I'm stuck on where to head after Galway. Landing in Dublin on a Saturday morning with my husband (who has driven in Ireland before) and two teenagers. We are coming for the Taylor Swift concert. Planning to rent a car, not sure if I'll pick it up in Dublin or in Galway. The kids will want some pub nights. Mom and dad want some scenery but also don't want to spend hours in the car
Day 1 - land in am, head to Galway, sleep in Galway - figure this day will be a bit of a write off just trying to stay awake until we can sleep
Day 2 - explore Galway, sleep in Galway
Day 3 - head to Doolin, ?book a trip to the island of Aran, sleep in Doolin
Day 4 - do the walk to the cliffs of Moher, sleep in Doolin
Day 5 - here is where I'm stuck - go to Dingle or Kilarney ?ring of Kerry
Day 6 - Kilarney - explore the national park or just head back to Dublin tonight
Day 7 - head to Dublin from Kilarney, sleep in Dublin ? is this too far to drive as we want some time to explore Dublin
Day 8 - Dublin, concert that night
Day 9 - head home
Posted by
Irving
2963 posts
Do not rent a car on arrival day. Instead, take a direct bus from Dublin airport to Galway: https://www.dublinairport.com/to-from-the-airport/by-bus/all-ireland-bus-routes. The next day take a bus to Rossaveel port and catch the ferry to Inishmore for the day.
After two nights in Galway rent a car and drive to Doolin. The next day walk over to the cliffs. From Doolin drive to Dingle. Dingle is a charming fishing town with a good pub scene where you can enjoy a Guinness while listening to Gaelic sounds. Dingle is also the access point to driving the peninsula where you’ll see a closeup of the mountainous Blasket Island group.
Killarney is popular with bus tours and crowded. The Ring of Kerry scenery is repetitive meaning you’ll see the same thing over-and-over again. Driving the Ring of Kerry from Killarney means you’ll be stuck behind buses you won’t be able to pass that slow you down making the day longer.
From Dingle drive to the Rock of Cashel and then to Kilkenny and drop off your car. After spending a night or two take a direct train from Kilkenny to Dublin: https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie/.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
This is so helpful Thank you!
Posted by
Lincolnshire, UK
1855 posts
Ideas for Day 2 and Connemara - drive to Roundstone ( delightful small village with an attractive harbour and stunning views). Head to Clifden and do the Sky Drive. On a sunny day this must rank as one of the best short drives in the world,. Do clockwise. Then head up past Kylemore Abbey (possible stop?) and then to Killary, described as Ireland's only fjord. If time allows you can go on a boat trip. Then go through Leenaun and head back to Galway. This will give chance to see some of the best scenery Connemara has to offer.
Day 3 One of the advatages of doing the [boat trip]6 to Aran from Doolin is that it can be combined with seeing the cliffs of Moher from the sea - they are much more impressive from below than from on top.
Day 4 Do try and spend some time exploring the Burren as well as doing the Cliffs of Moher walk. This is limestone country and the scenery is completely different to anywhere else in Ireland. The drive along the R477 through Fanore, Murroogh Black Head, Ballyvaughan to Kinvarra with its castle and then back to Doolin along the N67 will show off some of the best scenery and is well worth the effort.
Dingle v Killarney is a hard one. The Ring of Kerry is always busy and gets a lot of tour coaches. It does have some rather nice ring forts which are worth finding.
The Slea Head drive (although the read more links don;'t seem to be working...) from Dingle is more gentle as far as scenery is concerned but there is plenty do do and see on the way . It feels less frenetic than Ring of Kerry. Also don't miss the Connor Pass - but make sure it is a clear day. We did this in thick fog and husband wasn't at all happy and was muttering all the way over the top 'I'm not enjoying this..."
Dingle is a bit further to drive back to Dublin from Kilarney - say about 350km. You will need to allow 4.5+ hours for this. You will have a little bit of time to explore Dublin.