Solo driving in Ireland

All my driving in Europe has been solo, including England and Ireland. Sure, you can go around the roundabout more than once. If you make a wrong turn, nobody but you will know, and you just re-trace your steps a bit. Places to pull over to the side of the road to check your map may be fewer on the narrow roads, but if you see one, use it. On smaller roads, it really helps to plan out all the towns you will drive through (whether through Google Maps, viamichelin.com, or just a list that you make on a Post-It note) since intersections are more likely to show the next small town than a further-on destination. I have never used GPS. See also https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/articles/driving-in-great-britain-and-ireland.

Hi

Get a good map on arrival in Ireland .
Plan route by towns and N numbers
Drive on the left . Plan where you position at junctions
Some smart phones have GPS . Dont just follow GPS blind as some roads might have changed in towns etc.
Some GPS systems will take you the shortest in distance but on very bad narrow roads

On roundabouts give way to traffic already on the roundabout. Watch for traffic on your right that goes onto the roadabout at speed without stopping.

See http://www.rsa.ie/RSA/Road-Safety/Education/Road-safety-tips/Using-roundabouts/
If lost stop at shop / petrol station and ask for directions

Using Google maps, street view, helped me immensely last year. Can "drive" the routes in advance, previewing the general road layout, signage, etc. before you have to do it for real. Just getting used to the sight picture presented by driving on the left helped me prepare - might work for you too.
Would also suggest spending 5-10 minutes in the car before you even put it in gear to familiarize yourself with the knobs and switches, mirrors, etc. Will help minimize the inevitable "turning on the windshield wipers while trying to signal". Then, take a lap or two around the parking lot just to calm yourself down before hitting the roadway. Don't do anything in a hurry, plan ahead, slow down, and you'll be fine.
Pay the extra fee to book a vehicle with automatic transmission - don't need the extra stress of wrestling with a manual shifter.
Having a good GPS helped me a lot too, but do cross-check against a good map to preview your daily route and to minimize the chances that you'll wind up on some of the tiny country lanes.

Are you comfortable driving solo in other parts of Europe? I ask because I struggle with the dual task of driving and navigating. On my last driving adventure, I had built-in GPS and without it, I'd never have found anything in France (though in Spain and Sicily I managed pretty well without it). The stress of solo driving for me is enough, that I would not personally attempt it with the added pressures of "reverse" orientation.

Roundabouts may not be your friend, at first. A friend from the UK borrowed the car here, and after one day with roundabouts, gave it up . . . said he got into them just fine, but couldn't get out of them.

Someone recently posted that instead of renting a car, he hired a car and driver and the cost was about the same. You will want full insurance - way too easy to knock off a side mirror or sideswipe a stone wall. Added benefits - someone to chat with, no wasted time looking for parking or getting lost, enjoy the scenery while the driver watches the road.

Well thank all of you for your encouragement. But after reading too many times how important it is to have a good navigator, etc, I finally decided last night to wimp out. Just wouldn't be relaxed enough to enjoy myself. I've roamed solo around all over France, careened dangerously with all the other drivers in Sicily, and had a great time. It's just adding reverse driving to everything else like navigating solo seemed too much.
So -- not wanting to do what I did last time 18 yrs ago, which was to just kind of wander around on trains and buses, missing things as I went, I'm going to try a new thing for my 23 days there.
I'll be based at a friend's house near Dublin. I'll train or bus from Dublin to a city to use as a base for 2-3 nights, and find good tours outward from there (example--Dublin train to Galway then take good day tours to nearby sights --- Connemara,etc. , or Killarney tours to Dingle, ROK)
Finding out my trusty RS Ireland guide is really geared heavily to drivers, more than most RS guides.
Any recommendations about other guides more appropriate for my plan?
Also, opinions about which base cities would be best for which day-tour sites would help.
Thanks to all.

We used "Eyewitness Travel 2015 Ireland". Tons of great info from lodging to dining to activities as well as a section called "survival guide" which gives a lot of practical information.
I like your plan to use various cities as a base for activities. You might also consider finding private drivers for some of your activities....such as ROK or Slea Head.....you'll likely find numerous places where you'd like to stop and spend more time than a group tour would normally allow and your driver will know some "off the beaten path" sights to see and will share in-depth historical knowledge. Most of the hotels will have contact info for private drivers in the area. The best two days of our 12 day tour were the days we used a private driver. Ours charged 35 euro per hour so it's a bit more than the bus tours but darn well worth it.
Last thing......we only stayed two days in Killarney....wish we had stayed 3 or 4.

I know you decided not to drive, but I would suggest you reconsider. Driving solo (something I did a lot in Ireland) is really ok if you have the right attitude. I had a good map and would plot out my route noting the towns I would pass through and roads I would take. I've gotten lost, but I've also had a great time getting lost. I have driven around the roundabouts, many u-turns, drive around the blocks, etc and I have pulled over before to get my bearings.

Ireland is really a small country so anytime you get lost, you can find your way without a lot of trouble. Plus people are friendly and will point you in the right direction.

If you do reconsider, rent a compact car and don't be in a hurry. It is a little cliché, but it is about the journey, not the destination:)

If there are any particular routes you have questions on, feel free to ask or message me.

I'm with Stephanie on this one, Theresa. If you'very already survived driving in Sicily then Ireland will not be that difficult once you've gotten over the initial learning curve.
Driving in the countryside in Ireland is really delightful. The Irish drivers are some of the most considerate we've ever encountered, and getting lost occasionally is all part of the adventure. And you're right - you'll miss a lot by tying yourself to someone else's schedule.
In Ireland, more so than a lot of other places, it really is about the journey. Go for it.

