Please sign in to post.

Help w/Ireland Itinerary - 10 days

Posted by on

Hello!
I've been searching and reviewing many posts out here to plan out an Ireland itinerary - looks like this group has a ton of great advice so would love to run my itinerary by you to see what you think. I have some specific questions listed at the bottom but am open to your opinions, tips and expertise. Looking forward to your feedback!

6/24 – Arrive around 10am local time, rest, Trinity College, Temple Bar district; staying at Beresford Hotel (2 nights)
6/25 – Dublin (St. Patrick’s Cathedral, day trip to Newgrange)
6/26 – Pick up car, Kilkenny (Rock of Cashel, Kilkenny Design Center, Kilkenny Castle), drive to Cork; staying at Montenotte Hotel (1 night)
6/27 – Blarney Castle, then head to Kinsale (lunch), then drive to Killarney; staying at Dromhall (3 nights)
6/28 – Ring of Kerry (will likely drive since we’ll have a car); staying in Killarney
6/29 – Slea Head Drive & Dingle Peninsula; staying in Killarney
6/30 – Drive to Doolin – The Burren; staying in Doolin at Ballinalacken Castle Country House Hotel (1 night)
7/1 – Cliffs of Moher; then drive to Portrush in Northern Ireland; staying at Inn on the Coast (1 night)
7/2 – Giant’s Causeway, The Dark Hedges, Titanic Museum, Dunluce Castle; drive back to Dublin, stay near airport (1 night)
7/3 – flight back to US around 11am

Questions:
Are we trying to do too much? Generally, want to see as much as possible without feeling rushed but want to keep moving; don’t mind staying only 1 night at hotels but not every night
Have we missed any must sees in your opinion?
Any suggestions for the day of 6/30 when we think we’ll drive to Doolin?
Would love to get to Skellig Michael and/or the Aran Islands but wondering the best way to fit it in?

Posted by
8683 posts

When is this trip? What time of the year?

Blarney castle isn’t worth your time. Touristy and trite.

Pick up the car and drive to Glendalough. Then Rock of Cashel.

Drive to Newgrange then visit Trim and have lunch.

Ireland is ALL about the people and the country’s beauty.

Slow down.

Remember Euros for Eire British pounds for NI.

In NI have a meal at Mournes by Kelly Cellars Pub.

Posted by
3 posts

Hi! Thank you for sharing! Great idea to drive up to Newgrange and have lunch in Trim and I appreciate the other ideas. The timing of my trip is end of June (specific dates listed above).

Posted by
1377 posts

I just checked and Newgrange tickets are sold out for your date. So if you want to go you may want to go with the Mary GIbbons tour. I would personally skip Blarney Castle (grounds are supposed to be lovely but kissing the stone seems less so), and diverting to Kinsale for lunch seems somewhat a waste of time given your schedule. And many of the best Kinsale restaurants aren't open for lunch. I would instead use that day to work in the Skellig Michael or Aran trip.

Posted by
3 posts

Thank you Trotter for your thoughts. Yeah - I had checked on tickets for Newgrange tour and they said sold out - she has me on a waiting list but I'm not counting on it. I keep hearing to skip Blarney Castle so I might do just that - as you've said, it would give us more time on the west coast and then we could get out to Skellig Michael which I would love to do. Do you need to book those tickets in advance or just wait till you get there? Do you know?

Posted by
3228 posts

I haven’t done Skellig, but did do some research on it. You should plan for several days in the area as my understanding is, many times the boat can’t reach the rock.

Posted by
857 posts

Between Kilkenny and Cork I would suggest a stop at the Rock of Cashel, and agree with removing Blarney. But, I think you are trying to cover too much ground. With only ten days I would suggest cutting Northern Ireland, and add those days to the south. This would give you the time to tour Killarney National Park and the Gap of Dunlop, maybe by jaunting car or rent bikes.

Posted by
170 posts

I think driving from Dublin to Kilkenny and also doing rock of Cashel/Kilkenny castle and then continuing to cork the same day is very aggressive! Unless you are an expert on driving on the other side of the road..
It's a solid hour to Kilkenny and rock of Cashel is farther on. Then another hour to Cork. I believe that is a killer day on the first day of your rental car.

Posted by
857 posts

Spend a night in Kilkenny, don’t drive straight through. Wander the town, climb the tower at St. Candice’s, visit the castle. Stop at Cashel the next day on your way to Cork ( though personally, I would spend the night in Kinsale).

Posted by
370 posts

I agree with Anita (of Richmond, my hometown!). A day and a night in Kilkenny, if schedule allows.

Yes, you are trying to do to much. Maybe savor Dingle Penisula longer (never know when you'll run in to a concert or two as we did our first trip years ago) and maybe skip Ring of Kerry?

Loved visiting the perfumery in the Burren.

This topic has been automatically closed due to a period of inactivity.