegal area.

 

 

[ajgoodal.704]

1 hour ago, hammergolf said:

Would you mind sharing that B&B info? Especially in the Sligo and Donegal area.

 

 

http://benbulbenfarmhouse.com/

[I3erto]

I think I am fully booked..  Minus getting the flight and rental car..  But here is what we landed on 

 

T - Arrive Shannon / stay Ballina Manor Hotel

F - 1250 Enniscorne / stay ballina Manor Hotel

S - 1004 Carne WAD / 1500 Hackett 9 / stay belmullet broadhaven bay

Sun - Drive to Lahinch - sightsee / Stay Lahinch Coast Hotel

M - 1400 Lahinch / Stay Lahinch Coast Hotel

T - Drive to Killarney ? - Sightsee / stay killarney Brook Lodge

W - 1010 Dooks / stay killarney Brook Lodge

Th- 906 Tralee / stay killarney Brook Lodge

F - 0945 Ballybunion / stay ballybunion Wilde Hotel

S - Leave Shannon

 

Hotels are still flexible if anyone sees anything that I should change.  Traveling with my wife and her little brother.  

 

Thanks for all the help!

 

Cheers!

Edited August 26, 2022 by I3erto

[hammergolf]

7 hours ago, I3erto said:

I think I am fully booked..  Minus getting the flight and rental car..  But here is what we landed on 

 

T - Arrive Shannon / stay Ballina Manor Hotel

F - 1250 Enniscorne / stay ballina Manor Hotel

S - 1004 Carne WAD / stay belmullet broadhaven bay

Sun - Drive to Lahinch - sightsee / Stay Lahinch Coast Hotel

M - 1400 Lahinch / Stay Lahinch Coast Hotel

T - Drive to Killarney ? - Sightsee / stay killarney Brook Lodge

W - 1010 Dooks / stay killarney Brook Lodge

Th- 906 Tralee / stay killarney Brook Lodge

F - 0945 Ballybunion / stay ballybunion Wilde Hotel

S - Leave Shannon

 

Hotels are still flexible if anyone sees anything that I should change.  Traveling with my wife and her little brother.  

 

Thanks for all the help!

 

Cheers!

Great plan! You are going to have an awesome experience.

[Chanceman]

On 8/24/2022 at 7:14 AM, I3erto said:

I think I am fully booked..  Minus getting the flight and rental car..  But here is what we landed on 

 

T - Arrive Shannon / stay Ballina Manor Hotel

F - 1250 Enniscorne / stay ballina Manor Hotel

S - 1004 Carne WAD / stay belmullet broadhaven bay

Sun - Drive to Lahinch - sightsee / Stay Lahinch Coast Hotel

M - 1400 Lahinch / Stay Lahinch Coast Hotel

T - Drive to Killarney ? - Sightsee / stay killarney Brook Lodge

W - 1010 Dooks / stay killarney Brook Lodge

Th- 906 Tralee / stay killarney Brook Lodge

F - 0945 Ballybunion / stay ballybunion Wilde Hotel

S - Leave Shannon

 

Hotels are still flexible if anyone sees anything that I should change.  Traveling with my wife and her little brother.  

 

Thanks for all the help!

 

Cheers!

That's a good itinerary. You will probably want to take the KIllimer ferry across the Shannon to save driving time on the Lahinch-Killarney leg.

[I3erto]

16 hours ago, Chanceman said:

That's a good itinerary. You will probably want to take the KIllimer ferry across the Shannon to save driving time on the Lahinch-Killarney leg.

Thanks!  Ill look into it.  Does it run all day?

[hammergolf]

10 hours ago, I3erto said:

Thanks!  Ill look into it.  Does it run all day?

Here you go…

 

https://www.shannonferries.com/timetable

[Copacetic]

I’d be tempted to split the lahinch to Killarney drive by playing in ballybunion or doonbeg that day, makes it a hour drive either side of golf. Personally Killarney is very touristy, staying in dingle, listowel would be a slightly less foreign tourist experience. Even Tralee. If stay in Dingle could drive the Conor Pass each day to get the full Irish roads experience! 

[pearls24]

Leaving this Friday for a 48 guy trip with our club.  6 of us are going a day earlier to get settled and get one more round in.  We are playing Doonbeg day of arrival (Shannon), Adare Manor, Tralee, Dooks, Ballybunion, Doonbeg, and Lahinch.  Never been to Ireland so super pumped.  Weather is showing high in the low 60's and low's in the low 50's.  It is showing showers/rain and some wind every day.  Since I've never been, is this usually an all day soaking rain or more hit or miss showers off and on?  Am I better off just wearing rain pants every day?  Thx for the input.

[hammergolf]

52 minutes ago, pearls24 said:

Leaving this Friday for a 48 guy trip with our club.  6 of us are going a day earlier to get settled and get one more round in.  We are playing Doonbeg day of arrival (Shannon), Adare Manor, Tralee, Dooks, Ballybunion, Doonbeg, and Lahinch.  Never been to Ireland so super pumped.  Weather is showing high in the low 60's and low's in the low 50's.  It is showing showers/rain and some wind every day.  Since I've never been, is this usually an all day soaking rain or more hit or miss showers off and on?  Am I better off just wearing rain pants every day?  Thx for the input.

