OVERVIEW

Connemara is a region located to the West and North of Galway offering beautiful scenery and a variety of towns, castles and other sites worth visiting. Connemara attracts a variety of visitors, including travelers looking for an accessible holiday. Visitors love to explore Connemara, not only for it’s scenic beauty, but for its rich irish traditions that are still preserved today. Please read further for information about accessible travel, accessible hotels, and wheelchair accessible activities in Connemara.

LANGUAGE

The official languages of Ireland are Gaelic and English.

CURRENCY

The official currency in Ireland is the Euro.

QUICKLINKS

LOGISTICS: Air – Water – Ground
ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotels – Resorts
ENTERTAINMENT: Tours – Activities – Restaurants & Nightlife
EMERGENCY SERVICES: Hospitals – Medical Equipment
ABILITYTIPS: Precautions

COUNTY CLARE : Logistics

AIR TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORT

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FERRY

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GROUND TRANSPORTATION

TAXI

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SHUTTLE

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RENTAL CAR

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BUS

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TRAM

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TRAIN

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COUNTY CLARE : Accommodations

HOTELS

Byrne Mal Dua House: The Bryne Mal Dua House is accessible to ambulant people with mobility issues, but they must be able to climb three steps. The hotel asks people with disabilities to contact them to enquire about accessibility.

Carna Bay Hotel: The Carna Bay Hotel is a dog friendly facility and welcomes guide dogs for people with visual impairment. The hotel is also wheelchair friendly, however the hotel requests people with disabilities to contact the hotel to enquire about accessible facilities.  

Cashel House Hotel: The Cashal House Hotel is situated near Cashel Bay where you will be able to experience majestic views of the bay and it’s surroundings. The Cashel House is also home to the Connemara Ponies where they are breed. The hotel welcomes guide dogs for people with visual impairments. For individuals who require wheelchair accommodations, please contact the hotel directly about accessible facilities.

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LUXURY RESORTS

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COUNTY CLARE : Entertainment

SIGHTSEEING TOURS

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ACTIVITIES

Clifden: Clifden is a cute town located near the ocean, and offers a variety of shops, restaurants and pubs. There are also accommodations in Clifden, most of which are B&Bs. Accessibility varies by venue in Clifden, with many lacking. While some of the shops and restaurants are accessible, not all are.

Kylemore Abbey and Garden: Kylemore Abbey and Garden is located near Clifden, This old manor home, now Abbey is worth a visit. The grounds are completely accessible, but the manor home is more challenging especially for one who utilizes a wheelchair. Unfortunately, we were not able to visit the garden due to timing. There is a beautiful lake surrounding the area, a gift shop and café. The restrooms are also accessible.

Sky Way Drive:  Sky Way drive is a beautiful route up into the mountains and around the area. It offers amazing views of the city and the ocean. The route is narrow and you should also watch out for sheep on the road.

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RESTAURANTS/NIGHTLIFE

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COUNTY CLARE : Emergency Services

MEDICAL SERVICES/HOSPITAL

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EQUIPMENT RENTALS

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COUNTY CLARE : AbilityTips

PRECAUTIONS

The drives are very scenic and while the roads can be narrow they are mostly in great shape. It is recommended to have a navigation system regardless.

Travelers should be aware that many places in Ireland have an off season, so many accommodations close down for a short period of time.

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OVERVIEW

County Clare is a region to the South and West of Galway boasting beautiful ocean drives, prehistoric artifacts, quaint old Irish towns, historic castles and many other wheelchair accessible sites to explore. 

The Cliffs of Moher and the Burren are some of the most famous sites in this region. The Cliffs of Moher are completely accessible and offer breathtaking views of the ocean. There is also a visitor center, café, and gift shop.

To learn more about accessible travel, including accessible transportation, accessible hotels, and accessible activities in County Clare Ireland, please read below.

LANGUAGE

The official languages of Ireland are Gaelic and English.

CURRENCY

The official currency in County Clare, Ireland is the Euro.

QUICKLINKS

LOGISTICS: Air – Water – Ground
ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotels – Resorts
ENTERTAINMENT: Tours – Activities – Restaurants & Nightlife
EMERGENCY SERVICES: Hospitals – Medical Equipment
ABILITYTIPS: Precautions

COUNTY CLARE : Logistics

AIR TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORT

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FERRY

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GROUND TRANSPORTATION

TAXI

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SHUTTLE

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RENTAL CAR

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BUS

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TRAM

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TRAIN

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COUNTY CLARE : Accommodations

HOTELS

Tir Gan Ean House Hotel: The Gan Ean House Hotel is located in County Clare, a 45 minute drive from Ennis, and is an hour drive from Galway International Airport.

