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8 night Southern Ireland- Proposed Itinerary Questions

After scouring guidebooks, online forums, articles, etc and spending a good bit of time chatting with husband about what we really want (more a small time vibe of a trip with hiking, outdoors time, good music, good food and drinks), I have come up with an itinerary for our 8 night trip this summer (beginning of July). Nothing at all for this trip has been booked so I am totally open to thoughts. I definitely want to fly into Dublin and out of Shannon (or vice versa based on prices). So here are my thoughts. Included questions within....

Night 1- Dublin (we will probably arrive early and spend these two days exploring....I know I said small town and Dublin isn't but both of us want to go)
Night 2- Dublin - Pick up car on way out of town
Night 3- Kilkenny - I feel like Kilkenny is a great spot to get started on our trip with a smaller drive.
Night 4- Ballyseed Castle in Tralee. Ok this is my question area. Neither one of us really are tied down to the whole castle thing. I just put it in there as a way to break up the drive to Dingle. Is this breakup needed? Is there a better spot?
Night 5- Dingle
Night 6- Dingle - Note: I have tried my best to figure this out but there is no way in heck I can do Dingle and the Ring of Kerry/Killarney/Blarney Castle (ie. the typical tourist route). I have come to terms with this as my desire for Dingle is larger.
Night 7- Doolin - This is going to be the longest drive ever. I don't know if I should put the break up town here. We decided on Doolin due to it's proximity to the Cliffs (we want to hike there) and the Islands.
Night 8- Doolin

We were looking for a noon flight out to give us time to drop off a car.

Any suggestions/thoughts on this area of the country would be greatly appreciated!

Posted by
312 posts

Good plan to stop in Kilkenny. That was my first stop out of Dublin as well, and it's an easy drive.

You might consider stopping in Kenmare instead of Tralee, which would keep you closer to the coast for more of the drive, and would allow you to get a small taste of the Ring of Kerry en route.

I loved Dingle. Besides the town, the ring road on its peninsula is beautiful; I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Posted by
1172 posts

From Kilkenny, we went to Blarney Castle and then to Killarney for 2 nights. We then left Killarney and did the Ring of Kerry on our way to Dingle. Stayed in Dingle for 2 nights. Very doable.

Posted by
31 posts

We are planning our trip too and have an almost identical itinerary! We are doing 7 nights vs 8
Day 1- Dublin
Day 2 - drive through Wicklow and visit Glenadlough. Then drive to Kilkenny and spend the night.
Day 3 explore around Kilkenny and Waterford
Day 4 drive to Killarney and explore National Park
Day 5 and 6 in Dingle at Castlewood House
Day 7 drive to cliffs of moher and then stay in Shannon
Day 8 fly home.

Posted by
14 posts

Thanks everyone. This was really helpful. I like the idea of staying in Kenmare! I was considering actually doing a 3rd night in Doolin (aka getting rid of the Tralee/Kenmare). Since Day/Night 1 would be driving most of it and Day/Night 2 will be hiking to the Cliffs (I think it is a few hours each way). I also really wanted to hit the Aran Islands, which will require the 3rd day.

Posted by
381 posts

Instead of the Aran Islands you might consider a day trip from Dingle Town to the Great Blasket Islands which are beautiful and have a wonderful history.

Posted by
5 posts

Hello,
If staying in Doolin I recommend Staying at Susan Daly's.. She is wonderful and so is her B&B.
Kilkenny is charming and the castle is great..
Is there somewhat of a road from Kilkenny to Tralee?
Dingle to Doolin can be shortened by taking a ferry at Tarbert.. So you don't have to go around the River of Shannon...
Just some thoughts.

Posted by
14 posts

Ha. Susan Daly's is actually on my list as a thought for a B&B in Dingle!! Thanks!

Posted by
49 posts

Love the Greenmount House in Dingle, staying there again in June.

Posted by
14 posts

Ha. I took a look at my working planning document and the Greenmount House is the first listed for Dingle! Great minds thing alike!

Posted by
473 posts

Loved Kilkenny - if you are lucky The Kilkennys will be in town - best music we heard in Ireland!
We loved Dingle - favorite stop. We stayed at Pax Guest House in Dingle - amazing!