Thanks all for your encouragement. I am still reconsidering because I really do like the freedom of driving.
It's not about getting lost-- I've had some my best times being lost --on foot or driving, and it is always a way to see the kindness of strangers.
When I said the part about being without a navigator, I'm just concerned about having to pay attention to where I'm going and how to get there while having to do the "keep left" mantra at the same time. Just sort of seems like a good way to crash. Thanks again-- this forum is wonderful.

We spent almost two weeks driving all around Ireland several years ago and are back for our second visit right now. I must say, the first day has been just as difficult as it was the first time, and that's with a driver AND a navigator. It isn't just driving on the left (though that does take a lot of getting used to), it's also the narrowness of the roads, especially in the south and west, as well as the fact that parking seems pretty random. Driving through a small town like Midleton can be scary, especially if it is raining hard, the car has no rear defroster and school is just letting out so parents are parked willynilly waiting for the kiddos (all of which happened to us). Of course some of that was just bad luck, but it can happen to anyone. I think it would be so much harder if you were by yourself with no one to watch out on the left or monitor the GPS readings. On the other hand, experience tells me that it does get easier once you survive the initial shock. Perhaps you could hire a driver for a day or two and pay really close attention to how he/she navigates--and ask for lots advice! Good luck!

Got to agree with PJ. And it's not only how narrow some of the secondary roads are.....it's the knowledge that there is frequently a rock wall hidden just behind those vines that border the very edge of the road. Also, on many of the "R" and "L" roads you'll have to keep your eyes glued to the road and miss out on viewing and appreciating the gorgeous Irish country side....and that would be a crying shame.....if you have the budget to it, you'd do very well to hire private drivers for as much of the trip as you can.

My husband and I just drove for nearly 2 weeks on every kind of road in Ireland from motorways to single-lane backcountry roads (when we were lost), and while neither of us had trouble with driving on the left or with manual transmissions, it would, I think, have been a lot harder were one doing it alone without another pair of eyes, another head, navigating.
That said, as long as you don't trust your GPS to be the ultimate authority (ours always screwed up when we got really close to our destination), a verbal and visual GPS along with reading road signs will get you through.

Drive. It's the proper way to experience the island. Signage is good and if you know where your final destination is for each day there shouldn't be a problem getting there. Would be helpful to understand kilometers though. Agree about using Google maps street view as well as having a good map. Do not rely solely on GPS. Roundabouts are a breeze once u get used to them. If you conquered Sicily driving in Ireland will be a breeze. Each night get out your map to plot the next days route and itinerary. Best advice is to discover and learn the names of towns, villages, etc between point A and point B. will help when you come to a crossroad to know which way to turn. Like anywhere in the world rural areas will have roads less traveled and you'll find traffic congestion in cities. If on a major hi way don't speed, go with the flow. If on a smaller back road stay on the left, drive at a slower pace, watch for sheep, lorries, and enjoy the surrounding beauty. Drove Eire solo in my 40's and again in my 60's. Don't be scared. Embrace the freedom having the rental car provides.

These are some great posts so I'll be brief. I have been there several times and we just spent 3 weeks driving every part of Ireland we could reach before time caught up with us. So:
1. Be ready to go slow and pull over if confused. You'll want to take back roads anyway and you'll therefore HAVE to go slow.
2. GPS, as someone said, is nice for the big picture but not to be trusted entirely. It does, however, provide distances to destinations which is useful.
3. Watch for sheep and rocks along the side; tire damaged is not covered, even if you have the most comprehensive insurance.
4. Your credit card will not provide collision damage coverage; worst part of driving in Ireland is the rates you'll have to pay.
5. Stop for music.
6. Stop again for music.
7. If you have thoughts of the Aran Islands or Skellig Michael, you can safely leave your car. Consider going to either or both wonderful destinations.
8. Don't rent until you are ready to leave a big city (e.g., Dublin). No need for a car in Dublin.
9. Yes, I think a car is pretty essential (hate to say that) for Ireland if you really want to explore that wonderful country. Too many winding roads, hidden treasures, small villages, excellent destinations tucked away to want to waste time searching for transportation. Lucky you! Enjoy!

Hi Theresa,

I drove A LOT in Ireland by myself...stick shift and all! You should be fine! I do highly recommend a GPS. When I lived in Ireland for a year, I bought a GPS there for 70 euros versus leasing it for 10 euro/day from the car rental agency. The GPS included navigation for Ireland and the UK. You can also use the GPS for other countries by purchasing an upgrade online. I just bought a cheap Garmin brand GPS and it came in VERY handy. In Ireland, especially when you're not on the highway, signs are missing or not obviously displayed. If you decide to buy one in Ireland, I recommend buying it at PC World (equivalent to Best Buy). The GPS will be like having a co-pilot with you!

You won't need a car in Dublin. If you do have a car in Dublin, be careful to adhere to parking restrictions. In the US, if your parking meter expires, worse comes worse you get a ticket on your dashboard. In Dublin, they put a boot on your wheel! You'll spend a few hours to half a day trying to sort that out and getting it removed.

I am feeling too nervous about driving in Ireland by myself also. I did it once before but had a friend to help! I would like to go from Dublin to Donegal Town but don't see any direct train. Has anyone done this? Susan