“The hotel has a room on the ground floor, which is wheelchair accessible. There is a lowered closet space with lower clothes rail, ample access around a queen size double bed and a fully compatible en suite bathroom – wheel in shower, grab bars, etc. This room is also interconnected to a single room which may be utilized for a helper, should one be required, yet separate rooms desired. The hotel also has a fully accessible public toilet. For more information about accessibility at this hotel, please contact info@tirganean.ie .” Becky, 2/23/2010

Vaughan Lodge Hotel:  The Vaughan Lodge Hotel is located near the seaside and golf course in Lahinch, County Clare, a 45 minute drive from Shannon Airport. For more information regarding accessibility, please contact the hotel directly to learn more info@vaughanlodge.ie.

“The Vaughan Lodge Hotel was built in 2005, and includes just one bedroom fully accessible for the physically challenged. The hotel offers access to all ground floor space for wheelchairs, and has no steps. The adapted room has a wheel in shower unit and has alarm call ropes for assistance, and all the grab rails required for an accessible room. The bathroom also has a flip down shower seat. The hotel also has one bathroom on the ground floor equipped with grab bars and rails as per regulations. The restaurant and Lounge Bar are fully accessible.” Michael, 2/25/2010

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LUXURY RESORTS

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COUNTY CLARE : Entertainment

SIGHTSEEING TOURS

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ACTIVITIES

Cliffs of Moher: The Cliffs of Moher offers beautiful views of the ocean from cliffs high above the sea. The entire area is fully accessible making it easy for everyone to capture breathtaking views.

Ennis: Ennis is a cute town off of N85, east of the Cliffs of Moher. While not well documented in the guide books, this town is very quaint and worth a visit. The main area offers a few hotels, shops, restaurants and an old friary. Again visitors must plan ahead for accommodations as most are not accessible.

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RESTAURANTS/NIGHTLIFE

The Brogan Pub (in Ennis): A great Pub Food spot located in the downtown area, this restaurant and bar was very accessible and offered great live music.

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COUNTY CLARE : Emergency Services

MEDICAL SERVICES/HOSPITAL

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EQUIPMENT RENTALS

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COUNTY CLARE : AbilityTips

PRECAUTIONS

Overall, the drives throughout this region are very scenic and while the roads can be narrow they are mostly in great shape. It is recommended to have a navigation system regardless to guide you on your journey.

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OVERVIEW

Galway is one of the larger cities in Ireland, located on the west coast. It is about a 2 ½ hour drive west of Dublin and accessible for a day trip or overnight.  There is a new road, making the trip a lot quicker.  Galway has a quaint city center area offering several pedestrian streets, shops, restaurants, a modern museum and various other sites.  One can easily spend an afternoon there.  The town is also known for its many pubs. Accessibility can be challenging unless properly planned. Please read below for information on accessible hotels, accessible restaurants, and accessible activities in Galway.

LANGUAGE

The official language of Ireland is English and Irish Gaelic.

CURRENCY

The official currency of Ireland is the Euro.

QUICKLINKS

LOGISTICS: Air – Water – Ground
ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotels – Resorts
ENTERTAINMENT: Tours – Activities – Restaurants & Nightlife
EMERGENCY SERVICES: Hospitals – Medical Equipment
ABILITYTIPS: Precautions

GALWAY : Logistics

AIR TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORT

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FERRY

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GROUND TRANSPORTATION

Wheelchair accessible public transportation in Galway does not exist, nor does accessible rental cars. Your best bet would be to fly into a nearby country (i.e., Germany or the UK) that offers accessible rental vans/cars and drive to Galway.

TAXI

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SHUTTLE

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RENTAL CAR

Wheelchair Travel: Wheelchair Travel is located in the UK, but rents wheelchair accessible vehicles.

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BUS

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TRAM

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TRAIN

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GALWAY : Accommodations

HOTELS

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LUXURY RESORTS

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GALWAY : Entertainment

SIGHTSEEING TOURS

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ACTIVITIES

Eyre Square: Eyre Square is an accessible park located in the center of the old city.  This is a great place to start your exploration as it is recently renovated and has lots of greenery.  Surrounding the square is a shopping mall and many restaurants, bars, etc.

