Spring 2020 Planning

mykajean · Newbie

Spring 2020 Planning

Michele Erdvig · Host

Welcome to this forum. It is still active, just much slower than years past as the big forums with big advertising bucks have sucked the life out of small "mom & pop" forums.

Tell us what you want to see and do and what your interests are in Ireland so we can make good suggestions. I realize driving is not for everyone but have you ever thought of choosing a couple of places to stay rather than the whole time in Dublin? Galway and Killarney would make good bases and are accessible by rail from Dublin.

Have you looked at https://railtoursireland.com ? It might give you some ideas. Get back to us and we will be happy to help you plan.

Geno · Guru

Since you have time to plan things more, I would echo strongly Michele's comments about finding places to stay other than Dublin. Having been to Ireland often during the last few decades, I can't imagine staying in Dublin for two weeks. It's a great city to experience, but not to come back and stay at the same place each night.

The best times I've had in Ireland is exploring areas and finding grand adventures not planned. I think you would ultimately have a better trip if you allowed yourself perhaps three bases. Would also tell you not to rule out driving, but even train travel would allow you to see other areas while staying there.

Don't be afraid to wander around ... it's a friendly place and folks on this site can help you each step of the way!

Itallian Chauffeur · Moderator

Some of the tours sites you've mentioned require 12 hours or more if you begin and end in Dublin. Even without renting a car, you CAN 'venture out' to other areas and see and enjoy the sites you wish.

Major locations like Belfast, Galway and Killarney are easily accessible from Dublin and offer a wealth of tour options from there. Cork and Limerick offer a few less choices, but all are still worth a night or two.

Dublin offers a great base for Wicklow, Newgrange and even, Kilkenny. Locations further afield deserve one or more nights

What draws you to Ireland? Is your main interest scenery, historic buildings, experiencing local culture?

bdokeefe · Veteran Member

Don't limit yourself to Dublin just because you don't want to drive! Easy public transportation to Cork, Galway, Belfast, Killarney...any of those places would be good for a few nights as a base camp, and you can easily take day tours from them.

While in Dublin, look into taking a Wicklow day tour. Beautiful mountains, Glendalough Monastery, and several gardens make this a nice trip.

ThAs our host Michele stated, this forum is not dead! And you will get amazing advice from folks who do reply, as they all love Ireland and helping people. I look through Tripadvisor and Fodors, but this little spot is THE place for Ireland advice, IMHO. Tons of specific info if you search through old threads.

Enjoy your trip, try not to over-stress on tiny details, and be flexible in your plans with regards to weather and circumstance.

chaika · Veteran Member

In Dublin see the National Museum. Also Whitefriar Street Church in Dublin, where St.Valentine's relics are. Find out when evensong is at St.Patrick's. Take a pub crawl to hear some music. I've never spent more than a couple days in Dublin. In fact, one of the trips we stayed at a b&b in Howth and would take the train into town.

Surprised nobody mentioned Newgrange. It's a day trip out of Dublin. Nice visitor center. Sign up to see both Newgrange and Knowth stone age passage tombs.

Another would be down to Kildare, where you can see St. Brigid's Cathedral and Round Tower, the Solas Bhride retreat center (maybe pray with the nuns and watch the crows come home to roost nearby), two holy wells dedicated to St.Brigid, one of them stunning. You'll have to walk half a mile to the center and the wells. Tourist Info center in town center.

Daytrip to Ring of Kerry. Maybe spring for a two-day tour to the ROK and Dingle town to take in the pub music at night.

It's really limiting yourself to not rent a car. I haven't taken a bus trip yet, but the freedom of your own transportation and timeline is way better than being stuck with a bus. My wife and I have gone to Ireland 8 times and have always driven ourselves. I'll keep doing that as long as I can.

-- Edited by chaika on Friday 13th of September 2019 07:46:01 PM

Roy · Guru

We did a Dublin based trip with no car for two weeks once. We stayed at my sister in-laws house, which was empty at the time. We utilized public transportation including the Dart train, to visit Howth, as well as the Bray to Greystones cliff walk. We took a bus to Glendalough for an overnight trip, as well as the train to Longford to stay with family.