Travel Note
The guidance on travel to Ireland changes frequently, check with your airline and the Irish Gov't website (click view below) for the latest information. As of Sunday 6 March 2022, travelers to Ireland are no longer asked to complete a COVID-19 Passenger Locator Form. There are also no post-arrival testing or quarantine requirements for travelers to Ireland. We do ask that everyone is up-to-date with Covid-19 vaccinations. If you are traveling through another country either before or after Ireland, including the UK, please check that country's requirements even if just connecting. Currently the United States still requires a test within one day of re-entry. There has been no timeline set for when this will expire. Please see the FAQ page for options of Antigen tests to take with you from the US.
Travel Note
We have some amazing news! If you haven't already seen, according to multiple media outlets, the CDC and President Biden are set to suspend the US entry testing requirement for international travel. This means that you can ignore the email and instructions we sent on Saturday June 4th. According to the CDC press release, As of 12:01AM on Sunday June 12th, air passengers will not need to get tested and show the COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 prior to boarding a flight to the U.S. So you do not need to take tests with you or schedule a test at the airport prior to returning to the US nor do you need to get records from your provider if you were previously positive. We are excited as we hope this alleviates stress around testing and gives everyone more time to enjoy their trip! For those who are visiting countries other than Ireland prior to or after our wedding we strongly encourage you to check the testing requirements for entering those countries as entry requirement may differ.
Flight
Doolin is about a 3 hour drive from Dublin Airport. Dublin Airport (DUB) is the main and largest of the three international airports (Shannon (SNN) and Cork (ORK) are the others). Dublin Airport typically has the best deals and the most availability/direct flights from the U.S. All major US carriers fly into Dublin, many flights on Irish low-cost airlines fly direct from cities on the East Coast. If you're up for a drive or would like to spend time exploring the Guinness Brewhouse, Jameson Distillery (we recommend Pearse Lyons), Trinity College, Temple Bar, or popping into shops on Grafton Street, a stay in Dublin is a great choice before heading to Doolin on Monday, 7/18.
Flight
Shannon Airport is an hour (depending on cattle crossing) from Doolin. Shannon offers a more relaxed vibe with less traffic than Dublin, and if booked early enough similar deals can be found. Hiring a car from here may also be easier. If you are flying in for a quick trip or making Irelands west coast your home base, Shannon is a great option. Please note US based carriers American Airlines and United Airlines typically have direct flights from the East Coast to SNN. These routes may not be active on web searches currently due to COVID-19 restrictions on entering Ireland. These routes will return as Ireland opens for tourism travel.
Travel Note
In addition to Cullinan's & Piper's Chair, we also recommend: - Fiddle & Bow (fully booked) - OAR - Doolin Inn - Seaview House - The Lodge, Doolin - Doolin Village Lodges While there are lots of rental cottages and houses in Doolin, few are within walking distance to the weekend's festivities. Shoot us an email or a text if you have questions on any locations! We want everyone to stay centrally because it will be a lot of fun, but we also don't want anyone to have to walk far and certainly not drive at night after having a few drinks. There are no street lamps in the area (not kidding) and with limited sidewalks and narrow, unfamiliar roads, we don't want anyone to stress about getting home at the end of the night. There's also no Uber/Lyft. And, Boston walking distance is not the same as Doolin walking distance.
House Or Rental
Hotel Doolin offers self-catering houses called The Piper's Chair. This group of 9 units is adjacent to the hotel. The houses have 3 upstairs bedrooms and sleep 5 adults. Eight of the houses have 1 room with a double bed, 1 room with 2 twin beds, and 1 room with 1 twin bed. The ninth has 2 rooms with 1 double bed & 1 room with 1 twin bed. The Piper's Chair (rates and availability will be held until February 15 2022) €350 for first night and €100 for each additional night Utility charges of €8/day additional to rates Breakfast is NOT included Check in time 4– 9pm Checkout is strictly 10am. (there is a charge of €50 per hour for late check outs) To book, please email reservations@hoteldoolin.ie and mention the Meahl/Duckett Wedding. While we had to release our hold 5 months out from the wedding, they should still have availability.