Lynch Castle: Now home to a bank, this former medieval townhome was the residence of Galway’s most historic and leading families.  The lobby way is accessible and provides pictures and an overview of the home’s history

St. Nicholas Church: An accessible, renovated Medieval church that dates back to around 1320.  It is worth a look around.

Galway City Museum: Located near the river, this newly built, accessible museum is a good quick stop.  It is also free and offers a few floors of interesting Galway history.

Williams Street: Williams Street, a pedestrian walkway through the old city of Galway.  This cobblestone street is home to many shops, restaurants and bars.  While not all the shops are accessible, many are at ground level.

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RESTAURANTS/NIGHTLIFE

Zatsuma: Zatsuma is a small, but accessible crepe shop located on the main Pedestrian way – Williams Street.

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GALWAY : Emergency Services

MEDICAL SERVICES/HOSPITAL

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EQUIPMENT RENTALS

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GALWAY : AbilityTips

PRECAUTIONS

The cobblestones and old nature of the city make it often challenging to get around in a wheelchair or other mobility devices.

Curb cuts are not always to be found and not located in the most convenient place so it can be difficult to get up curbs.

Accessible toilets when traveling abroad can sometime be difficult to find. For access to accessible toilets, the UK has a program called the National Key Scheme (RADAR Scheme), which allows acess for people with a disability to over 7,000 toilets in the UK. Keys can be purchased through RADAR The Disability Network.

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USEFUL LINKS

Listed are links of useful contacts when traveling to Ireland:

National Disability Authority (Dublin)
Adpat NI

OVERVIEW

Dublin is the capital and largest city in Ireland, and offers vibrant nightlife and cultural attractions.  Located on the river Liffe, the center of Dublin is very compact, making it a great destination for travelers with mobility impairments and mature travelers.  It is a great city to explore and rarely is it necessary to get into a bus or cab.  There are many pedestrian streets including the famous Temple Bar area (pubs) and Grafton Street (shopping).  Despite being an old city, many of its tourist destinations are  partially accessible, with careful planning.

AbilityTrip recognizes that many local destinations have taken the initiative to provide information to assist physically challenged travelers. While we cannot endorse the information on these sites we encourage you to check them out and submit any thoughts or feedback on AbilityTrip.com. If you have a recommended site for any location, please let us know so that we can add it to our catalogue of destinations.

Ableieze Access & Travel

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LANGUAGE

The official languages of Ireland are Irish (Gaelic), referred to as “the first official language”, and English.

CURRENCY

The official currency used in the Republic of Ireland is the Euro. In Northern Ireland the currency is the British Pound.

QUICKLINKS

LOGISTICS: Air – Water – Ground
ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotels – Resorts
ENTERTAINMENT: Tours – Activities – Restaurants & Nightlife
EMERGENCY SERVICES: Hospitals – Medical Equipment
ABILITYTIPS: Precautions

DUBLIN : Logistics

AIR TRANSPORTATION/AIRPORT

Dublin Airport: The Dublin Airport is wheelchair accessible equipped with lifts (elevators) and accessible toilets. If you require assistance at the airport with disembarking the aircraft, please contact your airlines and make arrangements before your arrival to the Dublin Airport. Inside the airport there are blue boxes you can use to call for assistance while at the Dublin Airport.

Dublin International airport is relatively modern and accessible.  There are jetbridges on most flights to assist travelers, but be careful as many regional flights do board via tarmak.  Inquire with your airline to be sure you have the proper information.  The airport is primarily on one level with some areas requiring elevator access.  There are disabled restrooms and family / companion restrooms.  There are a few restaurants and shops. 

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GROUND TRANSPORTATION

TAXI

Direct Line Taxi: Direct Line Taxi has wheelchair accessible taxis equipped with a ramp for easy access.

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SHUTTLE

Ambassador Chauffer: Ambassador Chauffer offers wheelchair accessible transportation. Wheelchair accessible transportation should be booked well in advance as the accessible vehicles tend to get booked up quickly.

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BUS

Dublin Bus: Most of the Dublin buses are wheelchair accessible and are equipped with a ramp. There is only one spot reserved on the bus for an individual who uses a wheelchair. By 2012 Dublin is aiming to make their entire fleet of buses wheelchair accessible.

For people who have visual impairments, when boarding, let the bus driver know your desired destination.

