fennelkevin, I'm not Michele, but I am wrestling with similar questions and have a head stuffed with info, so forgive me if some of it dribbles out here. You will want to double-check on everything I tell you since I am planning our first trip to Ireland.

Anyway I did read that the DART goes to Malahide and Howth, but Michele can tell you how close it gets to her B&Bs.

I have given a lot of thought to whether it's better to stay in the heart of dublin or in the northern or southern suburbs. If you stay in Dublin city centre, you will be able to arrive at sites which draw crowds earlier. For example people line up in the summer to see the Book of Kells. I was wanting to be first in line by staying in a B&B near Trinity college in Dublin. Also there are tons of good restaurants in Dublin, every kind of food you can imagine, including Italian, Asian, etc. Then we were going to get a taxi back to the airport area, after a couple nights in Dublin, and get our rental car to move on.

But now Dublin is at the end of our trip instead of at the beginning. So staying in Malahide, near the airport, and taking the DART into Dublin for the day might be best for us. Plus if we stay in Malahide, with our car, we can drive to Newgrange and Trim Castle, nearby, for day-trips, without having to struggle through Dublin traffic.

Anyway I'm sure Michele will guide you, she has been a terrific help for me, and I have been pestering her quite a lot! Thanks, Michele!