Trip to Ireland with 2 dogs (March) recommendations please

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Hi

We’re going to Ireland 😃😃 with our 2 Labs in March for 5 days

Ferry crossing Holyhead-Dublin and back the same way.

We’re looking for some recommendations on paces to visit, things to see and overnight parking.

We much love nature so always try and find campsite that give the ^feel like wild camping ^ were possible if nothing else it’s available

We know it’s only 5 days so we cannot se much but any recommendations would be greatly appreciated

Main requirement:
Paces dog friendly
Dog walking from park up or campsite
Remote it’s great but accessible with a 7m motorhome

We always tend to go to Forest or sea side destination

Any suggestions or trip would be very appreciated

Thanks in advance
Sil
 
Daft question but I assume you have your pet passports?
 
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Ah, scratch that, just seen you have AHCs and plan to get passports here https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/foru...y-the-irish-department-of-agriculture.315846/

As for recommendations I would recommend getting out of Dublin and head northwest for some of the best beaches in Ireland round Donegal, about a 4 hour drive.
Thanks will look into that, what about the south west side ?

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Daft question but I assume you have your pet passports?
Be travelling to Ireland using AHC for both dogs. We’re hoping to get them an Irish European passport during the trip.

Just need to pin what areas will be exploring first. First time in Ireland so looking for some suggestions. We were initially looking at the south west but most people seem to recommend the north west 🤔
 
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Thanks will look into that, what about the south west side ?
Never been I have to admit, but I know that there is some lovely coastline down there, ring of Kerry etc, Dingle all well regarded but do your research, think it's the ring of Kerry thats dodgy in larger vehicles.
 
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Save yourself the cost of the AHC and go from Scotland to NI, if you are in Leeds its nearer than Holyhead, no AHC required, cheaper crossing , off at Larne/Belfast up the Antrim Coast Road, Bushmills, Giant Causeway, Portrush, Derry/Londonderry etc into Co Donegal , see vet in Republic, get PP and wander back send Capt Paul a pm as he lives up there and can give you all the info you may need, oh and take a good waterproof in March!
 
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Be travelling to Ireland using AHC for both dogs. We’re hoping to get them an Irish European passport during the trip.

Just need to pin what areas will be exploring first. First time in Ireland so looking for some suggestions. We were initially looking at the south west but most people seem to recommend the north west 🤔
We visited Glenovets in Larne N.I., they issued our Lab a passport. Cost £89
. doggie passport.webp
 
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I'm biased but would recommend getting out of Dublin ASAP and go North -head up to Co Down and stay at Castle Ward camp site (small but very good and if you are a GoT fan you can visit Winterfell while you are there!) Lovely walks in there too and you can walk to Strangford in 15 mins Lobster Pot allows dogs ...also check out Dundrum/Newcastle Murlough Beach is a must -great views of Mournes and tide permitting you can walk in to Newcastle take about an hour or so (if you are in Nat Trust there is a car park that's free -£15 for MH if not!) loads of space to park too. Percy French restaurant outside Slieve Donard Hotel allows dogs inside and has outside tables if weather is good -though food is overpriced. Also (if you're a foodie) in Dundrum the Bucks' Head is amazing and I think allows dogs in the bar -though recently taken over by the chef who worked in Deanes in Belfast.
Then head up the North Coast to Portstewart/Ballycastle -Harry's Shack on Portstewart Strand is amazing (dogs allowed in the outside under cover bit) -If you like sea food get the Mussels, Nom Nom!
Then head up to Donegal -you could spend a month there and still only scratch the surface....not busy, world class beaches, spectacular Guinness, wonderful people. Enjoy -You will have a brilliant time and will have very happy dogs!