Assistance dogs are allowed to accompany people on the bus.

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TRAIN (Light Rail)

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TRAIN (Heavy Rail)

Irish Rail: Please visit the Irish Rail website for more information about accessible trains and stations.

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DUBLIN : Accommodations

HOTELS

Ardmore Hotel (North Dublin City Hotel): The Ardmore Hotel is a newer hotel which was built in 2005. The hotel is rated to be accessible to people who use wheelchairs, including those who can transfer unaided to and from the wheelchair. Contact the hotel for specific accessible room accommodations. Guide dogs are also welcome at this hotel.

The Westin Dublin: Perfectly located in the center of Dublin near Trinity College, Temple Bar and Grafton Street, the Westin is a great option for all travelers. It is a very modern hotel with ramps at the entrance and modern elevators. There are accessible rooms available. 

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DUBLIN : Entertainment

SIGHTSEEING TOURS

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ACTIVITIES

Airfield Gardens: Rated to be suitable for wheelchairs. The lush 5 acre garden features wild grown and specifically planted flowers for people to admire and learn about. The Airfield Gardens is a wonderful place for the entire family to enjoy.

Chester Beatty Library: The library is actually an art museum which houses many collections. The Chester Beatty Library is rated to be suitable for wheelchairs. In the museum, exhibits have been placed at lower heights for everyone’s viewing pleasure. The museum also offers an information leaflet in Braille and audio tours.

Chester Beatty Library and Museum is described as one of the best museums in Ireland, this beautiful and fully accessible museum features Asian arts, global finds and local history. Chester Beatty donated the entire museum collection. Admission was free when we visited.

Dublin Castle: A landmark of Irish history, this renovated castle is a fantastic stop. The site offers a 45 minute tour of the grounds which sometimes fills up, so if this is one of your desired stops, you might try to book ahead. The tour is largely accessible – including interior and exterior, there is one exception though, wheelchairs cannot descend down into the old remains of the Powder Tower.

Dublin City Gallery: The Dublin City Gallery is rated to be suitable for wheelchairs. At the reception desk, audio guides are available. There is a lift to access all floors of the gallery.

Dublinia and the Viking World: This is a walking tour through streets and houses as if you were experiencing medieval times. The entire tour is not accessible, however if you contact them before your trip, they should accommodate.

GAA Museum and Croke Park: Take a tour of the GAA Musueum and Croke Park to learn about Irish sporting history. The park and museum are rated to be suitable for wheelchairs, however you should call ahead to make a reservation.

Grafton Street: Dublin’s famous shopping district and home to Brown Thomas and a host of other local and international shops. This is a fully accessible pedestrian street, however not all shops themselves are accessible.

Guinness Storehouse: The Guinness Storehouse is rated to be suitable for wheelchairs and the building has lifts (elevators) throughout to access each floor. It’s a fun place to learn about the exciting history of Guinness.

Henry Street:If you don’t get enough shopping in on Grafton Street, head across the river to Henry street for another pedestrian street full of shops. Similar to Grafton, but newer, this area is also accessible.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral: Is one of the major historic churches in Dublin. It is the burial spot for Jonathan Swift and many other famous Dubiners. The church itself is accessible via a special entrance in the back near the alter. There is also a beautiful park adjacent to the church.

Trinity College: Ireland’s prestigious college offers tourists the ability to conduct self-guided tours of the grounds and also offers tours during the week. The grounds are accessible to walk around, but note the ground is uneven as there are lots of cobblestones. The highlight of Trinity College is a visit to the Book of Kells – a fully accessible spot with a gift shop as well.

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RESTAURANTS/NIGHTLIFE

Elephant and Castle: Located in the Temple Bar district. This restaurant features local and global fare and is accessible. While there are no beers on tap they do have a good collection of bottles.

Leo Burdocks: Described by many as a must visit, this local spot for fish and chips is simply a counter location for take-away only. It is not directly accessible but if you can find a spot to eat outside, it is worth having someone run in and grab some food to go.

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Emergency Services

MEDICAL SERVICES/HOSPITAL

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MEDICAL EQUIPMENT RENTALS

Medstore Medical: MedStore Medical is located in Dublin, and has a variety of medical supply products and equipment.

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DUBLIN : AbilityTips

PRECAUTIONS

Dublin offers a variety of accessible transportation options to get around the city; however arrangements should be made well in advance.

The cobblestones and old nature of the city often make it challenging to get around easily.

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