1 week trip in ireland

I love Ireland! My personal opinion was that Cashel, while interesting and worthwhile with a car, would not have been worth it with a train/ taxi combo. Also, personally, I think that you may add another day trip to Dublin. May I suggest: Day 1- Arrive Dublin, train to Galway Day 2- Galway Day 3- Inismore Day 4- Dublin Day 5- Day trip to Kilkenny (only 1.5 hours by rail) or to Belfast. Day 6- Glendalough or Newgrange (personally, I would do Glendalough) Day 7- Dublin Day 8- Go home This way you are not moving around too much nor spending a lot on train or bus fares. PM me for more info if you want. I love Ireland and would enjoy helping out.

I'm not really sure how Mike's itinerary is "not moving around too much", since it only replaces Cashel with Kilkenny, and you're still staying in a different place every night. Personally, I wouldn't pass up the Rock of Cashel, especially in favor of Kilkenny (which I didn't care for). And whether you choose Glendalough or Newgrange kind of depends on your interests. Newgrange is a paleolithic tomb. Knowth, which is a similar site nearby, is reached from the same visitor center (but it's closed in the winter). There is a nice little museum, too. I loved Newgrange, but I'm particularly interested in that era. Glendalough dates from later, and is an early Christian monastic settlement. There are also trails which lead to beautiful lakes nearby. It's an interesting and beautiful place, also with a nice museum. Either one is a good day trip from Dublin.

i thought kilkenny was almost the highlight of three weeks in ireland. it is beautiful, small, great food and awesome nightlife. the people are amazing, i ran into many dubliners spending the weekend. as a young person you will love galway and would also enjoy kilkenny. the sites aren't amazing, but in total only dingle was more enjoyable. incredible inland city.

There is a bus directly from the Dublin Airport to Galway. That will be much quicker and cheaper than taking the bus to Dublin and getting on a train. From my limited perspective, you would have a top tier trip landing in Dublin and taking the bus to Galway. Spend one night in Galway and then spend a night on Ishmore. The next night you'd have to spend in Galway or head directly back to Dublin arriving late. Back in Dublin you can easily spend two or three days doing the sites inside the city. Newgrange and Knowth are availble via one day bus tours from Dublin. Glendalough and Powerscourt can also be done by a day trip from Dublin. Dingle and Cashel would be great but without a car it is almost impossible. Trying to do either in a one week trip is definitely not worth trying. I do consider both top tier places to go but not accessible without a rental car in a one week trip using public transportation. Kilkenny is worth half a day of touring but not much more. The night life in Dublin is far more exciting. If you're looking for nightlife, stay near the Temple Bar area. If I was 23 when I went, I might not have left. If you're not into nightlife, there are great B&Bs on the fringe of inner Dublin proper at decent rates. Buses in Dublin are efficient and can easily transport you all around the city for very little money.

I did not make my statement very clear. The only two places on my itinerary you would be staying are Galway and Dublin. The other stops are day trips not more than 1.5 hours from the cities.

I also spent a week in Ireland and I honestly thought that Dublin was the biggest waste of time! Unless you are really into the nightlife, no more than a day is really needed there. Consider other places in Ireland such as Killarny, Cork or Waterford...and definitely consider a tour through Dingle penninsula, absolutely AMAZING!

I know nothing about this company but www.collinsdaytours.com does a trip that includes Wicklow,Glendalough and Kilkenny and has you back in Dublin by 6:00 P.M. As for Dublin, if you have any interest in art,literature,Irish history or live theater(Abbey,Gate, Gaiety and several others,) you can spend days there. At your age you might enjoy Temple Bar but in all honesty it is full of bars selling overpriced drinks, and if late enough at night, obnoxious drunks.

I think Ken's itinerary makes the most sense. But, if I were 23, I might prefer to see Inishmore as a day trip and have an extra evening in Galway. Four nights in Dublin gives you plenty of time to see the city and for day trips to Newgrange, Glendalough and you can even take the fast train to Belfast for the day.

Thank you all so much for the suggestions! I decided to cut out Cashel because it is too difficult to get to without a car. I'll be back another time when I'm older and will go then :) I also decided to add one extra day to my trip... Revised: Day 1: Galway Day 2: Cliffs of Moher tour Day 3: Inishmore Day 4: Connemara tour - go to Dublin Day 5: Dublin Day 6: Kilkenny Day 7: Glendalough Day 8: Dublin Day 9: Go home. I'm planning on getting to Glendalough via St. Kevin's bus service from Dublin. The website isn't very helpful, but it's the only way I can see to get there without taking a tour. Has anyone ever taken that way to go to Glendalough? Thanks again everyone!