2.5 Day driving tour Dublin to Northern Ireland and back to Dublin

You won't see much of Derry with this agenda. I highly recommend the Museum of Free Derry and the Bogside Murals (with or without a guide). I found it to be much more engaging and informative about The Troubles than the black cab tour. I wouldn't want to have a car in a big city like Belfast (traffic and parking). Depending on the time of your return flight, I would consider shifting Newgrange to the last day and stay nearby (Trim, Malahide, Drogheda). It's recommended to be at the Dublin airport 3 hours ahead of your flight because you will go through pre-clearance for US customs and immigration.

It feels a little pinched to start. I feel like using this plan you’re not actually doing much in Derry. I think I’d make a choice between Newgrange et al, and Derry. You could make a case for sleeping in Bushmills or something if you’re spending so little time in Derry.

Your Belfast time is solid. Highly recommend the Harrison Chambers of Distinction, great hotel with free parking in back. Orto Pizza around the corner from there was so good we went twice.

I am sure you are going to love beautiful Northern Ireland.

This is a place I visit regularly, and to me, this itinerary is not reasonable. The drive from Bru Na Boinne to Derry appears to be 2.5 hours (and could easily be longer)- you will barely have any time in Derry at all, and then have to do another 2.5 hour drive the next day. I would either just concentrate on Derry and the area around it, or just Belfast/Causeway Coast. I understand you have personal reasons for wanting to visit Derry but if it were me that's the part I would cut. Or, keep Derry and combine it with a visit to Enniskillen and the Lough Erne area which is also in the western end of NI and very beautiful.

Assuming you are just wanting to visit just Newgrange and the Visitor centre, then this is going to need a couple of hours. Don'tforget you will need to factor in time for lunch somewhere. Newgrange to Derry is going to be a good three hours drive without any stops. As already pointed out, this isn’t going to give you long in Derry.

You don't say when in September this is - sunset in Derry is about 8.15pm at the start of the month but by the middle of the month is going to be about 7.45pm. By the end of the month it is 7-7.15 ish.

Another (huge) vote for the Harrison Chambers of Distinction in Belfast…literally one of our all time favorite sweet little hotels. We weren’t driving at that point of our trip, but it’s out of the busy downtown a bit, just down from Queen’s University and as mentioned, has handy parking in the back. And in Derry, McCrossan’s walking tours of the walls are wonderful.

Suggesting for Day 3, Belfast. Visit Titanic museum first things in a morning as soon as it opens. It will be a crowd of people later in a day. Titanic is very popolar, and you want to have pleasant memorable experience.

I also recommend the Harrison Chambers of Distinction in Belfast. We had a car which did not present any problems at all. There is parking in back of the hotel. While in Belfast, we either walked or took a taxi so no need to drive within the city.

We loved Derry. You don't have a lot of time in Derry, however. In addition to walking the walls, we loved our political tour with Bogside Tours. Our guide was a political prisoner. After the tour, we visited the Museum of Free Derry.
https://bogsidehistorytours.com/

While in Belfast, we took a walking tour with Coiste Political Tours. We chose the joint Falls/Shankill Tour to hear both sides of the historical past.
https://www.coiste.ie/

Could you add an extra night or two to your itinerary, so it isn't so rushed?

Hi Kmc,
I would say that if Derry is the more important stop for you during this trip, drop Newgrange. It will take you a good 3.5 hours to go from Dublin to Derry. You can leave Dublin in the morning and arrive by lunchtime in to Derry. I'd suggest grabbing a bite to eat at one of the cafes in the Craft Village, which is right by one of the entrances to the City Walls. I also highly recommend (as another poster has) taking the Bogside Tour and visiting the Free Derry Museum. So well done! You will need to book ahead (and you will need British Pounds cash to pay tour guide.)
The next day, you can leave after lunch (around 1pm-ish) to drive to the Giants Causeway. The drive is about an hour (I've driven a few times from Letterkenny to Giants Causeway and it takes 1.5hrs so it's definitely less from Derry.) You have 2 choices at the Causeway: paid tour through visitors center or free parking at hotel and walking around yourself. We've done both and I liked both ways. So, IMO you won't go wrong with either choice.
The drive from Giants Causeway to Belfast is probably less than 2hrs (depending on traffic and weather.) So, you would probably have time to stop off at the Carrick-on-Rede bridge (if that's of interest.)
You will have a great visit no matter what you choose. Enjoy your trip.

Thanks to KimberlySEA for pointing out that you have to pay for the Bogside Tour in cash. When we were there this past May, the cost was 17 British Pounds per person.

We loved walking across the Carrick-A-Rede rope bridge. Highly recommend if you have the time. Reservations are recommended, although we didn't have reservations for May, and it was not a problem buying them at the ticket booth. Not sure about September.

Thank you very much everyone. Your comments are much appreciated. Given the info received we have decided to make the Derry trip to Northern Ireland another time. It felt like a lot of driving for 2.5 days.

Instead we will stay in the Dublin area and fly out from there.

Now, anyone have good tips for sightseeing, music, walks, art, photography and accommodations?

Thanks in advance!