wow.. No replies?
I know Im a decent planner, but surely I dont have this down pat perfectly on only my 2nd trip to the emerald isle

Fantastic suggestions! This is exactly the type of things I was hoping to get. Thank you!

In addition to Bob's suggestions these might be of interest:

Gobbins Cliff walk
Stormont
Titanic Experience
Hillsborough Village, Castle & Fort
Ulster Folk & Transport Museum

I really like the Ards Peninsula but you will be bypassing it. One of Ireland's most beautiful gardens is there: Mount Stewart.

In Co. Donegal Glenveagh is well worth seeing. 

 

On a direct drive to Belfast, you're looking at 2+ hours.

Following:  https://goo.gl/maps/6i425CS5CUz   MY best guess would be about 4 hours -- PLUS time spent at each site, or 7-9 hours, total.  At Newgrange, the wait to begin a tour can sometimes be an hour or more, depending on the crowd numbers.    http://www.worldheritageireland.ie/bru-na-boinne/built-heritage/newgrange/

Personally, I would think that's a bit much for an arrival day -- particularly when you factor in time to actually TOUR those sites, but you should know how you will react to the over-night flight.

Some sights along the 'Direct' route to consider:  

http://www.discoverboynevalley.ie/boyne-valley-drive/heritage-sites/monasterboice

https://www.discoverireland.ie/Arts-Culture-Heritage/proleek-dolmen/49966

ok.. its not that far from Belfast, so perhaps we will hit Trim on the way ... then do Newgrange another day

We spent a week up north in September,mostly Donegal, Tyrone, Cavan. Here are some of our itinerary notes:

Maghery, 9 km west of Ardara (say ar-DRAH), tiny town with a picturesque waterfront. 1.5 km east of Maghery is the "enchanting" Assarancagh Waterfall.

Nancy's pub, Ardara - try their succulent crab claws and proper traditional Irish stew.

Hard to get to without wellies: Two very fine court-tombs stand close together in adjacent townlands, about 300 metres W of a road junction. Both have fine megalithic lintelled portals and two-chambered galleries. Stop in at TiLinn and ask Paddy how to get to:
Shalwy : Court Tomb
County Donegal Nearest Town Carrick (6.5 Km)

Croaghbeg : Court Tomb
Visible from Shalwy, walk over to it. Like Shalwy, this monument faces north, away from the sea and towards the valley head, so visits are probably best either late or early on a summer's day.

Glencolumcille Tower Loop - easy
54.70735, -8.72701
A 5.5 mile moderately trafficked loop trail near Glenties, with scenic views, good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and birding.
1. No obvious place to park but there is plenty of space to park in the village.
2. We found it difficult to get started as we didn't find waymarks and had to ask a local. Once we got started the markers were perfect.

The Gap Trail - easy and level 2.8km. 1 hr
Car park at the start of walk lies approximately 5km/ 6min up from Ardara towards Glenties on the N56.

Walking and cycling trail follows the old railway line for Bord na Mona turf extraction facility. Crosses Ownea River (and the Bluestack Waymarked Way), passes through forestry, ends at remote, but hauntingly beautiful, Lough McHugh.

Maghery, 9 km west of Ardara, tiny town with a picturesque waterfront. 1.5 km east of Maghery is the "enchanting" Assarancagh Waterfall.

Beltany Tops: 45min NW of Omagh.
From nearby town of Raphoe follow brown heritage signs to Beltany about 2 km outside of town.
Beltane Sunrise directly behind the triangular stone covered with cup marks.

St.Patrick's well near Castlederg. 40min from Omagh. Take a5 N, go west on B50, left on B72 at the T, down to Killeter, bear right onto Magherakeel Rd. Well on left.

In far SW of Co.Tyrone at Scrahy about 10km SW of Castlederg is Druid's Circle.

Drumskinny stone circle, Co.Fermanagh. There are many examples of stone circles in high bogland in N Fermanagh, S Derry and Tyrone, but this is one of the most charming and accessible. Measuring 13 metres in diameter, it originally had 39 upright stones up to 1.8 metres in height, with a probable gap to the NW where there is a small carefully-constructed cairn of stones contained within a kerb almost 4 metres in diameter. Stretching S from the cairn is a 15-metre-long alignment of 23 small stones.

Beaghmore stone circle is fantastic.

Cavan Burren Geopark is great. We went there but are planning to go back because too many things to see in a day.

In Dublin visit the We spent a week up north in September,mostly Donegal, Tyrone, Cavan. Here are some of our itinerary notes:

Maghery, 9 km west of Ardara (say ar-DRAH), tiny town with a picturesque waterfront. 1.5 km east of Maghery is the "enchanting" Assarancagh Waterfall.

Nancy's pub, Ardara - try their succulent crab claws and proper traditional Irish stew.

Hard to get to without wellies: Two very fine court-tombs stand close together in adjacent townlands, about 300 metres W of a road junction. Both have fine megalithic lintelled portals and two-chambered galleries. Stop in at TiLinn and ask Paddy how to get to:
Shalwy : Court Tomb
County Donegal Nearest Town Carrick (6.5 Km)

Croaghbeg : Court Tomb
Visible from Shalwy, walk over to it. Like Shalwy, this monument faces north, away from the sea and towards the valley head, so visits are probably best either late or early on a summer's day.

