Help with 6 days/5 nights in Ireland

From Dublin, we did day trips to the Boyne Valley and to Blarney Castle and the Rock of Cashel and got to see a lot of beautiful countryside, especially on the Boyne Valley trip (because we were on fewer large highways). I can't suggest about transport, because we did tours (not wanting to drive), rather than the two options you're considering.

I would try to fly into Shannon then rent a car to explore the western part of the country for a few days then you can drive back to Dublin for a day and a half. We think the beauty of the country is I the west. If possible you could also fly into Kerry airport if you can get direct f!ight from Glasgow.

Thank you for the great ideas. We have already booked a flight from Glasgow to Dublin as it was the least expensive I could find:)
Susan

Assuming you have a car (which will give you a lot more flexibility as to what you can do)

May 3 - Spend a day visiting Newgrange , Hill of Tara and Trim Castle.

May 4 - Next day drive throught the Wicklows stopping at Powerscourt and the lovely early Christian site of Glendalough. Head to Killkenny for the night.

May 5 - Spend the day exploring Kilkenny. There's lots to do - Castle, St Candice's Cathedral, Black Abbey, Rothe House and Gardens... or for something completley different, there is Hawkeye Falconry where you can handle, feed and fly one of their birds.

May 6 - Next day, do a circuit from Kilkenny, visiting Cahir and Rock of Cashel. Depending what time your flight is on the 7th, you may want to head back to Dublin after this. If it is a late afternoon flight, return to Kilkenny for the night and then head back to Dublin next morning.

If you don’t want to rent a car we used Newgrange Tours By Mary Gibbons from Dublin and were very pleased. Google it. She books up early so check it now if you are interested.

Thank you! Susan

Though having a car would provide maximum flexibility they're extremely expensive at the moment, and frankly for such a short stay you won't need one anyway.
There are several day tour providers that would get you to Newgrange & the Boyne Valley or down to Glendalough, and it's an easy train ride to Belfast or Kilkenny for a day.

This is very helpful! Thank you! I'm thinking we will use day tour companies and not rent a car.

Do you all know of day tour companies who will let us visit sites on the way to Kilkenny and then stay there and not return to Dublin? In general what tour companies would you recommend for day trips from Dublin and Kilkenny? Thank you!

From Dublin, we used Irish Day Tours, and we were very happy with them. https://www.irishdaytours.ie

When we were thinking of staying in Kilkenny, we were considering Kilkenny Taxi Tours. https://www.kilkennytaxitours.com

If you want someone that drives you from one place to another (rather than a return-trip day tour), consider My Day Trip. You can make whatever stops you like (for a fee), but you don't have a tour guide, per se. I haven't used them in Ireland, but I've used them in Italy and was pleased with their service. https://mydaytrip.com/

Another company I've used elsewhere and liked was Tours By Locals. https://www.toursbylocals.com

Thank you!

Slightly more than an hour from Dublin is Glendalough and the Monastic City. From it you can walk to a very pretty waterfall.