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Ireland itinerary - suggestions please.

Posted by on

We plan to visit Ireland in September 2014. We will be arriving and leaving by ferry - Holyhead/Dublin and hiring a car.

This is our draft:

Day 1 - arrive Dublin 6am, pick up car, drive to Kinsale - Rock of Cashel & Famine ship at New Ross en route - overnight in Kinsale

Day 2 - explore coast including Hook Head lighthouse & history of Titanic/Lusitania/emigration - overnight in Kinsale

Day 3 - drive to Dingle via Bantry, Muckross House and Killarney - overnight in Dingle

Day 4 - explore Dingle Peninsula - overnight in Dingle

Day 5 - drive to Galway via Tralee and Cliffs of Moher - overnight in Galway

Day 6 - drive to Ballina via The Burren, Westport and visit National Museum of Ireland Country Life - overnight in Ballina

Day 7 - drive to Dublin via Newgrange - overnight in Dublin

Day 8 - Dublin sights - overnight in Dublin

Day 9 - Dublin sights - overnight in Dublin

Day 10 - depart Dublin on ferry in am

We will be going to Ballina because that is where my ancestors came from.

Look forward to any constructive suggestions or ideas.

Posted by
3 posts

Day 1 is a long drive with jet lag.

Otherwise I'd say Day 5 and 6 are the real problems. Firstly it's a fairly long drive from Dingle to Galway especially going to see the Cliffs of Moher along the way. You'll be surprised how long all of this takes you plus dealing with the traffic getting into Galway city. You might consider staying somewhere in County Clare instead. This will also help with Day 6 allowing to not have to backtrack to see the Burren. If you stay somewhere near Cliffs of Moher like Lisdoonvarna or Doolin you can then drive through the Burren the next day and up into Co. Galway and drive through Connemara on the way to Westport where I would stop for the night on Day 6 instead of Ballina.

Posted by
62 posts

Thanks for your replies.

We won't be jetlagged - already 3 weeks in UK and catching ferry to Dublin. Also, we are from Australia so are familiar with driving on the left-hand side of the road.

Thanks for the tips about Hook Head and New Ross, also staying somewhere other than Galway.

Re overnighting in Westport rather than Ballina - we are keen to stay in Ballina as that is where my ancestors came from, however, I am happy to entertain other suggestions.

Thanks again.

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