Days out by car using "Galligans Cottage" as a central base


      LOCAL KILMALLOCK is a 13th century walled town on the river Lubagh and
historic centre of Ireland's famous "Golden Vale" area of south Limerick and
north Cork. Visit the museum, explore the Priory and Abbey. Noted for the
Irish music in its lively and colourful pubs and bars.  

      1 DAY. BUNRATTY CASTLE AND FOLK PARK. From "Galligan’s Cottage" go to Limerick city, over the river and onto the Ennis Road. Straight up to signs for
  Bunratty carpark. Excellent day out, not to be missed.

      1 DAY. COBH QUEENSTOWN HERITAGE CENTRE AND CORK CITY. Follow N20 south to Cork city go through south to Cobh Harbour. The centre is at the end of the railway station. Return to explore Cork city. Eat in one of Corks excellent restaurants.

   1 DAY. ROCK OF CASHEL, VIA THE GLEN OF AHERLOW.  Go to Kilmallock and take the R515 east to Tipperary. Then the N74 signed Cashel. Proceed through the town on the Portlaoise road. Visit the Castle on the outskirts and the town. Return via Tipperary and the N24. Turn right signed Glen of Aherlow. Follow the road
through the valley to Galbaly. (Winner of a recent Irelands tidy town
competition.)  

      1 DAY. THE BURREN AND CLIFFS OF MOHIR. From "Galligan’s Cottage" to
Limerick City on to Ennis in county Clare, turn left to Lahinch and visit
the Cliffs of Mohir. Go on through Lisdoonvarna to Ballyvaughn in the middle
of the famous Burren. Return via Corofin to take in view of the limestone
landscape. Home via Ennis.  

      LONG DAY. DINGLE PENINSULAR, AND BOAT TRIP TO SWIM WITH THE DOLPHINS,
IN DINGLE HARBOUR. Take the R518 to Newcastlewest , then N21 to Castleisland
and on to Tralee, follow the R559 to Dingle, return and stop via "connor
pass" to make loopdrive, rejoin R559 at Camp. Return via Newcastlewest or
Mallow.
 
      LONG DAY. RING OF KERRY, OR KILLARNEY AND LAKES OF KILLARNEY NATIONAL
PARK. From Charleville go south on the N20 to Mallow. Turn right on the N72
to Killarney town. Follow the N70 signed "Ring of Kerry" or through Muckross
to the National Park.

      LONG DAY. RING OF KERRY, OR KILLARNEY AND LAKES OF KILLARNEY NATIONAL PARK. From Charleville go south on the N20 to Mallow. Turn right on the N72 to Killarney town. Follow the N70 signed "Ring of Kerry" or through Muckross to the National Park.

      1 DAY. BALLYBUNION. DAY ON THE BEACH. SWIM IN THE ATLANTIC. Take the R520 to Newcastlewest. Then the N21 to Abbeyfeale.
Turn right onto the R555 through Listowel. The R553 leads to the beach,
surf, sun and candyfloss. Return via the the River Shannon shore stoping at
Foynes, Tarbert and Askeaton. Come home via Adare and Bruff.

      1 DAY. SHANNON LAKES. KILLALOE. SCARRIFF AND PORTUMNA. From Limerick City turn right on the N7 signed Nenagh. Then turn left signed Killaloe.
Visit the water side pubs at "O'Briens Bridge".

      SHORT DAY. JAMESONS IRISH WHISKY CENTRE, MIDDLETON. To Cork on the  N20. Take N25 signed Youghal. Middleton is half way.

      1 DAY. TRAMORE VIA WATERFORD. Go to Tipperary. Turn right to Cahir on
N24 through Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir to Waterford. Go though town on the
R675 to south coast seaside resort.

      1 DAY. WATERWORLD TRALEE. Same route as Dingle. Stop a the water theme centre. Then go north on R551 to Ballyhiege. Miles of flat sands (Strand.
Irish.) In Ballyheigh Bay. Swim in shallow Atlantic Ocean.

      1 DAY. KILKEE BEACH AND KILRUSH HARBOUR. Follow the N69 from Limerick City through Foynes. (Visit Foynes Flying Boat Museum) Go on to the Tarbert
Ferry across the river Shannon. Go left to Kilrush Harbour and on to
dramatic Kilkee in Moore Bay. Return via Ennis to Limerick City and home to
"Cussens Cottage".