House Or Rental
Hotel Doolin also offers 8 additional guest rooms across the street from the main hotel in Cullinan's Guest House. Cullinan’s Guesthouse (rates and availability will be held until February 15th 2022) Single/Double Occupancy: €130 per night (one double bed or 2 twin beds) Triple room: €180 per night, (one double bed and one twin bed) Breakfast is NOT included Check in time for Cullinan’s Guesthouse is from 4pm – 9pm. Checkout is strictly 11am. To book, please email reservations@hoteldoolin.ie and mention the Meahl/Duckett Wedding. While we had to release our hold on these rooms 5 months out from the wedding, they should still have availability.
Hotel
Currently the hotel is full (we have filled the 17 rooms), however Hotel Doolin has availability in their other accommodations, Cullinan's Guest House (directly across the street) and The Piper's Chair (adjacent to hotel). Booking information for these properties is detailed on this page. A charming boutique hotel that feels more like a B&B. Hotel Doolin is the site for both the ceremony and the reception. Due to another wedding the Hotel is unable to accommodate guests wishing to stay in any of the hotel rooms prior to the July 18th.
Rental Car
Driving in Ireland opens the doors to many unique experiences. We suggest renting (or hiring a car as it's called), for increased freedom and flexibility. Driving in Ireland does have its challenges. There are few interstates (motorways), and mostly 2 lane roads that are much narrower than Americans are used to. Also, that other side of the road thing doesn't make it easy! The trickiest thing about car hire though is the rental process. The default car type is manual transmission, so if you can't drive a stick or feel it will be too difficult, make sure you have reserved an automatic transmission. Insurance is also a major difference. You MUST buy insurance to hire a car and most US issued credit cards do not offer insurance coverage in Ireland. A letter of coverage verification is often needed for cards that do provide insurance. You will not need a car to get around Doolin and all the events are within walking distance. Click view below for in depth explanation.
Travel Note
Uber and Lyft are non-existent on the Wild Atlantic Way, so securing transportation in advance is key. That said a few options do exist, through local services. Peter Mooney, Johnathan Normoyle, and Tony McGann offer local taxi services and Airport Transfers, which may be good alternatives to renting a car, but would certainly need to be booked in advance. Update: In August of 2021 we used Peter Mooney for a trip to Galway from Doolin and it was fantastic, We will be contracting with Peter again! Click view below for links to their websites.
Travel Note
In the States we rely on Google Maps or Waze, even for routes we know well. Save yourself a headache while in Ireland and do not blindly follow the route provided by Google Maps. Using Google's shortest route/time algorithms you will end up on skinny L or Local, roads which are just ruts with grass growing between them and no way to pass on coming traffic. Until Google releases an "Avoid the Cows" filter you should stay on M, N and R roads and avoid the L roads at all costs. We advise that you plan your route ahead of time to avoid this headache. The website below (from Sea View House) has directions the locals follow. These will get you to Doolin just fine and your accommodation will be easy to find from there. Best thing about Doolin is you can ask any local and they will surely point you in the right direction. * Disclaimer: many rental car places will offer GPS add-ons which will be expensive. I have used Google to plot routes prior to our drives making sure to avoid local roads and follow the preplanned route while on the trip.
Travel Note
We suggest you do not take this option unless coming from and returning to Dublin. And in that case we suggest you take the train from Dublin Heuston Station to Ennis (or Limerick) and hire Peter Mooney to drive you the rest of the way to Doolin. While we recommend a rental car, Doolin is accessible by public transit from both Shannon and Dublin. For those of you who choose this journey of Planes, Trains and Automobiles, the trek from Doolin via public transit is one even John Candy and Steve Martin won't be envious of. Below is a a link to the National Journey Planer that can be used to plan a journey via public transportation.