Our first trip to Ireland in August, we're focusing on the west coast.
Will stay 4 nights in Dublin. I'm thinking to take one day trip, can't decide on which of the three.
Newgrange (Mary Gibbon tour)
Glendalough (haven't decided on the tour company)
Kilkenny ( train from Dublin)
Thank you
Not quite sure what you’re asking. We’ve been on the Mary Gibbons tour, it’s great, she’s very good, the tour is also very popular and sells out fast. We did Wild Wicklow Tours for Glendalough, good tour although you spend “a lot” of time picking people up around Dublin and we stayed in Kilkenny for 4 days, cute town, the castle was interesting. It all depends on what’s of the most interest to you, castles, pre-history tombs or mystical sites. If I had to make a choice of what I would want to see again, it would be Glendalough but that’s just my opinion.
We have been to Glendalough and done the Mary Gibbons tour. We haven’t been to Kilkenny. The Mary Gibbons tour is very good and a very full day and you will see a lot. But Glendalough is a beautiful, atmospheric site. It’s a hard choice but I would choose Glendalough. Maybe you could find a private tour of Glendalough that doesn’t waste time picking up a bunch of people from different locations in Dublin.
We took a day tour, maybe even Mary Gibbon-it was a company in the RS guidebook? that went to both Glendalough and Kilkenny. I would recommend it.
There are three very different places so a lot depends on what your interests are. Only you can decide that...
Newgrange is all about Neolithic chambered tombs.
Glendalough is an early Christian site with round towers, ruined chapels in a lovely setting with lake, trees etc.
Kilkenny is a town with castle, cathedral etc.
I would be wary of a tour that combined both Glendalough and Kilkenny in a singlke day as you will end up doing justice to neither place. The more usual combination is Glendalough with Powerscourt Gardens.
I would choose NewGrange.
Kilkenny to me was underwhelming. And the castle was more like a stately home.
Agree to visit Newgrange. You can see castles.and stately homes all.over but I think Newgrange is one of a.kind historical sites.
I would pick Newgrange, also, as it is a very unique historic site, and you won’t see anything else like it in Ireland. There are many other scenic areas, and quaint small towns that you will see elsewhere. So, if your time is too limited to fit all three in, then go to Newgrange.
Newgrange is an all day affair but you can also do it on your own. We went with Mary Gibbons and learned so much. You do need to be prepared for a college level crash course in history/politics/ archeology. She was great and it wasn’t boring but you are hiring an expert. We drove to Glendalough and spent about an hour and a half to 2 hours there. We had a picnic, saw the film and did the self guided tour of the monastery. We did not do a hike because we had a 4 pm guided tour at Kilkenny castle. In Kilkenny we had to park a little way away and walk to the castle. It’s a lot like Downton Abbey. The town is also quaint with lots of nice shops. You can easily do Glendalough and Kilkenny in one day with a nice lunch in between the two and be back in. Dublin for dinner. I’m sure there are tours that do that. Note: if you purchase the OPW card, alll three of these sites are included (if you go on your own).
Thank you , All.
After some thinking, i'm leaning towards Newgrange.
For the remainder of the trip we will be going to Muckross House, Gap of Dunloe, Dingle Slea head, Aran Island, Burren and Connemara. Lots of pretty scenery. I think Newgrange is vert different than those.
Yes Newgrange is very different to all of those.
Unless you are going on a tour, you need to prebook tickets . These are only available 30 days in advance and looking at the next 30 days many days for the Newgrange and Knowth tour , are already sold out and those that aren't often have limited availability. The two are very different and it is worth trying to do both.
