Route from Dun Laoghaire to Galway?

[Greenman14]

Hi, I'm planning a route for a short tour of South/West of Ireland and I'm looking for a good route from Dun Laoghaire to Galway. Current plan is to head South into the Wicklow mountains then North West, skirting around Dublin and taking the M4/N4 to Longford, then heading South West on the N63 via Roscommon to Galway.

I'd like to miss out the motorway but there doesn't seem to be an obvious scenic/intetresting alternative. Current route is only 4hrs 30 and another hour or so to ride on better biking roads would be fine.

The following day is South to Killarney via Cliffs of Moher, Tarbert ferry, and Ring of Kerry.

Advice?

 

[JJH]

i had written a long reply but got timed out and logged out so here goes again.
Head for Dublin Wicklow mountains. Then Hollywood baltingglass Castledermitt Carlow Stradbally Portlaoise Portarlington Clomblouge Edenderry Kinegad then m way to Mullingar. Head to Edwardstown then Athlone. More coming

 

[JJH]

Your bypassing Longford so you can go on to there if you want then head tru Roscomon to Galway. That's a lot of riding in a short day of daylight roads can be challenging and drivers unprictable. The next day you are probly taking on too much. JJH

 

[Bem]

When I went with Son in 2012 to watch Athlone (towards Galway) I found that all the signs and all the roads tried to push us towards using the Toll Roads and motorways. Enjoyed playing the game of using the old roads as much as possible.
Google Maps shows 2hr 26 min direct
Looking at your provisional Route I would try to go cross country from Wicklow towards Newbridge, then Whenever the "fed up" moment sets in divert to the motorway routing to gain a bit of time (and spend a penny or two!).
HTH
Brian

 

[JJH]

Oh yes enjoy

 

[Jockser]

From Wicklow Mts. head west to the Slieve Blooms - the green bit between portlaoise & Birr. From Birr head Portumna, Gort, across to Kinvara & up to Galway. No m/way & feck all main road. But don't underestimate the time required, on minor roads you'll do well to average 35mph

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

Check if boat is still running to Dull Laoghaire, I think some question.

 

[Greenman14]

Plan B

Thanks for the advice, much appreciated. Should have said, this trip is planned for May so plenty of daylight. Re-routed to Lisdoonvarna, South of Galway, as suggested by JJH and Jockser, via Slieve Bloom mts. Stopping South of Galway cuts a fair bit of time off the next day's trip and makes the Ring of Kerry a possibility; is it worth riding? or is it single-track wilth passing places and hundreds of campervans? Not after a TT experience, but it's nice to take in a view that's not the back of a campervan/caravan.

Last time I checked, couple of weeks ago, the ferry was still running. I was looking for sailings in May so it might be a seasonal service?

Using TyreToTravel route planning software, free download and works well, saves to TomTom or Garmin formats.

http://www.tyretotravel.com/

 

[Tengiz99]

The ferry is up in the air at the minute, but at worst you'll end up on Dublin port if the Dun Laoghaire one gets canned.

 

[widget]

The following day is South to Killarney via Cliffs of Moher, Tarbert ferry, and Ring of Kerry.

Advice?

Did that trip in July from Galway. Though We stayed in Killarney for two nights and did the ring the next day. A most excellent time.

 

[JJH]

As I said earlier I'd go for a 2 day stint on this one. Jjh

 

[JJH]

Cliffs take 2 hours min to take in. I sometimes drive busses (Paddywagon ) and do the cliffs most weekends in the season March to October Jjh

 

[Greenman14]

Cliffs look spectacular on the website though in an Atlantic gale it might not be much fun. I think this one's going to be weather-dependant, as will the Ring of Kerry. Good to have the time estimate for a visit.

Last year's trip was to Corsica and we did a 12 hour day from North to South and regretted it so will be taking shortcuts to avoid any risk of the same next year.

 

[Jockser]

makes the Ring of Kerry a possibility; is it worth riding? or is it single-track wilth passing places and hundreds of campervans?

Definitely not single track but it will have a high proportion of tour buses & campervans which will slow down in front of you as they approach the scenic bits
If you have to do it, do it early in the morning or, better still, in the evening when the above have stopped at their hotels & campsites.

Richie must be busy so I'll step in for his Tourist Board role - much better to do the Beara peninsula (next one over) & Sheeps Head (over again). Much quieter & nicer (but narrower) roads. Plenty of accommodation in Allihies & good food.
We'll be down there sometime around then for Richie's annual West Cork Run

 

[Ian T-J]

South West Ireland.

Heres a short video of a trip I made to County Kerry - just outstanding in the sun shine.

 

[GerryC]

It's not that nice at all - I would not bother visiting Kerry at all at all - shifty untrustworthy types abound & it mostly rains. Go somewhere else & leave Kerry to me...............

 

[Greenman14]

South West Ireland.

Heres a short video of a trip I made to County Kerry - just outstanding in the sun shine.]

Looks grand. Nice bike as well, I used to have a red one just like it complete with similar screen.

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

South West Ireland.

Heres a short video of a trip I made to County Kerry - just outstanding in the sun shine.

Good man yourself, don't mind GerryC, his ideas for Kerry makes North Korea seem like Florida!

 

[Sven-E]

Anyone got the route from the first Boreen Run? (Or the tenth?) It went from Bray to Ballyvaughan in north Clare. Pretty close to your proposed start and stop and it went over amazing roads. It went over the Wicklow mountains (look for Lackan), Slieve Bloom and ended up in the Burren. Sorry for not remembering the route details. It definitely avoids motorway. It also avoids the national routes and mostly the regional routes too.