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9 Day Ireland + North Ireland Itinerary...too ambitious?

Hi there!
We are planning a family trip to Ireland this July and we only have about 8 days but we want to see Ireland and Northern Ireland. Do you think the itinerary below is too ambitious? We will have a car.

Day 1 - Land in Dublin in afternoon. Sightsee until evening.
Day 2 - Full day in Dublin.
Day 3 - Depart Dublin for Dingle Peninsula and visit Rock of Cashel and Blarney Castle on the way.
Day 4 - Full day in Dingle.
Day 5 - Depart Dingle for Galway. Stop in Doolin and visit Cliffs of Moher and Inisheer. (Possibly just do a boat cruise with Doolin Ferry Co. to see both)
Day 6 - Full day in Galway.
Day 7 - Depart Galway for Belfast. Stop at Clonmacnoise Monastary and Trim Castle on the way.
Day 8 - Full day in Belfast. Visit Giant's Causeway and Carrick-A-Rede.
Day 9 - Fly home from Belfast.

We are a young, active family of 4 and well travelled. We enjoy a fast pace but I'm not sure if this is going to be too fast! If you think it's too ambitious, what would you cut? Cutting Belfast isn't an option, it's a must-see for my husband.

Thank you!

Posted by
947 posts

It would help to know what your interests are, but you're trying to cover the whole length of Ireland, from the Giant's Causeway to Dingle Peninsula, in 8 days. That is too ambitious, IMO. I would choose north or south, and since Belfast is a must-see, north is the obvious choice.
Have you look at the feasibility of flying home from Belfast? There are very few direct flights to the US. And you'll almost certainly want to return the car in Dublin to avoid the fees of returning it in Belfast.
My suggestion:
Arrive DUB, pick up car, stop in Trim on way to Belfast. Two nights Belfast.
Causeway Coast to Derry. Two nights Derry or nearby Letterkenny.
Donegal for Slieve League cliffs, etc. Two nights Killybegs.
Overnight in Athlone for Clonmacnoise, castle and old pub.
Drop car at DUB and take bus into Dublin for remainder of trip.