Help with itinerary Southern Ireland

Posted by Jeanine (Virginia) on 02/02/22 06:02 PM

My daughter, grandson and I will be flying in to Dublin on March 17 arriving at 5 am and flying out of Dublin on March 24th at 12:30 pm. Our plans beyond that are not set and was wondering if anyone has any suggestions for designing an itinerary that includes the following points of interest: Cliffs of Moher, Ring of Kerry, Blarney and Rock of Cashel as well as Trinity College Library in Dublin. We have looked at a map and haven't decided whether it is better to go clockwise or counterclockwise from Dublin. We will be renting a car, but probably not until the second day as we have reserved the first night in Dublin. Any thoughts of itinerary, where to rent the car, and good locations to stay each night would be appreciated.

Thank you!

Posted by Stacy

02/02/22 06:21 PM

87 posts

Visit those sites in the order listed, either forward or backward. One advantage of doing it backward (counterclockwise) is that you could put off renting a car for a few days:

Since you'll spend your first night in Dublin, maybe extend that to a couple of nights, and visit Trinity College and other Dublin sights those first couple of days.

Then, take the train from Dublin Heuston Station to Galway. From Galway you can take a tour to the Cliffs. (But first double check what kind of tours are offered in March. Not sure if boat tours are offered that time of year.)

Rent your car when you're ready to leave Galway, and drive down along the Ring of Kerry. Then Blarney, then Rock of Cashel, and then to the Dublin airport to return your car the night before you fly home. (Add Glendalough?)

If you plan your last day so that you return your car and arrive at your hotel in the evening, you can crash at an airport hotel and be ready to head to the airport around 9:30am for your 12:30 flight.

Posted by Tammy (aka Diveloonie) 🤿

Last Frontier aka Alaska 🏔️

02/02/22 06:34 PM

3228 posts

I would suggest getting Rick Steves guidebook for all the information you have asked. He also has suggested itineraries.

Posted by sboh

02/02/22 07:54 PM

260 posts

I assume you know March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day. I’m not sure how COVID will affect things but there is usually a large parade and the city is very crowded, and festive. The “greening” is cool.

Posted by epltd

02/04/22 02:33 AM

3122 posts

At the risk of sounding pedantic, here's a word of caution about using "Southern Ireland" to refer to places in the Republic of Ireland like Dublin and the Cliffs of Moher that are not in the southern portion of the island.

Northern Ireland is a political entity, but there is no parallel political entity called Southern Ireland. The island of Ireland is occupied by Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Part of the northwest quadrant of the Republic of Ireland, in County Donegal, actually extends further north than the northern coast of Northern Ireland.