Ireland has always been on my travel bucket list, and this summer, I finally made it happen. Flying into Shannon, I embarked on a three-day adventure that took me through the charming cities of Limerick, Ennis, and Galway. Here’s a glimpse of my Irish escapade.
Score Card for Shannon: 6.5/10
- Transportation: 6/10 The cities themselves are very walking but to get from city to city you need a car or to take public transit which is slow. The roads are well kept but often very narrow not to mention the driver sits on the right side which is tricky for many people throughout the world,
- Price: 6/10 Just walking around and stopping for bites and drinks, there weren’t many excursion of extra costs. The prices we did pay seemed fair.
- Safety: 8/10 Everywhere we went at all hours of the day and night seemed safe
- Food: 7/10 (Lots of great restaurants with authentic dishes)
- Culture: 6/10 (There are a lot of art lining the street but as far as we could tell, very little festivals or the like that take place)
- History: 8/10 (It’s an older city with a bit of history to learn about)
- Excitement: 3/10 Excitement didn’t appear to be Ireland’s specialty. If you’re looking for thrills, this isn’t a good fit for you
- Awe Inspiring: 6/10 There are beautiful places there that are awe inspiring but Shannon and the areas near there only had the Cliffs of Moher as a show stopper
- Technology Equipped: 8/10 We had great cell and wifi on our trip
- Female Friendly: 7/10 It is very safe and the people are kind, it would be a good country to visit if you’re a woman traveler.
- Solo Travel Recommended: 8/10 Everyone at the bars are very friendly, it looked easy to make friends and have a good time
- Language Barrier: 9/10 Everyone spoke English but some with thick accents
Where to go in Shannon, Galway, Ennis, and Limerick:
Downloadable map of where to go in Western Ireland through Google MyMaps.
Costs
$2,120 for 2 people for a 3 day trip by plane
- Flights were $300 each RT
- Car Rental for 3 days $202
- Gas fill up for rental car upon return $38
- Parking Garage costs for 24 hours in Limerick $26
- Hotel 1 night in Limerick, The Savoy Hotel $204
- Dinner in Limerick at The French table with drinks $108
- Drinks at bars in Limerick (4 drinks in total) $30
- Snacks in Limerick $20
- Coffee before Cliffs of Moher $4
- 2 tickets to the Cliffs of Moher $26
- Snacks in Doolan at Gus O’Connor’s Pub $11
- Hotel 1 night in Galway, The House Hotel $297
- Pre dinner drinks at Seven Bridges $20
- Dinner in Galway at Kirwans $96
- 2 To-Go drinks at Murphy’s $20
- Drinks while Bar Hopping in Galway $20
- Brunch in Galway at Caprice and a coffee $38
- Ice Cream at the Beach in Galway $6
- Dinner in Ennis at Poets Corner $33
- Drinks in Ennis at Diamond Bar $13
- Hotel 1 night in Shannon, The Radisson $175
- Ubers to and from the airports $130
Schedule
We had such a short trip the plan was NOT to acclimate to the time at all. Our goal was to go to bed no earlier than 2am and no later than 4am then sleep until noon. This worked perfectly with our schedule at home and we still got to experience everything we wanted to and could check out of the hotels on time. When we went home, we didn’t miss a beat waking up at the normal time and going to bed close to our normal time. Win-win!
Day 1: Arrival in Shannon and Head to Limerick
Arriving in Shannon, I was immediately struck by the lush, green landscapes that stretched out as far as the eye could see. We grabbed our car rental and headed for Limerick. After a short 30 minute drive, we reached Limerick, a city steeped in history and culture. It was now roughly 9:00 am in Ireland which was 3:00am at home — we were exhausted. But, our room at the Savoy hotel wasn’t going to be ready until noon. So, we parked in a parking garage near our hotel, threw our rentals driver and passenger seats as far back as they could go and took a glorious 3 hour nap.
Afternoon: Exploring King John’s Castle & Hunt Museum It was a Friday so we had to work. That means we didn’t get a chance to do a proper tour of King John’s Castle – just a quick walk by. But I recommend making your first stop a tour of King John’s Castle. It’s a magnificent fortress on the River Shannon. The interactive exhibits tell tales of the medieval period with views from the battlements to top things off. The castle grounds are a step back in time. The entire area has a rich medieval history.
Next, check out the Hunt Museum. It is home to an impressive collection of art and antiquities. The museum’s diverse artifacts, ranging from ancient Egyptian pieces to modern Irish art, offered a fascinating glimpse into history.
Evening: Dinner at The French Table & Bar Hopping For dinner we dined at The French Table. They had great food including French onion soup and well made cocktails. It was also a quick walk from our hotel and had a very late reservation which worked perfectly with our jet lag timed meals. From there we ventured out and had our first Guinness and Bulmers (Irish Apple Cider you can’t get in the state) at Tom Collins Bar. After that we walked to JJ Bowles which is Limerick’s oldest bar where we chatted with the owner. We started walking back to our hotel and stopped in Pharmacia then ended the night at Nancy Blakes which had music going on. Many of the bars close at 2am so we closed things out!
