54414IRE
Clonmacnoise visit
Tara visit
- Entrances paid by cash.
- Call ahead to Clonmacnoise to re-confirm your reservation and guide. Ask them to keep the tour to 20 minutes.
- If you are planning to do lunch at either Clonmacnoise or Tara, this may delay your group a little. Call either café ahead of time to pre-warn them. (Best with smaller groups).
- Warn group to wrap up warm and ensure they are wearing sensible shoes. It could get very muddy.
Route March GALWAY TO CLONMACNOISE and DUBLIN.
M4 from Galway.
Come off at J14 and use connecting road to the R335 leading into Ballinasloe.
Join the R357 and R444 via Shannonbridge to Clonmacnoise.
Departing Clonmacnoise you can use R444 and R436 to allow group an impression of the Bog Landscape.
Rejoin M6 at Kilbeggan using R444 and R436 or use direct R444 to J7 on M6.
Services Update: The M6 has a collection of food and drink outlets outside Athlone and closer to Dublin the M4 has Applegreen Services near Enfield/Johnstown
Clonmacnoise
Visit will be pre booked and adhere to the time slot. Clonmacnoise is not dissimilar to the Rock of Cashel and is composed of a collection of monastic buildings situated upon the banks of the River Shannon. If you call in advance they’ll arrange a guided tour which lasts about 20 minutes. There is also an Audio-Visual show which is about 15 minutes long. Clonmacnoise has a café, albeit on the small side and it takes time to get served. The café is situated on the right beside the toilets as you pass through the entrance.
It is probably best to allow group to use the café and the toilets first before the tour and the audio visual. Then meet at the Audio visual room to see the film. The guide will take you through the museum section (inside) before leading around the outer section (church high crosses etc). Once back on the bus it is a nice drive through some extensive bog landscape towards the main road to Dublin. You should get the group in and out in about 60-90 minutes. Note: The café does not open until St. Patrick’s Day.
Note: Clonmacnoise opens at 0900, June to August and 1000 at other times of the year. www.heritageireland.ie