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Advice on 2 night stay in Dun Laoghaire and Holyhead- Laoghaire ferry

In June, after our 12 day visit to Scotland, England, Wales, we will travel from Holyhead, Wales to Dun Laoghaire (near Dublin) by ferry. We plan to stay in Dun Laoghaire for 2 nights before taking our flight back to US from Dublin. Regarding the Ferry trip: It appears that only one ferry company goes to Dun Laoghaire (one trip/day). Does anyone know if the Stena Line ferry is reliable and makes the trip as scheduled each day? (leaves Holyhead at 10:30 AM in June). Are there any other ferry companies that run from Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire?

If we arrive by ferry around noon, we will have the rest of that day/evening and all of the next day for sightseeing in Dublin and around Dun Laoghaire. Although we may only get a glimpse of Dublin, we'd like suggestions on the "must see" things to do and see in Dublin, best places to eat, and best Tuesday night pub?? We won't have a car, but, wondered if there are any sites of Ireland's natural beauty that are nearby and easy to reach by train/bus? We noted that the Wicklow Mountains, Wicklow, and Gardens of Powerscourt are nearby.

Thank you for your responses.
Maureen

Posted by
9110 posts

That's it to Dun Laoghaire. Stena and Irish go from Holyhead to Dublin.

As stated in the other thread, absent a monster storm or the end of the world, the ferry will run.

In a day and a half, you don't have time to get out of Dublin. Even if you pushed it, Dublin has more to offer. The Wicklows are the same terrain and vegetation you will have seen in Scotland. Powerscourt is one more big house.

You'll find a pub you'll like along Temple Bar, probably.

Kilmain Gaol and Trinity College should be at the top of your list. The Guinness beer place at the bottom. Grafton Street is worth a walk.

If you really have to get out of town, take a look at Howth or Malahide. You could do both by bus in an afternoon and early evening, including supper. If just one, then Howth.

Posted by
124 posts

Just a little heads up for Dun Laoghaire there are a lot of construction projects happening there at this time. They are redoing the waterfront area and adding way to many apartment style building. Because of this, the time that it takes to get from Dublin neighborhoods like Ballsbridge (which is near by) to Dun Laoghaire is taking double the original time to do the trip.
A great day trip from Dun Laoghaire is taking the bus south to Dalkey (very very cute small town, with great food and pubs) or over to Enniskerry (with is the town next to Powerscourt).
As for what to do it in Dublin besides the Book of Kells and Kilmainham Goal (both are worth seeing), is the National Museum, Christchurch Cathedral (go into the basement), St. Patrick's Cathedral and the Writters Museum.
If you want to do the Guinness Storehouse do the last entry and watch the sunset from the top, what a great view of the city for sunset.
Pubs in Dublin - Dawson Louge, Long Hall, Grogan's, Stag's Head, the Ginger Man.