Hi, We just returned from Ireland last week. We also arrived in Dublin at 8:00 am and stayed for 2 nights in the city. We took the Airport Bus to our hotel, left our luggage at the hotel for the day, and toured Dublin. We took the Hop-on-Hop-off bus and had lunch while we were waiting for our room. We stayed at Buswells, a hotel I would highly recommend. The airport bus drops you off right across the street from Buswells. The stop for the airport pick-up is only a block away. We returned to the airport by bus 2 days later and picked up our car at Dan Dooley's. It was very easy and convenient. Good luck with your planning and enjoy your trip!

We have always stayed at College House B&B in Drumcondra (http://www.bnb-network.com/bed-breakfast/dublin/drumcondra/college-house.html). Lourda and Patrick are wonderful people.

We have stayed at both the beginning and end of our trips, and never with a car. When Dublin is the start of our trip, we take the city bus from the airport to their place (across from St. Patrick's College, so the bus driver can easily tell you when the stop is coming up), and then take either the bus of a taxi back to the airport when we are ready to move on and pick up our car. When Dublin is our las stop (such as last week) we drop off the car at the airport, and then again, take the city bus to Drumcondra.

The city bus stop is just two doors away, and 9 different busses stop there and go into city center. They are 5 minutes from city center and 15 minutes from the airport. They are very good avout letting you drop off your bags in the morning and then head into town to sight wee. We have always been able to freshen up in our room before heading out, and they are happy to provide you with coffee or tea when you get there.