5 day car trip through Ireland

With only five days, I'd skip the over-touted southwest, head straight for Galway and start a clock-wise circle roughly along the coast to include Northern Ireland and then back to Dublin.

Thanks for your reply. So, you're thinking something like Dublin to Galway to Castlebar to Stigo to Derry to Belfast to Dundalk to Dublin? This is my first trip to Ireland, so I'm guessing here. Any other recommendations?

Something like that. Catch the Cliffs of Moher, the Burrens, the Giant's Causeway, and New Grange while you're at it.

The main advantage is that you miss the crowds, plus I think Donegal is more interesting. On the other hand, there isn't as much green.

I would not plan on staying in Sligo, it was the most depressing place we visited in 3 weeks in Ireland, other than that, your plan sounds good, but you will not have much time to sightsee as travel takes longer than you expect for the distances on narrow twisting roads, combined with the temptation of frequent viewing stops.

Roy: We did a week of mad dash driving around Ireland a few years back. Sorry we did, I think it would have been best to stay in one or two places and do day trips. I would recommend the Waterford Crystal plant tour, you get a chance to talk to the glass blowers and cutters. I was dragged in kicking and screaming but I think it was a highlight of my week in Ireland. There is also a neet little flying-boat museum in Foynes on the River Shannon, great tea biscuits with cream. We picked up a book at tourist info that had listings for b&bs. We never got a dud. Many were of new construction, purpose built. Don't forget to talk to the locals , they're the best part.

I would suggest that if you are flying out of Dublin as well, you stay in relatively close proximity to Dublin. You could head south through the Wicklow Mountains to Glendalough, see Kilkenny, maybe Blarney, and Rock of Cashel before heading back toward Dublin. I would also agree with seeing Newgrange. If July 26 is the day you arrive in Dublin, is that your day #1? And do you fly out on day #5 (four nights all together)? If so, it's not much time to get very far on Irish roads without spending all day in the car.

If you haven't booked your tickets yet, you might consider flying out of Shannon instead. Then you wouldn't have to backtrack for your flight out.

Correction: I just found out that the Waterford Crystal plant I went to is closed, workers let go. The new plant ,new owners has just 100 workers down from over 3000. I'm not a big labor guy, but a big craftsmanship guy, so I don"t think I'll be back. Sad

Hi Roy, with only five days of travel..I would advise concentrating on either either the east coast or west coast... or the much over-looked middle/non-coastal areas :)

Regarding the advice to go to the North, you might want to verify with your car rental place if they have any issues with that. I seem to recall several posts on here about rental agencies not honoring damage waivers if the car is driven in Northern Ireland and gets any damage.