Essential Ireland in 4 1/2 days

I would stay near Dublin. Take one day to visit Newgrange and Knowth; another day to visit Glendalough, Powerscourt, and the Wicklow mountains. Spend the rest of the time in Dublin. That’s all essential too!

It’s not a great idea to get in a car and drive with jet lag, if that’s applicable. But generally, yes, using your arrival day to continue your trip is otherwise a good use of time.

But you really don’t have very long to head as far as the Ring of Kerry. If you arrive late Wed. evening, you have 3 nights in that area - 2 days to see everything and the Ring is pretty much a full day. Then Sat. morning you would be on the way back to Dublin, with 1 & 1/2 days there before you leave. It’s doable, but Stacy has given you a great alternate plan.

Blarney Castle grounds are very nice and if it’s a real priority you could detour there on the way back to Dublin and take away 1/2 day from Dublin. But I would put Rock of Cashel higher priority for myself. You will just have to choose for yourself, knowing what you enjoy - and then plan a return trip!

Hello from Wisconisin,
One big vote for Stacey's plan. Dublin, 30 miles north of Dublin. Then 30 miles south of Dublin. A great trip. All three are great places to have time in. The River Boyne valley is historic and beautiful. The Wicklow mountains are great. .

Get in a village with a couple pubs and more than one grocery. Ask a local where to get the best loaf of Irish brown bread. Get that, then ask another person on the street where to get a good Irish cheddar. Pick up some thing to drink along the way and you will never forget that village where you ate the bread and cheese. Ask who pours the better pint of Guinness. Odds are they will reply something like, The young folk like Murphy's but Keenedy's pours a better pint. Make your pick.

Slow down, enjoy.

wayne iNWI