The current intention is to hire buses/coaches so we may all travel together. Return to the Bunratty/Shannon area will be by coach after the close of the Rally; departure is 17:30 from Redwood. Please do not use this for planning purposes yet as the actual departure from Redwood is still a little flexible as it is Ireland after all!
Firstly Bunratty, where the Rally begins and nominally ends, is adjacent to Shannon and Shannon Airport but not walking distance. Taxis are available, but there is also a public bus from Shannon Airport to Limerick Bus station (which we believe is the same place as the railway station). This goes through Bunratty http://www.buseireann.ie/site/home/. The service is number 343.
There is also a Bus from Galway to Shannon which takes 1hr 15 mins http://www.citylink.ie/timetable-galw2shan.htm.
There is a regular fast train service between Limerick and Dublin usually
taking 2.5 hrs but occasionally up to 3.5 hrs approximately hourly. The service
from Galway to Dublin takes ~3 hrs and runs every two hours. If you wish to
travel on from Bunratty/Shannon to Dublin then we suggest taking the Limerick
to Dublin train link.
There is also a bus between Shannon airport and Dublin which takes ~4 hrs
http://www.jjkavanagh.ie/alltimes.asp.
There is a regular train service between Belfast and Dublin ~1.5-2 hrs depending
on time of day - cheaper to book online too through the Irish rail site http://www.irishrail.ie/home/.
We also use the German rail site to work out travel possibilities as it includes
all surface modes of travel including ferries - it is very good although you
can't book through it, but it shows all the options . For example if you leave
Belfast at 8.00 am you can be in Galway by 2pm and Limerick by about the same
time. German rail http://www.bahn.de/international/view/en/index.shtml
A tour of the Aran Islands is planned for the week after the rally. The tour will be over 1-3 July 2008, meeting the 11.30am ferry at Kilronan from Galway on the 1 July. Kilronan is on Inishmore.
You will need to book your own accommodation, preferably in or near the village of Kilronan, where the ferry docks from Galway, and at least Tuesday and Wednesday night.
Accommodation options:
I have organised a local historian, Dara Molloy, to lead us on a day trip
to some of the island’s prehistoric and early Christian sites that you
don’t see on the commercial day tour. Other activities include a visit
to the Heritage Centre and a screening of the 1930s classic, Man of Aran,
Music night at the pub and of course meals together. All activities are on
a pay as you go basis.
If you are interested, I will make an email list for distribution of updates.
Let me know: kerry@dedwards.id.au.
There are seven people participating so far as of mid February.
Kerry Edwards
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Programme of Events |
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| Date |
Time |
Activity |
Notes |
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| 25 June Wednesday |
09.30 + |
Assembly at Bunratty Shannon Shamrock Hotel (BSSH) |
Those arriving at Shannon should take a taxi to the Hotel. |
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11.00 |
Visit Bunratty Folk Park (BFP) and Bunratty Castle |
Lots to see and enjoy here |
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Lunch |
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14.00 |
Leave for Corrofin – Clare Heritage Centre |
Talk on Egans / Keegans of Co Clare & tour of exhibits. |
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Return to Bunratty |
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19.00 |
Dinner and Traditional Irish Night at BFP Corn Barn |
Will last approx 2 hrs 30 mins. |
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| 26 June Thursday |
09.30 |
Assembly at BSSH |
2 buses to take group on day trip |
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Depart for North Clare |
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10.15 |
Visit Poulnabrone Dolmen |
Ancient burial place – 3800 BC. |
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10.45 |
Visit Caherconnell Stone Fort |
1500 yr old fort. |
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12.00 |
Visit Aillwee Cave |
Guide available |
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Lunch |
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13.45 |
Drive through North Clare and South to the Cliffs of Moher |
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14.30 |
Tour of Visitors Centre etc |
Guide/s available. |
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15.00 |
Cliff Walk |
Cliff Walk Option. |
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Drive to Doolin |
Short drive to famous village. |
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20.00 |
Dinner at Hotel Doolin Walk to O’Connor’s Pub |
Music and drink and craic |
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| 27 June Friday |
09.30 |
Assembly and depart to Pier. |
Bus will be available. Short trip |
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Ferry to Kilronan, Inishmore. |
Minibuses available at pier |
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11.00 |
Visit sites on Aran Islands |
Dun Aonghasa, Clocán and 7 churches |
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Lunch |
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17.30 |
Return to Kilronan |
Irish speaking island |
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20.00 |
Dinner at Óstan Áráinn |
Pattern weekend festival |
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| 28 June Saturday |
09.30 |
Assembly and depart to Pier. Ferry to Rossaveal, Co Galway Drive through Connemara and Galway city to Tuam |
Buses to meet us at Pier |
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Lunch |
Brehon Park, Clonberne |
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12.30 |
To Park Castle remains and Clonbern and Notes on Park Egans |
Medieval Egan and Archbishop Boetius Egan (1798) connections |
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Visit Kilconnel Abbey in Kilconnel (scroll down list) |
Tomb of Bishop Boetius McEgan. |
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Visit Duniry |
Site of Egan School in middle ages origins of An Leabhar Breac (The Speckled Book) or Leabhar Mór Daidhri (The Great Book of Duniry) |
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Arrive Portumna area |
Gurteen School etc |
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20.00 |
Dinner at Modena Restaurant |
Portumna (behind An Caislan Pub) |
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| 29 June Sunday |
09.00 |
Breakfast |
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09:30 |
C of I Church Services |
Dorrha |
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10.30 |
Chapter Meetings |
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12.00 |
To Lorrha for Mass/Church Services |
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13:00 |
Denis Maher's Pub Friars Tavern |
Lorrha |
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14:00 |
The McEgan castle |
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14:30 |
Lectures (2) on McEgans |
Michael J.S. Egan and Charles Egan |
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17:30 |
Dispersal |
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17:30 |
Departure to Bunratty area (approx 2 hours) |
2 buses available |
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Accommodation has been booked for 100 people and will be filled on a first-come first-served basis. The following are the places that are booked (B) or additionally available (AA). The AA accommodation can be resorted to in the event that the B sites are full up. We have special rates at the B sites.
