Need a lot of Help!

First, I would get a guidebook, Rick Steves sells them on this website under the link: Shop Online.

I have been to Ireland one time, on a RS 8 Day tour of Ireland. We flew into Shannon airport which is near the beginning point of the tour in Ennis. The tour ended in Dublin and we flew out of Dublin to London to continue on with our independent travel.

From what I have read, public transportation in Ireland is available but you will have to do research to find out how to use it effectively to get from place to place. This is why I recommend a good guidebook so you can nail down the places you want to visit.

Good luck with your research!

Naomi,
Also, I would check out his tours for the sights they visit.

8 Days Heart of Ireland
14 Days Best of Ireland that also covers Northern Ireland

I think this will give you a good idea of interesting places to see.

Plus, read some of the travel articles under the Ireland section to find his recommendations.

Have fun!

Thanks Judy, but I always check all things Rick Steves, and just looking for more peoples input, because you always get different points of view, and new experiences. This tour will be on our own time frame, so all info helps. Just wasn't sure if Dublin or Shanon was the best to fly into. He is also thinking he would like to go to Scotland, if there is an easy possible way. When I went to Italy in 2009 I wanted to go to Andrea Bocelli's concert in his home town, and really didn't find much info anywhere but someone on here helped me be able to find the correct transportation and towns, and it was wonderful. All out of the way things that normally people don't look for at that time. But now there is over 12,000 people going there to this tiny town for the concerts in July.

The fantastic Cliffs of Moher are near the town of Ennis near Shannon airport so if the West coast is what you want to see, fly into Shannon. We stayed in the charming town of Dingle and drove the Slea Head route for spectacular views of the coast. I’m not sure of the availability of public transportation to see these places. You might check into hiring a private guide.
We saw the Rock of Cashel where a cathedral was built to commemorate St. Patrick who spread Christianity in 800 AD, I think. I hope someone will correct me if I’m wrong.
Our tour ended in Dublin so if you’re going to Scotland, this is your jumping off point. In Dublin we saw the Book of Kells, Glasnevin Cemetery. On our free time my friend and I went to Kilmainham Gaol, Guinness Storehouse, Dublin Writers Museum, Ireland National Gallery of Art.
Do you want to go Northern Ireland? There’s Belfast to see and the Titanic Museum, the Giants Causeway, etc.

I believe there are trains in Ireland between major cities but bus service is more likely I think. Ireland is not like Italy even much less France or Germany which all have superb train systems.

Hopefully some other folks will chime in.
Good luck!

1. To maximize your travel choices and minimize backtracking I would fly into Dublin and out of Shannon or vice versa.

2. I would go in mid-late May.

3. Either hotels or B&Bs, just depends on where you are and what your price point is.

4. Bus. There’s a couple of threads on traveling by bus. Here’s one of them. The OP had at least one other thread https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/ireland/touring-ireland-by-bus.

5. Sorry, can’t help you there.

You also asked about Scotland. I know there are flights from Dublin and Cork to Glasgow and Edinburgh. And there’s a ferry from Northern Ireland to Scotland.

If you are not going to have a car then it is a lot easier to fly into Dublin as getting from Shannon to anywhere by train or bus is a lot more difficult. Also, if you are not going to have a car then it will be easier to stay in larger towns as there will be better access to guided day tours to see the sights. I purchased a train/bus pass that allows a certain number of travel days within a time frame. For example, I bought a pass that allowed me eight days of travel in two weeks. I had three weeks to see what I wanted so I flew in to Dublin, spent the first four days there (saw the city and did a day trip to Newgrange etc.), then took the train to Killarney for a few days (day trip to Dingle and the park and Gap of Dunloe). From Killarney I took the train to Cork and then a bus to Kinsale for a couple of nights then I took the bus back to Cork and took another bus to get to Cashel to see the Rock of Cashel (this was complicated), then a bus to get to the train to get to Kilkenny for a couple nights. From Kilkenny I took the train to Galway (with a quick stop in Athlone to catch my breath and get out to see Clonmacnoise) and spent a few days to see Cliffs of Moher, Connemara, and Inishmore all by guided day tours. Then I took the train to Belfast (day tour to Giant's Causeway and some family research) and spent the last few days and flew home from there. I initially looked at flying into Shannon and going to either Galway or Killarney from there, but it was going to take several hours and several buses to do either option so I flew into Dublin instead. The train from Dublin to Killarney is over four hours, but I found it a nice break after spending a few days running around Dublin. I used Dublin, Killarney, Kinsale, Kilkenny Galway, and Belfast as the main stops as they were easy by train and had lots of options for day tours. You have to plan carefully when travelling like this so you make the most of your time. Do your travelling as early as you can in the day so you have time to do some sight seeing when you get to your next destination. Try to limit the number of towns you stay in so you aren't constantly catching a bus or train instead of sight seeing. Try to aim for two to four nights at each stop. I sandwiched my travel days between two four night stays to make the best use of my pass.

We toured without a car and did just fine. It does take some research and planning. We also focused on a few key areas rather than trying to "see everything." I found Northern Ireland to be a bit more user friendly for public transport.

You have to do most of the research on your own. I don't know how many people told us that getting to Ashford Castle by public transportation was impossible, including people at Ashford Castle. Yet, we did it! Our trip involved a bus from Galway to Oughterard and then a scenic Corrib Day Cruise to Ashford Castle.

Our two favorite places on our trip were the Antrim Coast (Giant's Causeway Area) in Northern Ireland and the Aran Islands. For the Antrim Coast, simply take the train from Belfast to Coleraine. Walk through the station to the waiting bus, and be transported along the coast line. We stayed at the Bayview Hotel in Port Ballintrae which I can highly recommend and the bus stopped right outside. It couldn't have been more convenient.

There is a shuttle bus from Galway to the ferry for the Aran Islands. You then take the ferry across. We stayed at the Glamping Cabins which was less than a 5 minute walk from the ferry dock and had a lovely view. There were other lodging options even closer to the dock.

Some places are a little harder than others and will take more time. You have to decide if the time invested in getting to a location is worth the value to seeing that location. The bus ride from Derry to Galway was long. It was interesting, but it was also tiring.

My suggestion is to pick the top priority locations and to focus on them. You want to spend the majority of your time enjoying Ireland and not sitting on a bus.

Hi Naomi - I'm a "senior" lady and have traveled to Ireland a few times, my first time solo. I always fly into and out of Shannon - it's a smaller airport and easily navigable. I've relied on public transportation and have had no problem. Sure, it does take some planning, but for me it was a breeze. I've also always stayed in B&B's instead of hotels - I like the "personal" aspect of them, I get to talk to other guests from all over, and most hosts are great at steering you toward the direction you need, even going so far as to make phone calls for me. Good hosts know that you're there on holiday and try to help you get the best experience of your time. That way, you'll have a good time and next time you're out their way, you'll come back. This October I'm going with my close friend and my sister, who had a quad bypass two years ago. She knows that for her (at this time) long hikes might be difficult, but if we take it slow, she'll be good. I plan on taking them to see the Rock of Cashel - for me that is a must see for first time visitors.
So, ask yourself (and your son): what do I really want to see? For me, I bought a map of Ireland and thought about where I planned on visiting and sights closer by. Of course, at first I wanted to see and do everything!! Then when I came to my senses, I realized I had to narrow down what was doable.

I hope you keep us up to date on your trip and also give us a trip report - happy travels!