getting around Ireland

You'll have no trouble finding bus or train excursions from Dublin to Northern Ireland's Antrim coast & the Giants Causeway. Just Google "coach tour dublin to antrim coast" and you'll find many choices. These are typically day tours. Clifden is easily accessible from Dublin. You'd take a bus or train from Dublin to Galway, then a bus from Galway to Clifden.

You can get around Ireland without a car but you'll spend more time traveling and there will be some places next to impossible to get to. Concern about driving on the left side of the road is a very common subject here. It sounds a lot worse than it is. The one suggestion I have is to make sure you get an automatic if you're not a regular driver of a stick shift. When I drive on the left, my wife's job is to keep reminding me to stay on the left side and to always look both ways.

Thank you, Tom. My hope is to get up to Giant's Causeway, take a long hike there, then move on to some of the other sights, and then to continue on across the north and down the west. I'm beginning to think I will have to hire a car; do you know if there are local taxis? Thanks, M

Maureen, if you go to www.discoverireland.com. It will give you websites of busses and trains. Also train day tours to Giants causeway. I will look for the name of the tour company we used to go on a day bus trip there. was great. www.paddywagontours.com does various trips. We did not use them, so can not give advise to the quality. Also if you google Dublin day tours it will give you tour companies. Hope this gives you a starting point.

Driving takes a bit to get used to, but because you are in the other seat driving I think it is easier to remember to drive on the other side of the road. Not too much traffic in the rural parts of Ireland, so that makes it easier. Definitely an automatic is easier. I drive a stick at home and would not want one more thing to worry about while driving on the left.

Have you considered staying in Belfast for a night or two? There is public transport along the Antrim Coast, the Causeway and Bushmills / Dunluce / Portrush that is easy to use, as well as a number of day trip companies. Day trip companies often include Derry as well, which is a fascinating place. Or, you could easily take public transport to Derry for a day trip on your own. The train and bus between Belfast and Dublin both run frequently and lots of good advance fares are available. The train is a little more enjoyable, in my experience - you get off the roads and travel through the countryside. You could then head back to Dublin easily, and catch a train or bus over to Clifden. Public transport is easy in Ireland, and I find it convenient. There is no parking to find (expensive in the cities), train and bus stations are conveniently located, you meet lots of great locals with good advice who know the craic, and you can enjoy a pint of Guiness on the way (can't do that while driving!). Enjoy Ireland!

Have you considered staying in Belfast for a night or two? There is public transport along the Antrim Coast, the Causeway and Bushmills / Dunluce / Portrush that is easy to use, as well as a number of day trip companies. Day trip companies often include Derry as well, which is a fascinating place. Or, you could easily take public transport to Derry for a day trip on your own. The train and bus between Belfast and Dublin both run frequently and lots of good advance fares are available. The train is a little more enjoyable, in my experience - you get off the roads and travel through the countryside. You could then head back to Dublin easily, and catch a train or bus over to Clifden. Public transport is easy in Ireland, and I find it convenient. There is no parking to find (expensive in the cities), train and bus stations are conveniently located, you meet lots of great locals with good advice who know the craic, and you can enjoy a pint of Guiness on the way (can't do that while driving!). Enjoy Ireland!

Shelby's idea of staying in Belfast is a good one, also taking the train from Dublin to Belfast. Here is another idea but it may use up more time than you care to spend.-going from Belfast to Clifden is going to take most of a day regardless of how you go- Take a day tour out of Belfast to the Antrim coast, the next day take the train from Belfast to Derry. Michael Palin says it is one of the top ten train trips in Europe. I am not sure it is that good but parts of it are certainly scenic. Spend a day in Derry and then take the bus to Clifden,which is about 7 hours, or split it up and go to Sligo or Galway and then on to Clifden the next day. Just an idea but you will see a part of Ireland that most Americans miss.

This shouldn't really be a problem for you Maureen (great Irish name), you can get the train to Belfast, takes about 2 hours, and bus it from there to the Giants Causeway, bus back to Belfast for an overnight. Belfast to Dublin the following morning, arrive in Connolly Station, get the Luas (light rail) to Heuston Station, train to Galway (2.5 hours) and bus from there to Clifden. As has been said it will take you most of the day to get from Belfast to Clifden but shure it's all part of the holiday.
http://www.cie.ie/home/ I'm assuming that you will be basing the rest of your holiday with your friend in Clifden so you shouldn't need a car. While there is an understandable concern on the site about driving in Ireland, I wouldn't worry about it too much, just get an automatic (most cars in Ireland are still manual - I would hate having to drive an automatic, no fun) if you are used to driving an automatic back home and you'll be grand. Enjoy your visit!

I'm just going to say it, rent the car. It is not that difficult to drive on the other side of the road. Really it isn't. Highways are nice and well maintained. Know in advance the rural roads are small, and there will be sheep, cattle, lorries and tractors. Be certain to get the maximum CDW, an automatic, remember which side the gas (petrol) tank is on, don't speed and simply stay focused. For me having a car is freedom. Giants Causeway is utterly amazing. A wonder of nature. Enjoy your visit. Lovely people, gorgeous country!

I drove around in Ireland a few years ago, and it wasn't too bad. It is well worth it to pay for an automatic! The roads are very narrow through some of the towns, which is kind of scary. There were few traffic lights except in the large cities, so get used to driving in roundabouts. (On that note, make sure to get in the correct lane going into the roundabout if you need to make a turn...I unfortunately cut off a few drivers by forgetting to get in the far left lane!) I found that my credit cards did not cover CDW in Ireland and we had to pay for it through the rental agency, so be sure to check into that. It is bizarre to get in on the right side of the car to drive. :)