Please Book As Early As Possible
Some points to note: Hotel Doolin and Gurteen Agricultural College have already been block booked by Michael JS Egan; you need to email your requirements directly to Michael for these venues. For all other bookings, please copy Michael on any reservations you make michael.egan@mjse.ie
Bunratty Shannon Shamrock Htl has given us a price per room of €85 - €100.VG value Doolin Htl B&B price is €46.50 per headAran Islands Hotel is the most expensive at €79 per person B&B. No place else on island big enough for Clan group.
B&B costs range from €35 - €45 per person.
Ferry cost is approx €30 for both legs .
Finally, don’t forget to reserve a place in Bunratty area if returning that way on the evening of the 29 June 2007 or somewhere else; the programme runs into the late afternoon.
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Date |
Location |
Booked |
Accommodation |
Data |
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* indicates principal assembly area for activities |
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25 June |
Bunratty |
B |
Bunratty Shannon Shamrock Hotel * 56 Rooms: 29D,13(2D+2S),3x2S,9Ex,2x3S
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reservations@dunnehotels.com +353 61 361 177 |
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AA |
Bunratty Manor (B&B) 22 Rooms: 18D, 4(D+S)
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www.bunrattymanor.net bunrattymanor@eircom.net +353 61 707 984 |
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AA |
The Courtyard (B&B) 11Rooms: 1S, 1(D+S), 3(D+S), 2(2S), 4D |
+353 61 361 444
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26 June |
Doolin |
B |
Hotel Doolin * 17 Rooms 14(D+S),3(D+2S)
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info@hoteldoolin.ie +353 61 707 4111 |
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B |
Atlantic View House 11 Rooms 6x2S, 2x1S,1x2D,1(D+S),1(D+2S)
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e:atlanview@eircom.net + 353 65 707 4189 |
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B |
Doolin Activity Lodge 5 Rooms: 3(D+S), 2D
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+353 65 707 4888 |
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AA |
Desmond & Olywn Egan |
+ 353 65 707 5991
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27 June |
Inishmore |
B |
Aran Island Hotel * 22 Rooms: 15(D+S), 5D, 2(D+2S)
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+353 99 61090 |
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B |
Mrs Noreen Gill (B&B) 5 Rooms: 2x2D, 2(D+S), 1D
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noirinuighoill@hotmail.com + 353 99 61297 |
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B |
Mrs Áine O’Flaherty (B&B) 5 Rooms: 3x2S, 2x1D
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realog@eircom.net + 353 99 61159
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B |
Mrs Brenda Flaherty (B&B) 6 Rooms: 2x1D, 4(D+S)
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oceanviewaran@gmail.com + 353 99 61347
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B |
Mrs Evelyn Powel (B&B) 3 Rooms : 2x1D, 1(D+S) - next door to above
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oceanviewaran@gmail.com + 353 99 61302
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28 June |
Portumna |
B |
Gurteen Agricultural College * (Cherryl O’Brien) 78 Rooms: 75S, 3(D+S)
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+ 353 67021282
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B
B
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Oak Lodge (Mary Lynch) 6 Rooms: Mix of Ds and Ss.
Auvergne Lodge (Eliz Ryan) 4 Rooms: 2D, 1(D+S), 1(D+2S)
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+ 353 9097 41549
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B
B
AA |
Portumna House 5 Rooms: Mix of Ds and Ss
Greenwood Villa (Michael and Agnes Walsh) 3 Rooms 1X2S, 2D
Shannon Oaks Hotel 28Rooms : Mix of room types
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+ 353 9097 41078
+353 9097 41273
+353 9097 41777 |
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