things to see and do pre and post ireland tour

Hi Valerie,

You are going to love this tour. Some suggestions for Dublin - Jeanie Johnston Famine Ship, EPIC Museum, Mary Gibbon’s Newgrange Tour, Bewley’s Oriental Cafe for lunch, the archeological museum, walk around Merrion Square to see some of the famous doors of Dublin, walk along the Liffey and see the General Post Office and Hay-penny Bridge, Chester Beatty Library. We left Belfast directly after the tour so no suggestions for that one. When you are in Dingle, I would recommend going to the Great Blasket Island. Of course, that is weather dependent.

I absolutely second the recommendation for the Jeanie Johnston in Dublin. It doesn't get much attention on here, but it was an incredibly eye opening and moving experience and I can't overstate the impact it had on us.

Thank you for your detailed response.

Do I need to make reservations for the tours that you recommended ? And are they easily accessible with public transportation?

I had a few days in Dublin before this tour last May. My best choices were the National Archeological Museum, Mary Gibbons' Newgrange Tour (all day, need to book ahead), Christ Church Cathedral, evensong at St. Patrick's Cathedral, and the General Post Office. I also liked the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin Castle interior, Customs House, National Gallery, and the Literary Pub Crawl, but I'd put those in a second tier. I took the walks from the RS app and spent some time exploring St. Stephen's Green. Across from the Green on the south side I liked the Newman church, went back for more a few days later but it was closed. I regret not having signed up for a student-led tour of Trinity College. While the RS walk and the tour both went there (the tour for the Book of Kells), neither provided much depth. I skipped the Guinness and Jameson attractions but you might have more interest. (Drank both, just not where they're made.)

In Belfast I went into City Hall during some of the free time on the tour, and to the Belfast Museum the morning the tour ended, before my afternoon bus to DUB. The museum was about a 20-minute walk south of the Europa Hotel, and well worthwhile. Another day in Belfast would not have been a mistake.

“Do I need to make reservations for the tours that you recommended ? And are they easily accessible with public transportation?”

The Mary Gibbons Newgrange tour will require a reservation. Book this well in advance. We stayed at Buswell’s Hotel in Dublin which is well located and we walked to the sights that I listed. For the boat trip out to Great Blasket Island from Dingle, I would suggest checking the weather a few days ahead and then booking it online if the weather looks amenable. The walk to the boat from the RS tour hotels was about 10 minutes.

Thank you Dick and Mary.
You both gave me lots of good information and suggestions regarding tours and sights to see .
I very much appreciate all the good advice from everyone.
Valerie

The Ulster Folk Museum at Cultra (about 8 miles NE of Belfast) would make a wonderful day out and is easily reached by either bus or train from Belfast. The site is divided into Town area and countryside with reconstructions of old buildings - farms, houses, shops etc. It is a wonderful insight into a way of life now long gone... There is also a transport section in a separate building with examples of old cars, buses, trains etc.