Tour cancelled - need ideas for this week Dublin daytrip

If you haven't been to Glendalough, maybe you could find a tour that goes there. The one we took also went to Kilkenny.

The Cliff Walk in Howth? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNtvsxil2Mc&t=1760s
Athlone is about 90 minutes on the train. Castle, old pub, etc. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S31c8P8r2Tw
Here is a link to Experiences on AirBnB. You can plug in your date to see what's available. https://www.airbnb.com/s/Dublin--Leinster--Ireland/experiences?place_id=ChIJL6wn6oAOZ0gRoHExl6nHAAo&refinement_paths%5B%5D=%2Fexperiences&location_bb=QlWzasDBZ9JCVOTLwM5Ryw%3D%3D&acp_id=202e1de9-86ac-43e8-9e7c-e8de0c090a30&date_picker_type=calendar&source=structured_search_input_header&search_type=autocomplete_click

If you’re up for an expedition, why not Galway?
It’s 2:22 from Dublin Heuston station.

Assuming you mean the Cliffs of Moher you could leave Dublin Heuston at 0700, arrive Ennis at 0959 with 2 changes, then bus #350 at 1030, arrive 1121,

(the times work better than via Galway).

leave at 1212 or 1517 back to Ennis, or 1321 or 1521 to Galway for train or bus back to Dublin City.

Either Belfast or Kilkenny are quick train rides, and have enough things to do to fill a day. Athlone is also a nice little town, and the castle is interesting. You might even splurge for a cab to Clonmacnoise from there though I’m not sure how much it would cost.

Lean into it and relax. Catch the Dart to the coast. Visit Malahide Castle, grab lunch on the pier in Howth, have a dip in the Irish Sea at the 40 foot…

I would personally choose Glendalough (even better with a visit to Powerscourt), Howth, or Bru Na Boinne. However, I'm not sure how you get to Glendalough without renting a car or joining a tour. For Howth you can easily get there on local public transport and for Bru Na Boinne you can get a train to Drogheda and then a taxi to the site.

For Glendalough you take the St Kevin's bus daily from Dublin at 1100, arrive 1220, return at 1630 (1740 at the weekend).
It's a normal scheduled bus.
23 Euro return, pay on the bus
Bru na Boinne there is a much improved bus service from Drogheda station.

Unfortunately, Bru na Boinne ( Newgrange) admissions are sold out for this week.

Thank you everyone for your quick replies and assistance! Your ideas helped to narrow it down - we are going to do Kilkenny! Can’t wait - thanks again for all of the ideas!! :)

Glad you are going to Kilkenny— a fine town to visit.
I just wish it was named something other than Kilkenny.

-Kenny

Did they give an explanation why Paddywagon cancelled your tour? I have a tour booked with them, and wonder if cancelling tours is typical for them?

They just said they were cancelling the small group tours with Elegant Irish Tours (a subsidiary), so we booked with Kennedy & Carr…..turns out they too are a subsidy of Paddywagon and that one was cancelled (1 was cancelled 3 days prior, the other we booked right away and by the next morning it was cancelled). We opted for a different option on a large bus - not really what we wanted but we thought it was worth a try. Not sure if this is typical for them or this is a special circumstance?

I know you have decided to visit Kilkenny. Was there on the RS tour a couple of weeks ago and enjoyed the town. Kilkenny Castle is worth a visit, I suppose.

However I wanted to add a comment on the Bru na Boinne tour. You don't have to go through the Mary Gibbons Newgrangetours company ; you can book a visit on the Bru na Boine website directly and then take a train (timetables and fares on www.irishrail.ie) or bus to Drogheda, then taxi to the visitors center. Easy to do in one day from Dublin. I did that a couple of weeks ago. The latest RS guidebook gives details on how to get there on your own.