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Leaving 4/23 for Ireland - Opinions Please

My husband and I are leaving Thursday (4/23) morning for Ireland. We land in Dublin around 9:30 the morning of 4/24 and we will pick up our rental car and leave Dublin. We have one week, leaving the morning of 5/1.

We will be spending night #1 in Kilkenny, then head to Dingle the next day for nights #2 & #3. I thought we could stop at the Rock of Cashel on our way to Dingle. After our two nights in Dingle we have a night (#4)we don't have anything booked. I figured we could either stay a third night in Dingle, or go to either Kinsale or Doolin. While I was mapping things out I saw that to go from Kinsale to Dublin (where we will spend our last three nights before flying home) we pass through Cashel.

So - if we go straight from Kilkenny to Dingle we will have more time in Dingle that day. We could then stop in Cashel on the way back from Kinsale. Of course then we would miss Doolin and the Cliffs of Moher.

What would you do? I would love your suggestions. This is our first trip to Ireland. Thanks!

Posted by
9363 posts

If it were my choice, I'd skip Kinsale in favor of the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, and Doolin. Stop in Cashel on your way to Dingle. You'll only be at the Rock for an hour or so, and you have plenty of time for Dingle over the next couple of days.

Posted by
10177 posts

Nancy, Thanks for replying so quickly. I am leaning towards heading north from Dingle, but I was wanting opinions of others who have been there. Also, when reading my contract for the car rental it said something about not taking the car on a ferry. I guess I will have to ask about that when we pick the car up. It would certainly add time and miles if we can't take the ferry.

Posted by
9363 posts

No idea what company you are renting from, but I have taken rental cars from both Dan Dooley and Irish Car Rental on that ferry with no problem. I probably wouldn't even ask the question.

Posted by
10177 posts

I rented through AutoEurope, but I think the car is actually from Budget.

Posted by
2700 posts

I agree with Nancy's advice. I can't imagine why you couldn't go on the ferry. Perhaps the car rental company doesn't want you taking ferries to other countries, but this one is just a short jaunt across a river. It will save you a lot of time.

Have a great trip!