Things To Do
Connemara
It is worth carving out a day or two of your trip to visit the area surrounding Ballynahinch Castle. There is a ton to do but we recommend: Stopping in Roundstone for a coffee and a stroll, stopping by Dog's Bay beach for the gorgeous views, shopping and lunch in Clifden, driving Sky Road (with stops at Clifden Castle and the Upper Sky Road lookout point for the photo op), stopping by Cottage Handcrafts on your way to Kylemore Abbey before ending the day with a pint at Lough Ina Lodge. If you're lucky - you may pass a place to feed sheep on your way home!
Galway
If you choose to fly in through Shannon, we recommend stopping in Galway for a day or two. Galway is also easily accessible via train from Dublin. Known for its artistic and traditional culture, visit Galway to grab a bite at Kai, hear some great trad music at Taafee's and buy yourself an Aran Wool sweater or claddagh ring. Galway is also a great launching pad for a day trip to The Cliffs of Moher or the Aran Islands. Galway is a 1 hour drive from Ballynahinch Castle.
Dublin
It is well worth spending a night or two in Dublin, Ireland's Capital City - especially if you choose to fly through there. Some of Ireland's best known attractions can be found in Dublin: The Guinness Storehouse, The Book of Kells, St. Stephen's Green, the Jameson Distillery and Kilmainham Gaol. There are excellent pubs and restaurants throughout the city, but be sure to check out Temple Bar for some fun. Dublin is a 3 hour 30 minute drive to Ballyahinch Castle.
The Ring of Kerry
The Ring of Kerry is one of Ireland's most popular activities for a reason. It is a driving tour that you can accomplish in one long day or stretch out over a few days - full of beautiful natural and architectural sites. You can drive the ring yourself but the roads are narrow and windy - there are a number of bus tour options available instead if preferred. Highlights include Molls Gap, Ladies View, Torc Waterfall, and Kells Bay but our favorite part was Valentia Island where we got a great view of the Skellig Islands. There is a lot of debate online about where to start and which direction to go - we started in Kenmare at Sheen Falls and went counter-clock-wise and loved it! If you have an extra day - the Dingle Peninsula is close and said to be just as beautiful. If you decide to add this to your itinerary, we recommend flying into Cork Airport which is a little over an hour from the Kerry/Kenmare area. Kerry/Kenmare is a 4 hour drive from Ballynahinch Castle.