Day 2: Cliff’s of Moher and Galway’s Vibrant Culture
The next day was spent checking out the famous Cliff’s of Moher then spending the night experiencing Galway, a city renowned for its vibrant arts scene and stunning coastal views. We lucked out because our stay in Galway coincided with the International Arts Festival and the start of the Galway Races. If you can catch either of these, it really brings the city to life!
Afternoon: Cliff’s of Moher It’s a 1.5 hour drive from Limerick to the Cliff’s of Moher so we left as soon as we woke up which for us was noon. Along the way we grabbed a pastry and coffee at the Moher Cottage and shortly after went to the parking lot near the Cliff’s of Moher. No one checks entry tickets but it does cost to park there. The Cliff’s of Moher is along a long walking path so if you walk there from somewhere else you probably wouldn’t need to pay the entry fee. If you book online the fee is €7 per person. If you don’t book online, no big deal, just get in the line of cars and you’ll eventually get a parking spot and be on your way. We walked around 3 miles when we were there but the pretty views are just past the entrance which makes it an easy walk.
After that we stopped in the little town of Doolin a short drive away where we grabbed a snack from Gus O’Connor’s Pub.
If you can get tickets and can plan on making it there before 5pm, we heard good things about the Doolin Cave which is a few minutes down the way with 50 minute tours.
Evening: Galway’s Latin Quarter Next, we finally headed toward Galway which was another 1.5 hour drive. Upon arriving we checked into our hotel and were ready to hit the streets in search of more food! We heard music and followed it. To our surprise there was a band of percussion style drummers in the streets playing for a gathered crowd. They may have been part of the arts festival. We loved it.
The Latin Quarter was so full of life. The skinny streets were dedicated to people walking. They had banners hung from side to side. People were everywhere. We snagged a reservation at Kirway because Eans said they didn’t have any availability. While we waited for our reservation time to come up, we grabbed a drink at Seven Bridges, then after we finished it headed back to the restaurant where we had an amazing meal. The restaurant had a jazz band on the second level with music permeating the whole place, it was music to our ears.
We knew we wanted to stay out late again to stay on schedule so the game plan for the rest of the night was more bar hopping. We wanted to check everything out. We bounced around from spot to spot. Most bars had live bands. As the night went on the bars because more packed and everyone joined in on singing all the songs. It was like being with a family you never met, everyone was so nice and it was so fun.
Some of the bars we loved the most included: Murphy’s, The Quay, O’Connell’s Bar, and Taafers. We were back in bed by 2am just liked we planned.
Day 3: Wrapping up Galway & Discovering Ennis
After a restful night, we left our luggage with the front desk and walked around Galway a bit more exploring some of the art exhibits left, checking out the sights during the day, and grabbing brunch. We did brunch at Caprice and it was good but heard rave reviews about ArdBia at Nimmos as well as the pastry shop called Magpie bakery. We walked past both and they had lines out the door.
Afternoon: Beach, Park, and Castle After we grabbed the car and headed out, we stopped at the beach to check it out. If you are one for tradition, stop at Salthill Promm where you can walk to the walkway and jump into the Irish waters. Don’t forget to bring a towel! If you get into Galway earlier than we did your first day, this might be a good thing to add in! After that we stopped at Silverstrand Beach where we learned they get Portuguese Man ‘o War jellyfish on occasion which is pretty crazy! There was an ice-cream truck there, we grabbed a cone and ate one of the creamiest ice-creams ever! We learn they whip their ice-cream which definitely makes all the difference!
Next stop was Cappagh Park with a 1.5 mile walking loop. Part of the way in you see a really cool looking forest with mosses.
After that we went to a castle overgrown with ivy called Menlo Castle. It looks like it’s on private property but it isn’t. Find the drop pin on the map on this page that says parking for Menlo Castle and use GPS to get there. You’ll see a metal gate, hop it. It’s a very short walk to the castle from there.
Then we headed to Ennis which was about a 1 hour drive.
Evening: Ennis Friary, Dinner, & Drinks You can start your visit at the Ennis Friary. The intricate carvings and ancient tombs are captivating. This town was definitely sleepier than Galway. Right next door is Cruise’s Bar which has traditional Irish music. It’s also very old with a rich history. We grabbed dinner at Poet’s Corner Bar which was the busiest thing we saw while we were there. They had great food. On our way back we stopped in Diamond Bar where a lively Irish band was playing.
Back to Shannon: After we wrapped up in Ennis we headed back to Shannon where we returned our car rental and stayed at the hotel walking distance (2 min walk, literally) to the airport called Park Inn By Radisson. The hotel wasn’t great but the location was. We had an early flight in the morning and wanted to get as much sleep as we could.
Castles
There are castles everywhere. You’ll be driving – castle. You’ll be walking, castle. We couldn’t get enough of the castles.
Day 4: Head Home
We boarded our flight home and reflected on the incredible experiences of the past three days. From the historic sites of Limerick to the history of Ennis and the cultural vibrancy of Galway, our trip to Ireland was nothing short of magical. Each city had its unique charm, and the warmth of the Irish people made it even more special.
Ireland, with its rich history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture, has left an indelible mark on my heart. I can’t wait to return and explore more of this beautiful country. Slán go fóill, Ireland – see you soon!
