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Killarney v Derry

This is our first trip to Ireland. We complete a 14 day tour in Belfast and will be staying on in Ireland for about 5 days. We initially thought that we wanted more time in Derry before returning to Dublin for our flight back home. Someone suggested that we should consider Killarney and surrounding areas.

1) Considering these are two, very different places, which offers more "must see" activities or history that would make our Ireland visit most complete? Also, we will be visiting at the end of August.

2) On reading Rick's articles, it appears that Killarney is not the place to stay. So we are looking into towns near Killarney. Any suggestions on places that have transportation to some of the sights and tours that are accessed in Killarney such as the boat, and horse & trap, or travel to National Park, or tours of Ring of Kerry, etc.?

3) We do not intend to have a car. What is the best, bus or train, and what web site or company can we look up now to get information on movement from Belfast to Killarney area and from there to Dublin?

Thank you.

Posted by
317 posts

Greetings from Ireland, trying to compare Killarney and Derry would take forever to answer as they are completely different cities in the biggest possible way. I would say that if you are ending your tour in Belfast it may be best to spend extra time in Derry (my beloved home town!) as its right there. However if you haven't seen Killarney then you should visit, but its a long long way from Belfast, 6 hours by train, not including changing trains and train stations!
If you want to see the sights of Killarney and wont have a car then you'll have to stay there in my opinion. Ive stayed there hundreds of times as a tour-guide and I think you'll like it overall. Dingle (my new hometown!) would be a better place to stay but it is an hours journey by public bus, Kenmare a bit closer, but again you are reliant on our public bus-service, which I should stress is reliable, but infrequent.
Good luck with the journey through Ireland
Slainte/Good Health
Stephen McPhilemy