Jaha. You don't mention where you'll visit during your Killarney stay, but why not take advantage of west Cork during your commute?

Great opportunities from Sheeps head, Beara peninsula or Gougane Barra - others might have more convenient suggestions.

Note also the Swiss cottage in Cahir should be open at this stage, and we recently ate at the Brian Boru pub in the middle of Cashel town and had a terrific meal.

I think, particularly at this time of year, you're going too far out of your way to visit the lovely cliffs of Moher - save county Clare for another visit!

Jaha, curious to find out why your friends in Paris thought that missing the Cliffs of Moher would be a terrible shame. I have yet to read a really good TA report about the new Cliffs of Moher visitor centre regarded by some as being expensive, over-rated and not giving good views of the cliffs.

I visited the cliffs several years ago now and would like to know why missing it would be such a terrible shame. Perhaps you can come back and give us your honest verdict after your visit to the cliffs.

AARoadwatch say it is just over 5 hours, (using the Tarbert ferry) so you can bet it will be more like six and a half. Cashel will take the last admission at either 3.45 or 4.45, I suspect they change when the clocks change so you will still be on the 3.45 time, so it looks as though you really could not do it in the time.

I think ferdia's suggestions would be a much better way to go.

OK - Thanks all, sounds all reasonable. Folks we met here in Paris were from Cobh and Kilkenny. Said Cliffs are their favorites. I think we'll stick to our plan to leave Killarney - Riverside hotel on Muckross - and head to Cahir & Cashel for our night there. Wanted to Gap of Dunloe tour but weather looks too wet.

We're flying into and spending an afternoon in Cork city already, may try the distillery and/or Blarney.

Thanks for the quick replies!

And I maybe wrong but I don't believe the Gap of Dunloe (complete roundtrip) tours have started for the season as of yet.

Yes you would be slightly insane. It is not worth the detour.

I would agree with you there Irishrover, the Cliffs of Moher has been hyped up to recoup the 30 million euro development cost of the 'hole in the wall' visitor centre and apparently visitors are no longer allowed close access to the cliffs for viewing.

"visitors are no longer allowed close access to the cliffs for viewing".......and rightly so, there has been much erosion and damage done by constant trampling along the cliff edge by numerous visitors as well as it actually being rather dangerous!

Aye Suzy,those numerous visitors have been coming to enjoy the natural views for decades and not bothering anybody. Now Clare County Council wants to create a mega-bucks tourist industy and has egg on their faces because it cost them more than they had bargained for, so now the tourist has to cough up.

What I want to know from tourists, is it worth it, particularly as there are higher cliffs in Achill Island and in Donegal. Should Donegal County Council do the same thing with Slieve League?

cavan:

Don't get me started on Clare Co.Council!!!

I will admit the last time I was at the cliffs was when the construction phaze was taking place so I personally can't comment on the new facility.

I have been visiting the cliffs for years and I do miss the cliffs of old, when you had the local buskers playing etc. Now they are all to be banished unless they are one of the lucky ones to get a licence from C.C.C. Don't know if slipping a brown envelopes will get you one ;-)

However the Cliffs are very popular and excessive advertising means visitors feel that if they are visiting Ireland it should be on their "to do list".

In recent years there has been a steady influx to the cliffs. I have seen it. There has been quite a few incidents at the cliffs such as visitors dropping their backpacks with their passports in it, cameras etc over the cliff. Most reports are to be found in The Clare Champion, of course the small incidents don't make the daily nationals.

I think there should be a charge. I think the charge in question is too steep......but then again I remember when the carpark was free and the charge of 50p coming in for the first time. My Dad was horrified!!!

Out of interest when I visited "The White Mountains N.P" in New Hampshire a few years ago. We had to pay a daily fee to visit the area and then had to pay $10 to visit "The Flume Gorge". They just had a small visitor centre/shop/toilet facilites. To be honest we did not begrudge paying the fee as it was a wonderful natural attraction, and felt good that my fee was going towards the maintenance of a natural attraction for future generations.