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First trip to 🇮🇪 two 50ish couples itinerary help

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Morning and thanks in advance for any assistance in planning a September trip to Ireland. We plan to rent a car as we will be there for about 10/11 days. Leaving from NJ/Philly area. Having never been I only know of the most popular places to go - Guinness, Cliffs of Moher, Cork, Kinsale.

We were recommended to fly into Dublin and drive right to Galway. Apparently flights in and out of Shannon just aren’t easy anymore. We are also planning to stay or at least visit Kinsale based on others input.

Also had Dalkey recommended instead of staying in Dublin. Sounds like a nice area but I feel like our limited time in Dublin (2 days I’m thinking) requires we stay in town, maybe at the Shelbourne Hotel?

My group enjoys having a few local beers, maybe a distillery (although I’m not usually a whiskey drinker but trying to learn), scenic and or historic views, light/moderate walks, interesting or quaint AirBnB’s. We could extend our stay by a day or two as well. No flights booked but actively looking.

Thanks! Happy St Patrick’s Day! 🍀

Posted by
2959 posts

How many nights will you sleep in Ireland?
Instead of renting a car the day of arrival after a night of no sleep, take a direct bus from Dublin’s airport terminal two to Galway: https://buseireann.ie/. You are aware that Ireland drives on the left side of the road and the steering wheel is on the right?

Posted by
2827 posts

Per Mary Pat, most here would agree that driving immediately after getting off a redeye flight is a bad idea unless you're already comfortable driving on the left and are sure you'll be well rested upon arrival.
There are couple of alternatives: jump on the express bus from Dublin airport to Galway city center, spend a night or two there, then collect your car on your way out of town to start the driving portion of your adventure.
Another possibility is to fly from Dublin to the Kerry Airport near Killarney by taking advantage of one of two direct flights daily on RyanAir. Would be especially convenient if one of those flights dovetailed with your arrival flight into Dublin - would save you a bit of driving and set you up for an easy one-way return rental back to Dublin. There are a number of rental car outlets at the Kerry airport itself. Doing it that way would require you to choose a direction of travel back towards Dublin ... north to Galway and Connemara or south along the coast back thru Cork, Kinsale and Cashel. Either would make for very pleasant meander by car.
Rather than staying in Killarney town my suggestion would be to research accommodations somewhere along the corridor between Glenbeigh and Castlemaine. Would allow you to unpack once and stay put for several days while using the central location for explorations to Dingle, the northern half of the Ring of Kerry, and Killarney National Park. Killarney town itself is something of a charmless and over-touristed destination and traffic getting in and out of there when the tour buses are running can be a royal pain.
Four adults plus their luggage will probably require a full-sized vehicle to fit everything (and everyone) comfortably. Do spring for an automatic - the default rental in Ireland is a manual shifter.
For a first time visitor I wouldn't recommend Dalkey, especially if you want to see something of Dublin City.

Posted by
353 posts

I have 2 flights booked on American Airlines flying in and out of Shannon airport.
It was not difficult at all. The flights using Dublin were actually more expensive when I booked the tickets.
United also had flights using Shannon Airport. One trip in May 3-14. Second is September 19 -29. American Airlines both trips. If you are interested in Business class you may want to book soon.
Since you mentioned Philadelphia I assume that you are east coast? Since I am headed to Doolin and environs in May and Galway and Clifden in September Shannon was my choice.

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