7 days Ireland & wales by train no car-Dublin or Galway home base? Day trips or stay new places?

Is this 7 days total for BOTH Ireland and Wales? If so that isn't going to give very much time in either place... You are going to spend a good part of the day relocating from Dublin to your accommodation in Llandudno/Conwy. The frerry takes just over three hours, plus another hour on the train (Plus time to wait for the next train). Then you have to get to your accommodation...

If GF really, really wants to see Wales, either spend the 7 days in Wales or promise you'll take her back another time. If it reaaly only is 7 days, you are short changing both places. Ireland and Wales may not look that big but travelling distances will take a lot longer than you might expect. Slow down !

From Dublin, you can do a day trip to Newgrange or to Glendalough, the lovely early Christian site in the Wicklow Mountains. Kilkenny isn't far on the train and there's plenty to see and do there for a day.

Also bear in mind 2 other points about Dublin to Wales-

a. You have to come back again so it is between 5 and 7 hours, depending on sailing to return. In that direction to save time you could use the overnight ferry from Holyhead in the small hours of the morning.

b. You need to take a shuttle bus from the city centre to the ferry terminal, then add in check in time. Sensibly that is a further hour Wales bound, and another half hour on the way back. It is not walkable, with luggage, even from the end of the LUAS tram line.

If you are intent on doing the Wales extension you will save money by buying a through Sail-Rail ticket, ship and then rail in Wales, BUT that does not cover the Shuttle Bus at the Dublin End (or the Dublin Bus scheduled service to the port, #53 )- https://www.stenaline.co.uk/rail-and-sail/to-britain

£41.70 in each direction.

I would agree with everything walleyes said, if you only have seven days total then stay in Dublin. There is a lot to see in the city, and guided day trips will get you to some great sights such as Newgrange, Glendalough and others. Easy trips on the train would be Kilkenny or Belfast. Remember also that Great Britain uses a different currency.

Great advice thanks! As lovely as wales sounds don't want to waste precious time in transit. A good compimise seems to be Galway. I prefer smaller towns and villages with a coastal feel. Seems like only 2.5 Jr train and stay in Galway and day trips most of the time. Dublin sounds lovely and worthy of doing the main tourist loop but drunken tourists in temple bar area is not my scene I imagine it a cross between Mardi Gras and colleg frat shenanigans- I hope I'm wrong. I'm more into the more local pub scene with music and it seems Galway is better for that? At the end of the day it's all beautiful and so without a car I think it's better to explore one area rather than trying to cram in a bunch of sites.
Are there some day trips you would reccomend from Galway area?
Another silly question: I'm not a big beer drinker is it it possible to find decent wine in pubs or when in rome... drink Guinness? Thanks for the thorough advice and suggestions it's much appreciated

There are a couple of companies that do day trips from Galway.

https://galwaytourcompany.com/

https://www.lallytours.com/en/all-of-lallys-tours

I don't drink beer and always found wine in all pubs and restaurants. Maybe not super expensive super high quality but very decent wine and no one questioned it. Even in very rural places. Be sure to purchase tickets for Kilmainhaim and I think Newgrange or you will not be able to visit. I know for sure about the gaol but can't remember about Newgrange although with no car am sure you will be on a tour for that. Enjoy!!!

If you are wanting to visit Newgrange, then Mary Gibbon's tours are highly recommended on here.