Till Mueller
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IoM ferry Aug 7–10, Belfast Aug 10–11, drive to Donegal Aug 12. Updated: WAW overview timeline table, all 7 section file date headers. Kerry Day 3 still ends with drive to Dublin in time for Aug 30 game.
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Wild Atlantic Way — Overview
Type: Long-distance scenic drive + hiking route Total length: ~2,500 km (full route) Direction: North to south (Donegal → Kerry) Best for: Driving, coastal scenery, day hikes, cliffs, peninsulas, Gaeltacht culture
What Is It
The Wild Atlantic Way is a signed coastal route along Ireland's entire west coast — the world's longest defined coastal route. The west coast is the windward side of Ireland: constantly changing light, dramatic cliffs, remote peninsulas, and Irish-speaking (Gaeltacht) communities.
Rough Timeline: Aug 10 → Aug 29
Deadline: Dublin by Aug 29 (game day Aug 30 at Aviva Stadium).
| Dates (approx) | Section | Days | File |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 10 | Arrive Belfast (ferry from IoM) | 1 | 05-belfast.md |
| Aug 11 | Belfast — Titanic, Causeway Coast day trip | 1 | — |
| Aug 12 | Drive Belfast → Donegal Town | 1 | — |
| Aug 12–14 | Donegal | 3 | 06a-donegal.md |
| Aug 15–16 | Sligo | 2 | 06b-sligo.md |
| Aug 17–19 | Mayo | 3 | 06c-mayo.md |
| Aug 20–22 | Connemara | 3 | 06d-connemara.md |
| Aug 23–24 | Galway | 2 | 06e-galway.md |
| Aug 25–26 | Clare | 2 | 06f-clare.md |
| Aug 27–29 | Kerry | 3 | 06g-kerry.md |
| Aug 29 (eve) | Kerry → Dublin (drive ~3h) | — | — |
| Aug 30 | College Football, Aviva Stadium | — | 07-dublin.md |
If you want a full buffer day in Dublin before the game: compress Donegal to 2 days (skip Malin Head), which frees up Aug 29 as a rest day. Kerry is non-negotiable — don't compress it.
EV Strategy Summary
| Section | Situation |
|---|---|
| Donegal | Sparse — worst section. Base in Donegal Town for day trips. |
| Sligo | Reasonable. Sligo town has fast chargers. |
| Mayo | Patchy. Charge fully in Westport before Achill. |
| Connemara | Gap: Clifden ↔ Westport (~90km coast road, no charger mid-route). |
| Galway | Good. Tesla SC + ESB rapids. Full recharge stop. |
| Clare | Reasonable. Charge in Ennis before Cliffs of Moher. |
| Kerry | Good in towns. Full battery before Ring of Kerry circuit. |
See individual section files for detailed charger locations.
Practical Notes
- Getting around: Drive between sections; park up and walk or take short day hikes at each stop
- Bike rental: Available in Galway, Westport, Clifden, Killarney, and Dingle for day rides — worthwhile on Achill Island and Inis Mór where roads are quiet and flat-ish
- Hiking gear: Bring trail runners or light boots — Croagh Patrick, Slieve League, and Diamond Hill all reward a proper walk
- Weather: August is best but pack waterproofs — Atlantic squalls arrive without warning
- Food: Never more than 20km from a pub serving hot food. Pubs stop food service around 9pm.
- Gaeltacht: Connemara, north Mayo coast, and Donegal are Irish-speaking. Signs are Irish-first. Any attempt at Irish is met with delight.
- Workation bases: Galway and Dublin are the best for heavy work days. Westport, Killarney, and Dingle for lighter days.