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New to Ireland

Hello Ireland travelers,

Details first: old woman, solo traveler, walks with cane, carry on only, will be arriving from Crickhowell, Wales after a conference in Oxford, England. Want more details on my schedule, please ask! I am experienced in traveling with my cane and try my best to not let it slow me down. My first instinct was to just go to Rome as usual (indeed, this time last year I was finishing up a 90-day visit to Rome), but I have been there over 25 times and my sister suggested Ireland would be an interesting change for me.

I have about two weeks set aside to visit Ireland (September 6, to September 20 are the dates I have open on my calendar). Due to my walking difficulties, I will be focusing on Dublin and private day trips out and back from there. I would love to wander/walk/hike about the beautiful country but know that those days have passed for me since my leg injury.

So, I am asking for recommendations for places, tours, drivers, etc., that one should visit considering my limited walking abilities and using Dublin as my base. I am open to suggestions, dos/don'ts, anything really. While budget is always to be looked at, right now I am exploring the possibilities. I know Dublin is an expensive European city and that private tours can be costly.

Thanks for reading and any input is graciously accepted.

Posted by
2492 posts

I wonder whether you might consider a full guided tour. Awhile back, I went on a tour with an Irish company, Vagabond Tours (https://vagabondtoursofireland.com/). They have two categories of tours, Vagabond and Driftwood. Mine was one of the Driftwood tours, much less athletic. They travel in vans - ours held 16 passengers. What made me think of it for you was that there was a tour member in her eighties, and whenever there was a group walk that she wasn’t up for, the guide/driver would give her a ride instead.

Posted by
128 posts

Thanks so much for your comment. I had looked at this tour company! Your input is more valuable than you know!

Posted by
2492 posts

Glad to help! They are really well-done tours - I learned tons, and saw some incredibly beautiful sights.

Posted by
2280 posts

Definitely Newgrange from Dublin - the tours by Mary Gibbons are consistently recommended.

Day tour to Glendalough and Powerscourt Gardens from Dublin (several companies do this).

Catch a train to Kilkenny for a couple of nights - lots to see and do in there.

Also check out the longer tours run by Rabbies and Paddywagon

Posted by
128 posts

Thanks for the information on Newgrange, Knowth and the Hill of Tara,I I will continue to explore this as I am interested in prehistory sites.

I will not be heading to Northern Ireland on this trip, but thanks for the idea of visiting Belfast.

Posted by
35 posts

Head over to Galway for a few days and do some day tours from there. The west coast has amazing landscape and taking tours would help with your limited mobility.