Hi! I would like some help planning an itinerary for Ireland and Northern Ireland. It's just my husband and Iwe're in our early twenties. We have a flight readywe leave on Aug 11 from Boise and return home on the 21st. We arrive to and depart from Dublin. I have a lot of planning books but I think I overloaded myself! What can we do with 10 days? So far I think we want to go to Galway, then loop around the south and then back up to Belfast. Interests -Old things! -Museums -Pretty landscapes -Pubs
-Light hiking MUST we have a car? I've read that trains and buses are very efficient and sometimes faster than attempting to navigate on our own. I do not drive stick shift and my husband is rusty at best. My best friend lives (and is from) Dublin, and he will be guiding us around the area, and possibly up to Belfast as well. But we're on our own for the rest of the trip. It's dauntingit's our first alone trip! We'd like to make the best of it. Can you help us? :)
Posted by
OP
Boise, ID, US
2 posts
I forgot to mention that the one thing we must see in this trip is the Giant's Causeway, so seeing that is a must! :)
Posted by
Land of La
8645 posts
Ah to be 20 again and in Ireland. Yes, rent the car. You can get an automatic. Well worth it and it truly doesn't take a brain surgeon to figure out how to drive on the right side of the road. Easy to rent one at the Belfast airport. The island is best experienced this way. The car provides freedom. Time to choose your routes and stop when the spirit or the beauty of the area moves you. 10 days (actually 8 because of arrival and departure days) is more than enough time to enjoy Ireland and Northern Ireland. In actuality you can get from Galway to Dublin in 4.5 hours. Small island. Get yourself a copy of Rick's book on Ireland. Very practical information contained in those pages, along with helpful maps, etc. Pretty landscapes are just about everywhere, I mean it, everywhere. Book of Kells at Trinity College in Dublin was fascinating to me. A landscape of ancient beauty in it's own right. Same with Newgrange. Don't miss Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains. You can hike the Dingle way or the Gap of Dunloe which I'm doing in October. Loads of light hiking trails throughout the country. http://www.irishtrails.ie The new Titanic Museum in Belfast is something to consider seeing. Lovely people, lovely island. Get the car and explore.
Posted by
beaver, us
2 posts
you should try looking to the SW maybe 2 nights in Kinsale(take the walking tour from visitor information,one of the best things we did. then north to Killary for a night or two. From ther north to Cliff of Morh. Then take the Ferry across to Kilrush and up to Galway or west to Clifton(a jewell of a town great for traditional music)
Posted by
Bloomington, IL, USA
9363 posts
I believe Kev is referring to Killarney, and the Cliffs of Moher, and Clifden. Easier to find them on a map if you know how they are spelled. There is no ferry from Cliffs of Moher to Kilrush. Actually Kilrush and Galway are in opposite directions from the Cliffs.
Posted by
Denver, Colorado
12 posts
The National Museum in Dublin was absolutely fascinating, worth half a day. You'll be amazed what can be found preserved in a bog. ;) I was also surprised at the number of sites dating to Bronze age and before -- we made a point of seeing Newgrange, just north of Dublin, and also the passage tombs on the Dingle Peninsula. We rented a car, and even though we got turned around a couple times, it is pretty countryside, and getting lost was never that bad. (Driving in Dublin is a completely different matter -- avoid it.) If you plan to stay in B&Bs, ask the owner if they know about the local music/ pub scene. Several on our trip knew immediately who would or would not have music on, say, a Wednesday night. Also, the music started later than I expected -- music advertized to start at 9:00 pm might have the musicians arrive at 9:30 and start playing around 10pm. Our best evenings of music were in Dingle and on Innishmore (the largest of the Aran Islands).