After the Navy-Notre Dame game on Sept. 1 we will two and a half days and two nights before returning to Dublin to fly out on Wednesday. We have an apt. in Dublin for the whole time, but wondered if we should just rent a car and leave Dublin for a few days to explore and stay at a couple B&B's. What is the best? Head west to Galway and surroundings and find B&B's there, stay in Dublin and do day tours (might not be as much as renting a car), or head south to see...what? Remember, have to be back in Dublin Tuesday night. Thank you. C.
Posted by
Land of La
9221 posts
Who knew the Fighting Irish and the Mid Shipmen would be playing in Dublin this season? Nice! Ireland is a small island.
What are your interests? Nature? History? Day trips from Dublin are Belfast, Carlingford, Newgrange, Glendalough, Powerscourt. Personally, after seeing the Book of Kells at Trinity College, Kilmainham Gaol, O'Connell Street and the General Post Office I'd leave Dublin to explore Eire. Glendalough is lovely. Rock of Cashel, Dingle Pennisula, Lake Country. With good traffic flow the driving time between Shannon on the West Coast and Dublin is 4 hours. See, small island. Buy the RS Ireland book, review it and decide what it is that interests you. B &B's are plentiful. Just look for the brown signs.
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9371 posts
Since you already have an apartment in Dublin, I would just look at day trips from there instead of driving anywhere else. One of your full days could be used for a day trip to Belfast on the train. You can get half day tours to Newgrange and the Boyne River valley area, or to Glendalough, the Wicklow Mountains, and Powerscourt if you want to get out into the countryside. You say you are considering leaving Dublin "for a few days", but with really only two to work with I don't think you would be there long enough to justify the extra expense of a car (rentals shorter than a week can be very expensive) and additional housing expense on top of the apartment you have already paid for. Whatever you decide, you really can't go wrong!
Posted by
Downingtown, USA
2449 posts
Nancy is right, if you already have apartment, why go out and get a B&B? Also car rental will be expensive, just do day trips, there are plenty of them available. Not sure how far Cashel is but is worth if you can get there.
Posted by
wichita, kansas
484 posts
Since Ireland is a small island driving times can look deceptively short but with only 2 1/2 days I would stay in Dublin,you already have an apartment, and do day trips from there. Just do a search of tour companies: Bus Eireann, Irish Rail Tours, Paddy Wagon, Over the Top, there are many to chose from.