      HALFDAY. KNOCKFEERINA, FAMINE SITE Nr BALLINGARY, Co. LIMERICK. From Kilmallock to O'Rourke,s Cross via Bruree, then take R518 Signposted Newcastlewest, half way turn right towards Ballingarry, follow signs to
Knockfeerina, not to be missed, super views over Shannon estuary.

      1 DAY. CRAGGAUNOWEN AND KNAPPOGUE CASTLE, Co, CLARE Go through Limerick on the N21 towards Ennis, turn right signposted Sixmilebridge
follows signs for the Stone Age settlement and castle. The Brendan, the 9th
Century Boat first to discover America is on display at Craggaunowen.

      SHORT DAY. LISCARROL DONKEY SANCTUARY, DROMCOLLAHER ORGANIC RESEARCH GARDEN, AND IRISH DRESDEN CHINA. From Charleville go south, turn right before Mallow to the Donkey Sanctuary, please give generously as it is the only one in Ireland, and is connected with the British Donkey Sanctuary on Dartmoor. Follow signs to Droncollaher the organic research centre is on the right as you go in, Irish Dresden China is on the left going out west.

OTHER THINGS TO DO AND PLACES TO SEE
  

The Flying Boat Museum at Foynes On the south coast of the Shannon
Estuary, scene of the first Transatlantic flight.

Donaraille Country Park, outside the village of the same name.

The Friar’s Gate Theatre in Kilmallock puts on regular productions of
mostly Irish authors, in the newly refurbished premises on Sarsfield Street.

Go to a Hurling match on Sunday afternoon at the local first class
Gaelic Games field, see local papers for fixtures during your stay.

The very picturesque Watermill on the river at Bruree, also the Eamon
de Valera Museum being the birth place of one of Ireland's most famous
presidents.

There are two large equestrian centres, one on the rolling Golden
Vale, and the other in the foothills of the Galtee Mountains, both offer
beginners or advanced riding.

   


Organised & led hill walks

 

One of the many pleasures of holidaying in this part of rural Ireland is the large areas available for hill walking. The nearest hills are the Ballyhouras which have miles of trails and loop walks, at mixed levels depending on the individual’s skill and experience. If you exhaust the Ballyhouras you can move on to the Galtee Mountains and the fantastic Glen of Aherlow. The Ballyhoura Bears are a well known local walking group who organise guided walks at weekends. Galligan’s cottage would be a good base for groups from walking clubs in Britain and Ireland and arrangements can be made for a guided walk. We meet many people here who live in London and come to Ireland hill walking. They say it’s cheaper to get a Ryan air flight to Shannon than get the train to the Lake District. There’s also the added benefit that in Ireland you often have the hills to yourself compared to having to queue up to get over stiles. Galligans cottage has the hot tub to soak away those aches and pains if you overexert yourself.


A group of walkers ready for the off.

Mountain bike trail and cycling.

Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Centre


There is a unique opportunity to enjoy Ireland’s outdoors by mountain bike in the Ballyhoura Mountains of East Limerick and North Cork. The development of the Ballyhoura Mountain Bike Centre has created a trail system starting and finishing at the new trail head near the village of Ard Patrick in East Limerick. A full range of visitor services will eventually be provided at the trail head such as car parking, bike wash, showers and toilets. Use of the trails will be free with small charges applying to the other visitor services provided.

The mountain bike trails are the enthusiast bike riders dream with 3 world class trails, 91 km in total, of way marked routes using a combination of forest roads and new built single track trails. The trail system has been designed by the worlds leading trail designer Dafydd Davis who has designed some of the most exciting and challenging trails known to mountain bikers across the globe. There are three trails in all with each of the circular loops offering a different experience, length and level of difficulty.

The Trails
Loop 1 – 16 km, short and almost entirely on single track which climb gently and have exciting but not too technical descents.

Loop 2 – 27 km, moderate length with more challenging climbs. The majority of the trail is single track with approx 7km on forest road.

Loop 3 – 48 km, a long trail with most of the climbs on forest roads and all of the descents on single track.

Then home and into the hot tub!!!

Golfing

There are excellent golfing facilities within this area. Large and small clubs but all very welcoming.

If the above is not your cup of tea there is lots of easy cycling along the roads and lanes. It’s very easy to plan a circular route from Bruff that will take you along wonderful flat roads surrounded by beautiful countryside