Glencolumcille Tower Loop - easy
54.70735, -8.72701
A 5.5 mile moderately trafficked loop trail near Glenties, with scenic views, good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and birding.
1. No obvious place to park but there is plenty of space to park in the village.
2. We found it difficult to get started as we didn't find waymarks and had to ask a local. Once we got started the markers were perfect.

The Gap Trail - easy and level 2.8km. 1 hr
Car park at the start of walk lies approximately 5km/ 6min up from Ardara towards Glenties on the N56.

Walking and cycling trail follows the old railway line for Bord na Mona turf extraction facility. Crosses Ownea River (and the Bluestack Waymarked Way), passes through forestry, ends at remote, but hauntingly beautiful, Lough McHugh.

Maghery, 9 km west of Ardara, tiny town with a picturesque waterfront. 1.5 km east of Maghery is the "enchanting" Assarancagh Waterfall.

Beltany Tops: 45min NW of Omagh.
From nearby town of Raphoe follow brown heritage signs to Beltany about 2 km outside of town.
Beltane Sunrise directly behind the triangular stone covered with cup marks.

St.Patrick's well near Castlederg. 40min from Omagh. Take a5 N, go west on B50, left on B72 at the T, down to Killeter, bear right onto Magherakeel Rd. Well on left.

In far SW of Co.Tyrone at Scrahy about 10km SW of Castlederg is Druid's Circle.

Drumskinny stone circle, Co.Fermanagh. There are many examples of stone circles in high bogland in N Fermanagh, S Derry and Tyrone, but this is one of the most charming and accessible. Measuring 13 metres in diameter, it originally had 39 upright stones up to 1.8 metres in height, with a probable gap to the NW where there is a small carefully-constructed cairn of stones contained within a kerb almost 4 metres in diameter. Stretching S from the cairn is a 15-metre-long alignment of 23 small stones.

Beaghmore stone circle is fantastic.

Cavan Burren geopark is great. We went there but are planning to go back because too many things to see in a day.





We spent a week up north in September,mostly Donegal, Tyrone, Cavan. Here are some of our itinerary notes:

Maghery, 9 km west of Ardara (say ar-DRAH), tiny town with a picturesque waterfront. 1.5 km east of Maghery is the "enchanting" Assarancagh Waterfall.

Nancy's pub, Ardara - try their succulent crab claws and proper traditional Irish stew.

Hard to get to without wellies: Two very fine court-tombs stand close together in adjacent townlands, about 300 metres W of a road junction. Both have fine megalithic lintelled portals and two-chambered galleries. Stop in at TiLinn and ask Paddy how to get to:
Shalwy : Court Tomb
County Donegal Nearest Town Carrick (6.5 Km)

Croaghbeg : Court Tomb
Visible from Shalwy, walk over to it. Like Shalwy, this monument faces north, away from the sea and towards the valley head, so visits are probably best either late or early on a summer's day.

Glencolumcille Tower Loop - easy
54.70735, -8.72701
A 5.5 mile moderately trafficked loop trail near Glenties, with scenic views, good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, nature trips, and birding.
1. No obvious place to park but there is plenty of space to park in the village.
2. We found it difficult to get started as we didn't find waymarks and had to ask a local. Once we got started the markers were perfect.

The Gap Trail - easy and level 2.8km. 1 hr
Car park at the start of walk lies approximately 5km/ 6min up from Ardara towards Glenties on the N56.

Walking and cycling trail follows the old railway line for Bord na Mona turf extraction facility. Crosses Ownea River (and the Bluestack Waymarked Way), passes through forestry, ends at remote, but hauntingly beautiful, Lough McHugh.

Maghery, 9 km west of Ardara, tiny town with a picturesque waterfront. 1.5 km east of Maghery is the "enchanting" Assarancagh Waterfall.

Beltany Tops: 45min NW of Omagh.
From nearby town of Raphoe follow brown heritage signs to Beltany about 2 km outside of town.
Beltane Sunrise directly behind the triangular stone covered with cup marks.

St.Patrick's well near Castlederg. 40min from Omagh. Take a5 N, go west on B50, left on B72 at the T, down to Killeter, bear right onto Magherakeel Rd. Well on left.

In far SW of Co.Tyrone at Scrahy about 10km SW of Castlederg is Druid's Circle.

Drumskinny stone circle, Co.Fermanagh. There are many examples of stone circles in high bogland in N Fermanagh, S Derry and Tyrone, but this is one of the most charming and accessible. Measuring 13 metres in diameter, it originally had 39 upright stones up to 1.8 metres in height, with a probable gap to the NW where there is a small carefully-constructed cairn of stones contained within a kerb almost 4 metres in diameter. Stretching S from the cairn is a 15-metre-long alignment of 23 small stones.

Beaghmore stone circle is fantastic.

Cavan Burren geopark is great. We went there but are planning to go back because too many things to see in a day.

In Dublin
National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology, lots of gold artifacts
Trinity College and the Book of Kells.

That is good news. Be sure to go into the tourist office in Belfast for brochures and lots of good info.

I don't have Facebook.. but thought some might want to see the photos I took of my recent work trip to Belfast.
drive.google.com/open

Good idea to play it by ear as far as your daily activities go. Then you can adjust as you go and take the weather into consideration also. I know you are counting down the weeks and days till your trip. Glad your lodgings are in place.

Hope you have a wonderful and safe trip. Would love to hear how it goes when you return. Bon voyage!