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Hello , my son played football for dundee Utd in the super cup ⚽️ it was all over n Ireland ! Some lovely places around giants causeway inc port rush / port Stewart / lovely sights / hills / rocks / restaurants / pubs and most dog friendly 👍
 
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The dog friendly thing is a real bugbear. NI and the Republic are pi** poor on that front -you really have to plan ahead -as explained on other threads here. I am planning a big birthday and had hoped to have it up on the North Coast in Portstewart/Portrush with group of my muckers -but can't find a suitable restaurant that allows dogs -could stay in the van in local campsite so luckily don't need a hotel, but most of the decent bars/restaurants (looking at you Ramore Wine Bar!) don't accept dogs. So I'll be spending my money elsewhere in NI in the summer. It is okay if you plan ahead and know the turf -but I'd put dog friendliness at between 10-15% -which isn't brilliant.
Will get off my hobby horse now! 😊
 
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Hi, we are heading over in May to Larne and then up to Antrim and into Donegal, then down south. Main reason for the trip into Donegal is to get the Pet Passport for the hound. I note from the previous postings on this that there are a number of vets in that area and we were thinking of using either of these as a guy we met in France mentioned them:
Carn Vets Carndonagh
Anne Scott Carndonagh
His Rabies jab is still valid but we are going to ask them to do a new one. Any comments from people who have used either of these. Do we need to provide an address in the Republic at all. We are not getting an AHC for this trip as we believe it is not required.
Thanks all.
 
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We don't have dogs, but noted one of the cafes we frequent on occasion had a sign up 'Sorry but we can no allow dogs inside.'

In passing I asked why to be told that in the last year they have had one member of staff and two customers bitten by dogs and another urinated down a table leg. The owner pointed out that the problem was the few owners and not the dogs. Again, a few irresponsible people spoiling things for the many. :mad:

Edit to add: If other venues are seeing the same thing, it will become increasingly difficult to find dog friendly places.
 
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You maybe right, but I've found there's a difference between dogs tolerated venues (presumably because it adds to revenue) and those who are genuinely dog friendly...
 
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I've known a few dog-friendly places to revert to humans only. I didn't mind. They weren't willing to risk a hit to their FSA hygiene rating.

When I brought my springer/collie cross (never cross lol), she would lay under my chair or as close to there as possible. I think she was making sure that I would waken her if I were try try to leave 😀
She lay at the door when at home unless I was seated at which point she jumped up onto my lap. (OK, I told her to 'up'.)

Anyway, she never troubled others. She ignored other dogs. Such a contrast between that and someone else's labrador coming to our table and having a good ol' shake with hairs flying everywhere. The sunshine making that even more noticeable.

Maybe they should operate like the 70s in relation to smokers? Separate zones but with fewer cross-effects?
 
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It's all down to how the dog is trained. I would suggest the majority are OK, but some owners clearly should not be and it's so unfair on the dog concerned.

At the Henham Steam Fair they usually have a dog display where I think most of the dogs have been handed over as being 'untrainable'. Fantastic to watch how they have been turned around by love, care and training by the humans.
 
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I agree that the way in which a dog behaves (if well behaved) is down to the dog. If it is poorly behaved it is down to the (one or more) owners.
I'm sure we each have lovely stories about our pets. Penny trained me. She was a rescue collie/springer and, if I were to take her to my friend for a few-days trial, that would spare Penny from the 'big injection'.

The friend whom I thought might be interested; wasn't. However, Penny and I literally became inseperable.
If I were invited to a "friend's" house but they weren't into me bringing Penny, I wouldn't go. And when she tired of my throwing the ball-on-a-rope, (it was the only way to tire her - 45mins constant throwing/retrieving), she would hide in long grass/shrubbery for a while.
Then, when she would re-appear from somewhere else, she would sit and wait for me to find the ball. lol. If I said 'where is it?', she would look in a particular direction (vaguely towards the ball), but wouldn't fetch as that command meant. I could go on but you'd all be bored. Miss her still, after 14yrs.🥲

Yes, I agree, same could be said about some parents though, I think; because that's a multi-generational issue such that some parents weren't themselves parented, it is much more complex and difficult to fix.
 
