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First visit to Ireland

We are 2 couples and a single visiting Ireland in mid September. We have sketched out an itinerary, but would like some input and recommendations.
Day 1: arrive Dublin, stay 2 nights
Day 3: pick up car, stop at Powerscourt, then drive to Cliffs of Moher
Day 4: visit Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, stay again
Day 5: Roscommon
Day 6: drive to Portrush, spend 2 nights
Day 8: Belfast
Day 9: fly from Belfast to Edinburgh. It looks like our only 2 options might be Flybe or EasyJet. Any recommendations?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Posted by
1361 posts

It looks like you plan to rent a car in Dublin and drop it off in Belfast. If that is the case you may want to find out what the one way drop fee will be. It might be considerable. You would be renting the car in one country and returning it to another.

Posted by
8649 posts

As made perfectly clear by the previous poster your itinerary includes 2 separate countries, the Republic of Ireland and N Ireland. One should read about the Troubles to understand N. Ireland.

Ireland currency is Euros, N Ireland is pounds sterling.

You will need to research costs for the car rental and insurance to cover both countries.

Secondly I’d visit the Dingle Peninsula after Powerscourt and before the Cliffs of Moher. To do this properly I’d overnight in Dingle.

Posted by
349 posts

BBC was reporting as of March 4 that Flybe is "set to collapse within hours" and will be shutting down for good. They've had financial difficulties and now with the reduction in passengers with the coronavirus they are flying last flights as of March 4.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-51746564

Posted by
86 posts

Forget Powerscourt and see Glendoulough instead. But, it sounds like a heavy load day 3. I recommend stay in Doolin, Co Clare (great pubs, music) minutes from Cliffs, then lose Roscommon and stay in Galway then to Portrush ( 1 day trip) beach, golf, Giant's Causeway, Bushmills Distillery maybe) DunLuce Castle, then off to Belfast.

Posted by
1014 posts

In Belfast, be sure to visit the Titanic Museum using the White Star Pass. You get to see the Museum and the SS Nomadic and the discovery tour. Go here to get a feel for it and to book tickets. Time is money, so standing in line for 1 hr. to buy a ticket is time wasted. Buy tickets ahead. https://www.titanicbelfast.com/

Posted by
1361 posts

Doolin's worth a night and very close to the Cliffs. The Aran Islands are reachable from the port at Doolin and are outstanding.