Ireland 14 days, April 2027, public transportation only - newest itinerary draft

It will take you most of the day to get to Cork by way of Waterford, not including the time you spend in Waterford. That leaves one full day for Midleton, Kinsale AND Cobh? This really gives short shrift to the only two destinations on your original itinerary (Cork and Waterford). Could you not add one more night in Cork? I would take it from Galway.
Unless your flight is before noon, I wouldn't stay at the airport. Stay in nearby Malahide and take a taxi to the airport.

Hello
We did almost similar trip using public transport, local group tour and private hire in Aug 2024.
We didn't got to Cork or Kinsale.
We stayed in Killarney for 3 full days. Did Muckross House, Gap of Dunloe and Deros tour to Dingle.
From Killarney, the plan was to take buses to Ennis then to Doolin, where we stayed 3 nights. (We ended up took a taxi from Ennis bus station to Doolin).
From Doolin we did Aran island, Cliff of Moher then on the last day we hired private driver to see the Burren area and drop off in Kinvara for 1 night.
From Kinvara we took bus 350 to Galway, where we stayed 3 nights(daytrip to Connemara) before taking the bus for our flight out of Dublin. (We stayed in Malahide for our final night).
We could have skipped Kinvara and go all the way to Galway with our driver.
It was 500 euros but worth it, since it includes full day sightseeing.

You can certainly do Waterford on the way to Cork by taking a morning train from Dublin to Waterford then THE afternoon (not Sundays) train at 1625 to Limerick Junction, change for Cork (one of two trains a day) or the hourly bus #40 (which is an hour faster than the train) from Waterford to Cork.

The problem to solve is luggage storage for the day- on line sources say Nannybag but on checking that is no longer true.

Dingle to Galway is about 5 hours by bus with changes of 30 minutes each at Tralee and Limerick.

Cork to Dingle is 4 hours or a bit less by bus, change at Tralee.

G3rryCee,
Isn't there an Expressway #40 bus that takes about 2 hours from Waterford City to Cork? And I plugged in a Sunday, every hour.
I don't think I was clear.
That Sunday plan :
Dublin to Waterford
Waterford to Cork.

Thanks for all your help, as always.

Holly, I'll look at Malahide. I'm sure it's much more charming than an airport hotel. Thanks for all the details. Sounds like a great trip!

Pat, been meaning to respond because I did Ireland in March and live in the same city as you. If you want a splurge, check out Ashford Castle in Cong, about an hour from Galway. So wonderful and I think your husband would love their whiskey flights or classes. I bought a package that included breakfast, a multiple course dinner at George V restaurant (fabulous) and our room which was cheapest but still wonderful. We did historical boat tour and School of Falconery experience. I was going to return to SD for my 6th surgery in three years so I wanted a real send off from Ireland and Ashford Castle did it.
In Dublin I used points for rhe Conrad. We did the a Guru Walking Tour, Tours of Postal Museum (where uprising occurred), Epic Museum, Goal (the prison-can't remember the exact name) Book of Kells and Museum of Irish Literature. We took train from Dublin to Cork which worked out great.
I have to run out but will update who we toured with and stayed in Dingle and Galaway as well as where we ate.
The business class flights from SD to LHR and Dublin were very good. Dublin airport was user-friendly and get access to a non-BA lounge with your BA business class ticket (if my memory is correct).

Itsv, how did you get to that hotel in Cong?
I'm hoping to also take advantage of several credit card reward points.
How is your recovery progressing?
Thanks for the info. I look forward to hearing more!

Hi Pat.
I’m just back from a family wedding in Ireland.
A few points:
Dublin Airport has an extremely long walk between deplaning and the Immigration and Customs area….I mean very long!
Public transport:
If you get a Leap card in Dublin….NOT the visitors version, get the regular one….its good for Dublin buses, trams and some local Dart trains.
It’s also good for use on buses in Cork, and for buses and the small commuter trains to and from Cork to Midleton and Cobh.
You just top it up when necessary.
Going to Midleton….take the bus from Cork…23 or so minutes.
Better than the train.
The train station there is a good hike to the distillery, the bus goes closer…into the town.
No taxis at the train station, you have to order one in advance to meet you, or phone when you get there.
Very tiny station, and no luggage storage.
I stayed in Midleton 4 nights at the charming Talbot Hotel, really enjoyed it.

https://about.leapcard.ie/dublin

Hope that helps.
Ireland and its people are lovely.

Not to disrespect your choice, but

I seem to be contrarian to many folks' preferences, but one the many arguments for renting a car is the elimination of luggage storage problems if you make any stops along the way. I'm 76 and am perfectly comfortable driving on any road in Ireland. Not only are your transitions between stays more timely, but you can make any intermediate stops you might like. Parking a car is easier than parking your luggage.

We traveled with another couple a few years ago and we were almost fighting over who got to drive, because it was so much of an adventure, especially with a standard shift. We settled on alternating days.

My wife drove for the first time this year in the Outer Hebrides and she thought it was a hoot. They discriminate against 76 year old's renting cars out there. We did rent an automatic for the week.

It has been several years, but here is how my sister and I went to Ashford Castle from Galway by public transport.
Bus from Galway to Oughterard. Corrib cruises across the lake to Ashford Castle. We did the school of Falconry, explored Cobb and ate lunch, and reversed the route. It took an entire day, but that visit was the highlight of my sister’s trip.

People had told us it was impossible to do Ashford Castle by Public transportation. We proved them wrong.

https://corribcruises.com/

Jjgurley, thanks, Yes, the luggage storage during day tripping can be an issue that I forgot about. My husband is too anxious to drive, so a car is out of the question. Thanks for the input.

SJC, thanks for lots of practical info. The Leap card sounds great.
I'm looking at your hotel- what all did you do for your four days? Did you have a car? (We won't.)

Carol now retired, thanks for your link, that area does look intriguing. And you all did it on your own!

Some thoughts out of the box.

Save your Dublin nights till the end. Reverse your trip and go to Galway first, straight from the airport (if your flights arrive early enough - most do). Yes, it’s a 2 1/2 hr bus ride, but it gets you started on Ireland immediately. You can even doze on the bus.

By saving Dublin nights till the end, I think you can cut a night - that last one was mostly a waste.

Use that night for Cork. You are short on nights with what you have planned.

If you don’t want to pay $$$ for a private driver between Galway and Dingle, consider the bus in 2 days with a night in Limerick if you can spare another night.

So you’d have Galway 3 nights, Limerick 1 night, Dingle 3 nights, Cork 3 nights, Dublin 4 nights. That’s 14 nights, instead of your 13 night plan above.

Just another way to think about it.

I’ve sent you a PM, Pat.

Texastravelmom,
I'll review your info carefully.
My one concern is if our incoming flights are late/ or changed, and we don't arrive in Dublin until very late, we can't make a land connection. Flying out of San Diego doesn't give us many choices, and many times our booked flights (which we carefully chose) get screwed up, and we arrive much later than planned.
Thanks for the details. We really don't mind spending $$$$ for the private driver. Don't like the cost, but sometimes it's the smoothest option.
The consensus here is to add a day, Will see if the powers that be can swing it ( dog sitter.)
Thank again,

There is no chance of not being able to get from Dublin Airport to Galway. While it may be sub optimal to do a late night transfer after a transatlantic flight the buses run basically hourly until 0100, and start again at 0315.