Confused about where to go in Ireland only 7 days

If everything you want to see is in the west, why not fly into and out of Shannon instead? If your flights are already set, you could go either way, depending on what you want to see. Check www.viamichelin.com to find approoximate driving times (add about 25%) and distances for the two options, and see what's along the way.

Or fly into Shannon and out of Dublin--or vice versa.

Please tell us if you're locked into flying in and out of Dublin. It will make a difference on what people recommend for your seven days.

Yes- we are locked into Dublin- direct flights from Chicago- wish it were otherwise but it isn't. I do think that Cliffs of Moher are too out of the way. If we come back to Dublin from Dingle where should we stop on the way? Thanks

Actually, the Cliffs of Moher are not out of the way if you are driving through Galway and down. You can take the coast road and then the ferry across the Shannon, which would save time from driving around through Limerick.

And there are direct flights from Chicago to Shannon, too - I've done it several times.

Thanks for the responses. Unfortunately for the days in early May when we needed to travel there were to direct flights from Ord to Shannon- so it wasn't a viable option. We may just start back, drive for a few hours and break around Portaloise and then continue on into Dublin for the day.

I'm going for a week and am with you on "must see" Dingle and Kenmare/Kilarney. On our trek west, we plan on hitting Powerscourt and Glendalough on our way out of Dublin, and stay the night in Kilkenny. The next morning we will do Rock of Cashel and then head to Kenmare.

CJ,

Driving to and back from the SW of Ireland from Dublin is a terribly inefficient way to spend your short vacation. There are plenty of great areas closer to Dublin. Why not save the SW for a trip when you can travel direct to the west coast, and perhaps for a longer stay?

Alternately, you could catch a flight from Dublin to Shannon. You could rent a car in Shannon, spend the week enjoying Dingle, Kenmare, Killarney, et al, and return it to Shannon for a flight back to Dublin.

CJ,

I don't think you should be too quick to leave Dublin - there is so much to see and do there! This is a fantastic website for all Dublin has to offer:

visitdublin.com

You can check out whatever interests you - castles, shows, museums, pubs, the Dublin Zoo, etc. Have fun!

CJ, I would suggest:

Day 1- Arrive, see & sleep Dublin
Day 2- Tour Dublin
Day 3- Drive glendalough to Kilkenny (sleep Kilkenny)
day 4- Drive to Rock of Cashel, then Killarney Sleep Killarney
Day 5- Drive Dingle- Sleep Dingle
Day 6- Cliffs of Moher, Sleep Galway
Day 7- Drive back to Dublin

If you don't want to see Dublin for more than your arrival day, I would suggest 2 nights in Dingle.

Have fun!

If you are arriving early in the morning from Chicago, you could very well pick up a rental at the airport and drive to the west. It won't be the most fun you've ever had because you'll be very tired, but it is doable.

We did that the most recent time we were in Ireland. We drove to Sligo on a Saturday morning. No traffic after clearing Dublin. We were in Sligo for an early lunch.

Dublin is interesting, but it is very expensive, and it's a hassle getting a rental car to head west from there.

Thanks everyone for all your input. We have finally decided (if the ash permits us to travel) that we will drive on the day of arrival to Kilkenny. Then onto Kenmare - any bed and breakfast suggestions for Kenmare?-- then to Dingle for 2 night and back through the midlands- stopping somewhere??? for a night and then into Dublin for our last day. So much to see and so little time.... saving some for our next trip to what sounds like an amazing country...