Great trip! I played that lineup last year, and you’re in for a treat. I’m actually headed back and leave on Oct. 6th for a 2 week trip. Last year, we only had one day out of 10 where it rained all day. I wouldn’t look at the forecast that far in advance. Just look at it the morning you’re playing to have a better idea. Chances are you’ll get some rain for maybe half your rounds, but it’s not usually and all day thing. In fact, in the span of a round  you may get rain, then glorious sun, then wind, then flat calm.. With the exception of Adare Manor you’ll be able to see the weather coming, and you’re caddies will tell you. I didn’t wear rain pants every day, but had them in the bag. Hopefully you get the same weather we did last year. It was overcast a few days, Sunny most days, 1 day with spitting rain for 9 holes, then one day of biblical rain and wind.

[puttnforthe8]

1 hour ago, pearls24 said:

Leaving this Friday for a 48 guy trip with our club.  6 of us are going a day earlier to get settled and get one more round in.  We are playing Doonbeg day of arrival (Shannon), Adare Manor, Tralee, Dooks, Ballybunion, Doonbeg, and Lahinch.  Never been to Ireland so super pumped.  Weather is showing high in the low 60's and low's in the low 50's.  It is showing showers/rain and some wind every day.  Since I've never been, is this usually an all day soaking rain or more hit or miss showers off and on?  Am I better off just wearing rain pants every day?  Thx for the input.

Ireland tends to be localized and in spurts this time of year.  So you could get a heavy rain that misses the course entirely or a heavy rain that lasts for a couple of holes or just a spit as it passes.

 

If you have good rain gear (light as well as waterproof and breathable), you can be fine wearing it daily if it is comfortable.  But pay attention to the radar each day, If you see it flashing over the course and gone, you can just wear pants and keep the gear packed.  It may just be a spit that passes and pants are fine.

 

 

Edited September 26, 2022 by puttnforthe8

[pearls24]

Thank you both for the replies.  The pictures look amazing and I'd be thrilled if we see some sun a little bit for the trip.  Right now, the 10 day is just showing showers/rain and wind every day.  I went to Scotland about 6 years ago and we had decent weather except one day where we saw every season in one round- hail, rain, winds, sun, etc.  Other than that, it was low to mid 50's every day.  Which courses were those pictures from?  Looks amazing!  

[hammergolf]

10 minutes ago, pearls24 said:

Thank you both for the replies.  The pictures look amazing and I'd be thrilled if we see some sun a little bit for the trip.  Right now, the 10 day is just showing showers/rain and wind every day.  I went to Scotland about 6 years ago and we had decent weather except one day where we saw every season in one round- hail, rain, winds, sun, etc.  Other than that, it was low to mid 50's every day.  Which courses were those pictures from?  Looks amazing!  

Ireland gets a bad rap as far as weather goes. People think it just rains every day, and that’s just not true. Their weather forecasters are just as bad as ours. As putt said, just check the weather and radar that morning. I’ve heard of Lahinch getting drenched, and 20 miles away at Doonbeg they didn’t get a drop. You’ll have some sun, some overcast, and some rain. Just not sure how much of each until you wake up that day. The first picture is #1 approach at Doonbeg, the second picture is #11 at Lahinch, and the third is #16 at Tralee. Enjoy, if you liked Scotland you’ll fall in love with Ireland.

[hammergolf]

Here’s some more pics. 
First four are Ballybunion

Next four are Tralee

Next five are Lahinch

Last two are Doonbeg

Edited September 26, 2022 by hammergolf

[hammergolf]

5 hours ago, pearls24 said:

Thank you both for the replies.  The pictures look amazing and I'd be thrilled if we see some sun a little bit for the trip.  Right now, the 10 day is just showing showers/rain and wind every day.  I went to Scotland about 6 years ago and we had decent weather except one day where we saw every season in one round- hail, rain, winds, sun, etc.  Other than that, it was low to mid 50's every day.  Which courses were those pictures from?  Looks amazing!  

Here’s a video of the biblical rain/wind day at Tralee. Good times…

[Copacetic]

On 9/26/2022 at 7:55 PM, pearls24 said:

Thank you both for the replies.  The pictures look amazing and I'd be thrilled if we see some sun a little bit for the trip.  Right now, the 10 day is just showing showers/rain and wind every day.  I went to Scotland about 6 years ago and we had decent weather except one day where we saw every season in one round- hail, rain, winds, sun, etc.  Other than that, it was low to mid 50's every day.  Which courses were those pictures from?  Looks amazing!  

Use https://www.met.ie for the most reliable forecast, it’s looking cooler and windy for next week or so, but not so bad with the rain. Their localised forecast is excellent from 24/48 hours out.  It turned noticeably colder here today for first time since summer, only getting up to 12C or so all day. 

[johnspies]

Both plans look good but in any case, one HAS to play Royal County Down....and I could make a case for Portrush and Portstewart to be honest. We played all three plus several in Scotland and of the 10 courses, RCD and Kingsbarns were my favorites. I'm taking 12 players to  Ireland in April but staying in the Republic only since 6 of those guys went on the last trip to NI/Scotland. 

 

 

[El Gringo]

On 8/27/2022 at 7:33 AM, Copacetic said:

I’d be tempted to split the lahinch to Killarney drive by playing in ballybunion or doonbeg that day, makes it a hour drive either side of golf. Personally Killarney is very touristy, staying in dingle, listowel would be a slightly less foreign tourist experience. Even Tralee. If stay in Dingle could drive the Conor Pass each day to get the full Irish roads experience! 

I agree. Dingle is a better town to stay than Killarney. 

 

I suggest that at this time of year, if the forecast looks dire don't be afraid to call an audible and go somewhere else for a game.