The hotel responded very promptly, and now have a twin room booked for Charlie (Splitter 142) and myself, still planning routes, choice from Ireland is either through Cairnryan and aim for Grenoble (or similar) on Friday night with a short run to the RTE on Saturday morning or through Holyhead and aim for direct to Cuneo arriving Friday night.
On they way home (weather depending) I would be keen to ride the Route Napoleon, I believe it is a nice ride.