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Hi, we are heading over in May to Larne and then up to Antrim and into Donegal, then down south. Main reason for the trip into Donegal is to get the Pet Passport for the hound. I note from the previous postings on this that there are a number of vets in that area and we were thinking of using either of these as a guy we met in France mentioned them:
Carn Vets Carndonagh
Anne Scott Carndonagh
His Rabies jab is still valid but we are going to ask them to do a new one. Any comments from people who have used either of these. Do we need to provide an address in the Republic at all. We are not getting an AHC for this trip as we believe it is not required.
Thanks all.
Carn vets are.my vets when I am in Ireland. They issued me a pet passport 3 years ago and my dogs have just had their rabies jabs renewed last week. I also used this vet this week to have a small operation to remove a large and small lump on my cockapoo. I also thought as he was under I would get his teeth cleaned. I also had my other dogs teeth cleaned as they needed to be done. She had 7 extractions as well. The total cost for all this was €528 or £455.14 after conversion.
 
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Carn vets are.my vets when I am in Ireland. They issued me a pet passport 3 years ago and my dogs have just had their rabies jabs renewed last week. I also used this vet this week to have a small operation to remove a large and small lump on my cockapoo. I also thought as he was under I would get his teeth cleaned. I also had my other dogs teeth cleaned as they needed to be done. She had 7 extractions as well. The total cost for all this was €528 or £455.14 after conversion.
Thanks very much for your recommendation, I have emailed them today as an initial enquiry. I was in my own vet in the UK today. I am not obtaining an AHC before we depart as I understand that we no longer need this for entry into NI. However my vet wondered whether we would still need to get a tapeworm dose before we enter the Republic. Do you recall needing either and AHC or tapeworm before the passport was issued. Thanks
 
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PS, those fees sound very reasonable for all of the work you had done. We came back from a trip to France a few weeks ago, AHC before we went was £245, the worm dose at a vet in Belgium was the princely sum of 19 Euros. We told the vet there she should move to the UK she would earn loads.

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Thanks very much for your recommendation, I have emailed them today as an initial enquiry. I was in my own vet in the UK today. I am not obtaining an AHC before we depart as I understand that we no longer need this for entry into NI. However my vet wondered whether we would still need to get a tapeworm dose before we enter the Republic. Do you recall needing either and AHC or tapeworm before the passport was issued. Thanks
I have never wormed my dogs before entry into Northern Ireland. Carn vets normally reply very quickly. I can always ask any questions next Monday when my dog gets it's stitches out.
 
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Save yourself the cost of the AHC and go from Scotland to NI, if you are in Leeds its nearer than Holyhead, no AHC required, cheaper crossing , off at Larne/Belfast up the Antrim Coast Road, Bushmills, Giant Causeway, Portrush, Derry/Londonderry etc into Co Donegal , see vet in Republic, get PP and wander back send Capt Paul a pm as he lives up there and can give you all the info you may need, oh and take a good waterproof in March!
Just remember to get worming done in UK first. Some vets in the Rep. will not issue a pet passport if you havent
 
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I have never wormed my dogs before entry into Northern Ireland. Carn vets normally reply very quickly. I can always ask any questions next Monday when my dog gets it's stitches out.
Thanks I'll let you know. I sent an email this morning so probably busy after the Bank Holiday. My vet thought they may need worming when entering from NI to the Republic. Hope not as we are in Scotland for a few days first. Fingers crossed an AHC is not required as our vet requires 21 days notice and we are going on 1st May so extra charges will apply if required. Fingers crossed.
 
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Just remember to get worming done in UK first. Some vets in the Rep. will not issue a pet passport if you havent
Just the question on my mind. will see what Carn vets say when they reply to my email.
 
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PS, those fees sound very reasonable for all of the work you had done. We came back from a trip to France a few weeks ago, AHC before we went was £245, the worm dose at a vet in Belgium was the princely sum of 19 Euros. We told the vet there she should move to the UK she would earn loads.
Don't use your own vets for an AHC you can get them from £99 from a lot of vets who specialise in them. I'm surprised you didn't get the pet passport in Belgium as a lot of people do
 
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