Must see stops from Dublin Airport to Wesport County Mayo

This is tough to answer because I don’t know the rest of your trip circumstances. Clonmacnoise makes a great stop for an hour or two.

But I feel compelled to ask if you are arriving on a long flight from the U.S., if you have previous experience driving on the left, and what else might be on your itinerary.

It’s about a 3 1/2 hour drive plus stops after you get your car. After a bit, it is likely jet lag will hit. And you need all of your concentration, especially if you aren’t experienced at left side small road driving. Perhaps you could drive to Athlone for your first night. On your arrival day you could see Clonmacnoise, Athlone Castle, and have dinner and go to bed early for the rest of your drive the following morning.

Someone else may be able to give you a better stop a short way from the airport but the jet lag fog that hits is real. Add to that driving on the left on the small roads you will encounter toward the end of,your drive and it can be dangerous - for you and others.

I asked about your itinerary because it is possible you could find a way to move things around so you can pick up a rental car later.

Apologies if all/any of this doesn’t apply - but everyone has had a first time and it’s hard to comprehend beforehand the difficulty of driving what seems to us like a short distance after arriving via an overnight flight.

I appreciate all your suggestions. We are on an overnight flight from Philly. So we leave at 6:30 pm and arrive in Dublin at 5:55 am. I was planning on sleeping on the plane. My husband and I don't sleep much to begin with. We are renting a car and picking up at the airport, I thought if we get tired we could pull in somewhere for a half hour and keep it moving. I am only going to make 2 stops then drive on into Westport. Tullamore & Athlone were the 2 that came to mind.