7 Day Fly & Drive 1st Time in Ireland

Mary,

You don't have to spend the first or last night that close to the airport, but I wouldn't try to drive all the way to Dingle your first day, nor would I try to drive all the way back from Dingle on the last.

I'd suggest picking a spot on the way to Dingle to stop for the night. One great option is Cashel, where you can tour the Rock of Cashel. It's a magnificent site if you're into medieval Irish history or churhces or old ruins. Kilkenny is another possible option.

Of course, if it's at all possible, then flying into and out of Shannon would make the most sense. As long as the cost wasn't exorbitant, I'd even consider paying a change fee to fly there.

Thank you Michael. Yes, flying into Shannon would have been preferable but this is a package that was given us and after researching, found we want to see Dingle more than anything. Why do you think we don't need to be near the airport at least the last night?

Probably because your flight will leave in the afternoon. On our last night before flying out of Dublin, we stayed in Newtownmountkennedy, south of Dublin. We drove in at about 8:00 a.m., took the hop-on, hop-off bus tour, did a little shopping, dropped off our rental car, and still made it in plenty of time. Of course, if your outgoing flight is in the morning, you might want to stay somewhere like Navan the night before.

I agree with Michael

Kilkenny is centrally located and a really nice town. Best shopping we could find, close to Cashel.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. We were thinking of stopping on the way to Dingle and on the way back, just didn't know where yet. RS suggests Cashel and Kilkenny as well.

Is Howth a good place to stay if you have an early flight?