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Trip to Ireland

Hi, I and my cousin are planning a trip to Scotland and Ireland, September.  We will be driving from Dublin, Galway, the Cliffs of Moher, Limerick ( where I have traced ancesters from.  Andrew Mitchell and Mary McGowan Mitchell.).  We will then travel around the Ring of Kerry, then zig zag, seeing as many of the stone Circles we can, to Cork, then to Waterford, Kilkea. and possibly Belfast.  We are still in the planning phase. 

I was hoping, to get information as to where the best place to go to do some research and also  places to go, see and do.  Any out of the way places and don't forget the pubs.  Anything to help us plan our trip.

Thank you so much!

I hope Covid does not have everything shut down then as we are super excited to make this trip.

Donna

 

dfondren@kanokla.net

7 replies

Hi Donna,
Looks like a nice planned trip, well done.
What year was Andrew Mitchell born?
Did he marry Mary McGowan in Ireland?
When did he leave Ireland and where did he go to?

Margot

Margot Secrette

Donna,

I am a retired Irish tour driver and I would advise that you get a map of Ireland and sit down with your cousin and agree on what you both want out of this trip. You have to take into account the weather, which can vary as you travel from County to County and busy roads.

Having done your tour of Scotland, you will be pretty tired, so you will need a few days rest when you arrive in Ireland.

When you have agreed an itinerary, you can start to Google the locations which you intend to visit.

Happy Trip to you Both,

McCoy

Donna,

McCoy’s advice is very sound. You need to sit down with your travelling companion and discuss what it is you really want to see. Ireland may not seem very big (nor Scotland) compared with the average US state but actually there’s a huge amount to see. Our roads are also often quite windy and it can take longer than you think to get around (especially perhaps if stuck in traffic behind McCoy’s tour bus!). You haven’t said how long your vacation is to last but even if you come for a month, you couldn’t see the whole country thoroughly. Scotland is the same. 

So if you are coming for a couple of weeks, then as McCoy has rightly said, try and identify a few key things you want to visit and base yourselves there for a few nights. Once you have that sorted, we can then suggest additional things to see in those areas. (I live near Belfast and have a standard list of tourist things in Ulster. Happy to share it with you if you want).

There’s a possibly apocryphal story about an overheard remark made in a tour group in Europe where someone said: “Oh we are doing Switzerland on Wednesday.” Well in my opinion that approach doesn’t really give a great experience of any country.  Choose a few key locations in Ireland, enjoy them, slowly, and then return in a few years time for some more. This is a friendly country and you will hopefully want to return.  But unless you are trying to get into the Guinness Book of Records for some sort of "most tourist sights visited in one week" record, I’d suggest you can’t do the whole country in one visit. (Same goes for Scotland I am sure).

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Hi Donna,

I did ask earlier......
Hi Donna,
Looks like a nice planned trip, well done.
What year was Andrew Mitchell born?
Did he marry Mary McGowan in Ireland?
When did he leave Ireland and where did he go to?

Just trying to help you.....
You say you are starting in Dublin. Are you ending your trip in Dublin after being to Scotland?
You need to know
Car hire......if the Toll for leaving Dublin on the M50 is included in your package. 
Differences in road rules.
Depending on the amount of time you are over depends on which way you would travel.
I have taken a few friends from Australia and relatives from the UK around Ireland, I live in Wales, they saw everything that they wanted to see and had free time.
This is the map pointing out the Airport.
dublin airprt - Bing Maps

Currency
Ireland has the Euro.
Scotland and Northern Ireland are pounds but they do have their own paper money, but can only be spent in each country.

Scotland is very like Ireland.

My father was fom Limerick, if you let me know Andrew Mitchell's approx year of birth I will have a search for you.

Margot

Margot Secrette

Hi All,

Thank you all for your help and suggestions.  I apologize for taking so long to reply.  I have been very busy putting together our ittinerary, doing some traveling, and planning a 100th birthday party for my Aunt.  She is the one that originally started the research on the Gray/Mitchell family and has handed it down to me.

Andrew Mitchell was born in 1725 in Limerick County  Died: January 16, 1795 in Orange County, North Carolina

It is believed his mother was Margaret Massie McDonald born 13 JULY 1680 in Ireland and died around 1783.  Unsourced information..

Father is uncertain.  Some say was a William Mitchell,  In a letter that I have a copy of, it is speculated that Thomas Mitchell, Limerick, St. Thomas Island, Co. Clair. might be Andrew's father.  A will of Thomas Mitchell dated 1722 was found in "Index to Irish Wills"  But Andrew was born in 1725, so this seems unlikely.

In 1742, Andrew married Mary Margaret McGowan in Limerick County.

Mary Margaret was born 1722, County Limerick and died some time after 1765, also a date of 1795 is listed, in Orange County, North Carolina.

Unsourced information is that her parents were James McGowan and Janet Leckie.

Andrew along with his brother David Mitchell and sister Isabella Mitchell Stuart immigrated  to the USA arriving at Georgia in 1739.  Source came from the US and Canada passenger and Immigration lists index +1500s -1900s.

Later Andrews sister Elizabeth Mitchell Davis and brothers John and William followed,

In 1752 they settled in a Scottish/Irish Colony in Western Pennsylvania.  Then moved to Orange County, North Carolina in 1754.

My cousin and I have mapped  our route and the things we want to see and do.  We are now waiting on our travel agent.  Hopefully, soon!  

I will update, when trip is finalized.

Thank you Margot and information you can find would be greatly appreciated!

Donna

dfondren@kanokla.net

Sorry Donna, these years are too early for most on line records.
By the time of the Tithe records  1823 to 1837, St Thomas Island in County Clare didn't have any Mitchell people listed.
I noticed the onl house on there was named Tutill's House. 
I would be interested to see this.......as I couldn't find it..
A will of Thomas Mitchell dated 1722 was found in "Index to Irish Wills"
Sorry about the years.
Margot

Margot Secrette

Hello to all, 

Forgive the absence, but it seems there has been no time to research or to post what I do have.  But, on the brightest note of all...my cousin and are heading out this afternoon and will be flying out Sunday!!  Yeaaaaaaaaaa  We will be landing in Dublin Monday the 24th.  Going to spend the night Tuesday at the Blarney Castle Hotel, Wed. at Sneems Hotel, Thurs. Ballyseede Castle Hotel, Fri. The Inn at Dromoland, Sat. Doolin Inn, Sun. Kinnitty Castle.  Then to Dublin to fly home :(

We had hoped to set up a time to meet with one of the volunteers.  But, I'm worried that we have overloaded our plate as there is so much we want to see and do.

Yes, we are seeing as many stone circles as we can on our routes.  We want to tour castles, see waterfalls, driver the Ring of Kerry, see the Cliffs of Moher, try all of your cussine, and yes stop at local towns and pub is a must.  Our itinerary is so full but we have all stops planned with some time left for veering off when something catches our eye.

I will not be able to see or reply to any comments as we were limited as to wait to pack since flying from Glasgow to Dublin, plus no time for computers, leaving laptop at home.  Camera and cell phone only electronic devices.

Wish us luck and pray God watches over us and keeps us safe on our journey.

Can't wait to see beautiful Ireland!

God Bless,

Donna and Cousin Shirley

 

dfondren@kanokla.net

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