We are planning a trip to visit Ireland for the first time. We plan to land in Dublin spend at least 8 days there and taking the walk around tour and at least two other tours from Dublin. We will be 81 and 77, we do NOT rent cars. We have looked at the Newgrange tour and the Wicklow tour. Are there others places we positively should see?
We will travel to Galway and spend at least 5 days there. We plan to take two tours from there also. One includes the Cliffs of Moher and other sights along the way (it is a full day tour, 10 hours), then another full day trip to the Connemara area. does this sound like a good plan?
We will travel to Cork, we have friends there, and spend about 5 days there seeing the sights south of there with them.
We will fly from there to Glasgow, Scotland, and we will ask advise on here about what we plan to do there. We will meet our granddaughter in Edinburgh.
We are somewhat flexible on how long we stay places, but we prefer to stay at least 5 days to keep traveling down to a minimum.
Posted by
3122 posts
This sounds like a lovely plan. Personally I wouldn't devote 8 days to Dublin, but it is a big city so there is a lot to see and do. Have you examined a good Ireland guidebook to identify the places and experiences that especially interest you? Frankly I find that Ireland gets a lot of hype -- more than some other countries -- urging that "you MUST see this!" and "no trip to Ireland is complete without this!" and "be sure not to miss this!" If you spend some time reading the threads on this Ireland forum, you may get more of a sense of places that people really enjoyed and why.
Posted by
Florida, USA
12172 posts
I've taken the Newgrange tour with BusEire. It was good value and a nicely paced day with a lot to see. Not just a stop at Newgrange but at Hill of Tara as well as interesting commentary from the bus driver. It's how I know in Dublin, "A tird of da popoolation live nord of da river". I plan on visiting again to see the other passage tomb option at Newgrange. I'd recommend it. They run a similar tour to Glendalough. I'd suggest taking that as well.
Posted by
OP
Dallas, TX, usa
323 posts
Thank you Brad, that is the type of response we were hoping to get. Mainly about the tours. We usually stay away from tours, but it looks like in Ireland you take a tour or you rent a car. This will be our 8th trip to take across the Atlantic that we have done all on our own with the help of RS's books and some of Lonely Planet, and we have never rented a car. Ireland is sooooo different when it comes to getting around.
Posted by
Land of La
8710 posts
Definitely take the tours to Newgrange and Glendalough and Wicklow Mountains. Imagine the latter includes a visit to Powerscourt.
It’s true seeing Eire is best done by car but you are choosing to use public transport. It can be done, just takes time and patience.
Have to agree that 8 days in Dublin is a bit longer than needed. Please consider taking the 2 hour bus or train ride to Belfast and spending 3-4 days there as well. From there take a tour to the fascinating Giants Causeway. In Belfast there is the well done Titanic Museum, City Hall, Black Cab tour of the Troubles and a stellar tour of the historic Crumlin Road Gaol. I’d like to think the Botanic Gardens would be in bloom as well but with global warming who knows. Nearby is the Ulster Museum. Both are about a half hour -45 minute walk from the Premiere Inn that’s on Waring Street. I’d also not miss meandearing about St Georges market. Nor would I miss the seafood chowder at Mournes next to Kelly Cellars Pub.
Just remember Euros in Ireland, Pounds in Northern Ireland. Plenty of bank ATMS to withdraw funds from.
Belfast has 3 Premiere Inns to choose from. Good locales. All safe, comfortable and well priced accommodations.
Do hope your friends in Cork will be able to arrange transport to the West Coast. See if you can figure out a bus route to Dingle or Portamghee and spend at least 2 nights in either.
Pack light and Happy travels.
Posted by
29 posts
I agree with going to Dingle for at least 2 or 3 days and cut the days in Dublin.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15598 posts
It sounds like you have lots of time and like to travel at an easy pace. I think Dublin can fill 8 days especially if you add day trips. There are two theatres, gardens, cathedrals, pubs with live music of all genres, and great museums. One overlooked is the Leprechaun Museum. I had an excellent guide and learned a lot about Irish folklore and history in a light-hearted, enjoyable way. Dublinia is a hands-on museum about the Vikings. The National Archaeology Museum is a wow, and free to boot. You should also consider going to Belfast/Derry for a few days. You could even visit Belfast on a day trip by train.
Posted by
OP
Dallas, TX, usa
323 posts
Had not been on this web site in a while. Thanks for the replies. We traveled last March and stayed in fewer places for longer times,and that worked well for us. Packing and traveling in foreign places is becoming more and more stressful for us as we get older. We went to France in 2016 and stayed a month in Paris (in an apt.) from there we went to seven places in the last month, we decided then, that from then on to stay put longer and to just enjoy where we are and maybe take short trips from fewer bases. Thanks again for the replies.