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Seeking feedback on Ireland itinerary

Posted by (Minnesota) on

Hello! I am writing on behalf of my niece, who, with her fiance, will attend a friend's wedding at Cabra Castle, Kingscourt, on June 30th. She is also attending the bridal/hen party from June 27-29 in Londonderry.

Here is what she is thinking:

  • June 26th: fly from the U.S. to Dublin and give herself time to adjust
  • June 27th: go from Dublin to Londonderry (she wants to rent a car, but I am trying to dissuade her from that because I think it's so hard to adjust to driving in the UK)
  • June 27th-June 29: Londonderry hen/bridal party in Londonderry
  • June 29: return to Dublin
  • June 30: meet up with fiance, who is flying from the U.S. to Dublin
  • June 30: go to Cabra Castle, Kingscourt for wedding
  • June 30-July 3: stay at Cabra Castle
  • July 3-6: visit Dublin

Does this sound feasible? Any alternates she should consider? Suggestions, warnings, etc. are much appreciated!

Posted by
7837 posts

There really is no need to drive from Dublin to Derry.

As well as the Enterprise train to Belfast, change at Belfast Lanyon Place for Northern Ireland Railways to Derry every hour (the last part of that journey is very scenic along the coast)- https://www.translink.co.uk/timetables?routeHashCode=9affc120dc239aed922661c7778de37a6ce4773d371a1a8fd3f5f983ac90742c&transportMode=Train&route=T0&direction=H
there is a direct Translink Bus several times daily from Dublin Busaras and airport- https://www.translink.co.uk/timetables?routeHashCode=e096227a2fc0715390e1abebf699e05f0537b106c8d06f712f5b0d9397ff12b1&transportMode=Bus&route=T0&direction=H

Booked on the web a few days ahead the bus fare is just £11 each way. She could do one way on the bus, the other way on the train.

The train fare is £14 Belfast to Derry, and 13.99 to 15.99 Euro Dublin to Belfast

Posted by
7937 posts

How firmly is she determined to rent a car? She certainly doesn’t need/want one in Dublin, and was she thinking of driving outside of Londonderry for side trips, of sticking around that city, once she reached it? Are any of the “hens” living nearby, and are any of them going to be driving?

Adjusting to driving in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland hasn’t been too difficult - we had a month in County Cork last spring, and the super-narrow roads were the biggest challenge. Highways farther north could be easier. Maybe one adjustment she’d need would be driving kilometers per hour closer to Dublin, and miles per hour in the UK. Does she need the expense and processes of renting, because of needing the car for convenience or expectations of her finance or other guests? Or does it just seem handy to have a car? Remind her to think about why she’s considering renting a car, then think about if it’s really a benefit.

We had a car 6 years ago, but were touring a lot of both countries, over several weeks.

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