May 1996
Western Ireland
Into Shannon Airport then to Dingle then we cut across the River Shannon by Ferry then to Cliffs of Moher and Doolin.
We followed the CTC Guide so the route descriptions are left out and we refer you to the proper routes in this 1979 excellent guide. We have the route marked on the maps below. You have to join CTC (Cyclist Touring Club) to get their new route descriptions. Their web address is: http://www.ctc.org.uk/.
Shannon Airport to Limerick
39Ks
Route #317
Limerick to Ardagh
46Ks
Route #304
Ardagh to Tralee
68Ks
Route #303
Tralee to Dingle
46Ks
Route #302
Dingle to Dingle
59Ks
Route #295
(see above map)
Dingle to Tralee
46Ks
Route #302
(see above)
Tralee to Tarbert (for the car ferry across the Shannon River) to Kilkee
52Ks
Out of Tralee on L104 but cut off to Ballybunnion then L105 to Tarbert.
Take car ferry. On the other side pick up route #318 to Kilkee.
Kilkee to Ennistimon
48Ks
Route #320
Ennistimon to Doolin
60Ks
Route #321
May 1993
Western Ireland
We flew into Shannon Airport then along the west coast to the Cliffs of Moher, Doolin, Galway, Clifden and Westport. We repeated this trip in 2000 and it remains the same.
We followed the CTC Guide so the route descriptions are left out and we refer you to the proper routes in this 1979 excellent guide. We have the route marked on the maps below. You have to join CTC (Cyclist Touring Club) to get their new route descriptions. Their web address is: http://www.ctc.org.uk/.
Shannon Airport to Clarecastle
39Ks
Route #317
Clarecastle to Kilkee
61Ks
Route #318
Kilkee to Ennistimon
48Ks
Route #320
Ennistimon to Kinvara
74Ks
Route #321
Kinvara to Galway
34Ks
Route #322
Galway to Screeb
52Ks
Route #323
Screeb to Clifden
72Ks
Route #324
Clifden to Westport
115Ks
Route #325
Westport to Dublin by Auto.
May 1989
Southwest Ireland and across to Dublin
We landed in Shannon and encountered bad weather: on and off rain and very strong westerly winds. This changed our trip. We followed the CTC Guide so the route descriptions are left out and we refer you to the proper routes in this 1979 excellent guide. We have the route marked on the maps below. You have to join CTC (Cyclist Touring Club) to get their new route descriptions. Their web address is: http://www.ctc.org.uk/.
Shannon Airport to Ennis
17Ks
5Ks out to the Hwy N18 then left for 12Ks to Ennis. A few hills and a busy highway.
(maps above)
Ennis to Gort
21Ks
Out on busy N18. Strong southwest winds make it an easy ride. 11Ks to junction just after Crusheen to Tubber at 12Ks then to Grot 21Ks. In Gort, pick up routes from CTC Book.
(Maps above)
Gort to Kinvarra
10Ks
Route #221
(Maps above)
Kinvarra to Galway
34Ks
Route #322
(Maps above)
Galway to Kilconnell
51Ks
Route #332
Kilconnell to Athlone
56K
Route #333
Athlone to Killucan
61Ks
Route #334
Killucan to Dublin
73Ks
Route 335
Dublin to Killarney
By train
Killarney to Killorglin
24Ks
Route #296
Killorglin to Kenmare (Ring of Kerry)
135Ks
Route 293
Kenmare to Bantry
140Ks
Route #292
Bantry to Ross Carbery
119Ks
Route #291
Ross Carbery to Cork
72Ks
Route #290
Cork to Ballyhooly (side trip to Fermoy out of Ballyhooly)
31Ks
Route #300
Ballyholly to Limerick (overnight in Fermoy then back to Ballyhooly)
79Ks
Route 301
Limerick to Shannon Airport
39Ks
Route #317
May 1985
Southwest Ireland
This was our first trip to Ireland. We flew in and out of Shannon Airport in the west. We had good weather and just wandered around with our then new 1979 CTC Guide. You have to join CTC (Cyclist Touring Club) to get the route descriptions; it’s worth it! Their web address is: http://www.ctc.org.uk/. We followed the CTC Guide so the route descriptions are left out and we refer you to the proper routes in this 1979 guide. We have the route marked on the maps below.
Shannon Airport to Limerick
24Ks
Route #317
Limerick to Ardagh
46Ks
Route #304
Ardagh to Tralee
68Ks
Route #303
Tralee to Dingle
46Ks
Route #302
Dingle to Dingle
59Ks
Route #295
Dingle to Killorglin
53Ks
Route 294
Killorglin to Killarney
24Ks
Route #296
We took a ferry which was marked on our Bartholomew Map that crossed the River Maine for a short cut to Killorglin. It was an open row boat and we had to hail it from the opposite shore. It’s probably not there anymore.
Killarney to Millstreet
42Ks
Route #298
Milstreet to Ballyhooly
54Ks
Route #305
Ballyhooly to Limerick
79Ks
Route #301
Limerick to Shannon Airport
39Ks
Route #317
Road Stories
Riding northeast out of Shannon Airport, a stiff Southwest wind at our back, we looked up at the passing patch of blue sky filled with hope and optimism. A couple miles down the road, we turned west to head for the Dingle Peninsula. The wind blew Sally and I to a stop. Faced with brisk winds off the Atlantic, we simply decided to go with the flow. Three days later, we were in Dublin.
We were full of anxious optimism as we steered eastward toward Athlone and Dublin feeling the warmth of the sun in that pocket of stillness created on a downwind run. We rode on side roads, which meander, and when our vector and the wind vector varied, we shoved hard against the wind to steer straight.
Then the cloud rolled in, one giant cloud about the size of the Atlantic. We could deal with the wind by changing our destination; we could deal with the cold by buying extra sweatshirts; we could deal with clouds and sporadic rain by seeking shelter; but two all day rains were unbearable. Both days started the same; threatening but not raining. Damp turned to mist, mist turned to drizzle, drizzle turned to rain. The first time, we got soaked and cold on our ride downwind to Athlone. Once wet, the only way to keep warm was to keep pedaling. The second time, we sought shelter – in the pubs.
The pub was in the center of Balispittle. There were several patrons at the bar. The obligatory discussion of the weather commenced. Patron 1 said “I never listen to the forecast because its either wrong or bad.” Patron 2 continued “You know, Ireland is a beautiful country but for the weather.” I reported that after our first day’s ride I had been told that the weather hadn’t been “fine” for 2 years. At this comment, everyone including the proprietor thought a retrospective moment and then nodded in agreement.
Our pub conversation ranged onward. The pub owner, seeing us glancing outside as the rain diminished back to a drizzle, recommended that we closely observe the statue of the Virgin Mary in a Grotto at the edge of town. He had been instrumental in the making of this shrine some years before and since then there had been a number of reported miracles in that the statue was detected to move.
We understand that most Irish people who can afford it make pilgrimages to the famous religious shrines of Ireland and Europe. We asked if the pub proprietor had been to Lourdes in France where miraculous cures have been reported,. “Of course” he replied. All in the pub had been to Knock, a holy shrine in the northern part of the Irish Republic. Everyone knew at least someone who had been to Rome. Religion is palpable in everyday life. Where else would you discuss religious shrines over beer? Sunday church service creates traffic jams in every small village.
So now I think I understand the progression toward a miracle. First Church, then the Pub for the rest of the day because of the poor weather and then on the way home the miracle is observed.