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Advice on 8 night Itinerary Arriving Dublin and Departing Shannon Airports

We are travelling to Ireland June 6-14. We arrive in Dublin on June 6 (9:00 am) and plan on staying 2 nights. After Dublin, we plan on staying in Kilkenny,1 night (sights, Powerscourt, Wicklow Mtns on way, Rock of Cashel) ; Kinsale, 1 night (sights,Cobh, Blarney Castle) ; Kenmare, 2 nights (sights, Ring of Kerry); Dingle, 2 nights (sights, Dingle Peninsula). Our flight back to Shannon on June 14 is at 11:30 am and we are concerned about trip back to airport from Dingle (3 hours). Should we eliminate one of the nights elsewhere to be closer to Shannon on the day of departure or is that too much driving and different places to stay?

Posted by
9110 posts

A lot of driving, but that's up to you.

That last night would give me the heebies. Unless I don't give a rat's rear bumper about making the flight, I want to be able to make it to the airport by at least two modes of transportation in case something goes haywire. I don't suspect that you could.

Posted by
2449 posts

Agree with Ed totally. I would skip ROK and just focus on Dingle and last night at Shannon. We stayed at Airport Manor B&B, maybe five minute drive from airport. Lovely. Cobh is okay, view from Cathredal is great. You can take ferry from there to Kinsale to save some driving time.

Posted by
9371 posts

I also vote for skipping the RoK. You need to be closer to Shannon that last night. There is a road full of B&Bs directly behind Bunratty Castle, just six miles from the airport. From there, it's a quick stop to top off your car's gas tank then hit the airport. You need to be there by 9:30. I would eliminate one of the Kenmare nights, do Dingle sooner, then get to Bunratty in time to see the castle and folk park before that last night.

Posted by
1010 posts

Try to get time to visit the Ashford Castle. Our tour group got to stay there for two nights. It was definitely not enough time though. It is the former summer home of the Guinness Family. The grounds are spectacular. Our room overlooked the water.