mindyjw

Hello,
I am planning to spend a week in Ireland for the new year. My plan is to spend the entire time based in Dublin and take several day tours from there. I thought this would be less complicated given the holiday and the fact that I have no desire to drive. I have 7 days total. So far I've identified 3 day tours and would like your opinions on them or suggestions for others that I should try. Thanks for the help!

My itinerary
2 days in Dublin exploring
Day trip to north of Dublin including hill of Tara, slane castle, loughcrew, and monisterboice. The tour is operated by extreme Ireland.
Open day in Dublin
Day trip to cliffs of moher with Limerick and doolin, also operated by extreme Ireland.
Day trip to Glendalough and Kilkenny, operated by Collins tours
Open day in Dublin, leave at 8pm

flpab

http://www.visitdublin.com/ I think that is a smart plan. I love Dublin and could easily find enough things to do. You could always look for shows in town that week also. Great museums, parks, history, food and drink, hope you have lovely weather. Where are you staying? We also like going to Howth, north of Dublin. Great walks and seafood. Just hop on the train and go, no tour needed.

mindyjw

I'm actually staying in two different hotels. Over new year I'm staying at the bridge House in the temple bar area, then moving to the Mont clare o' Callaghan near Trinity college in Merrion square. Wanted to get 2 perspectives on the city.

mindyjw

Thanks much for your suggestions. I will definitely look into them!

Tony2phones

"Day trip to cliffs of moher with Limerick and doolin, also operated by extreme Ireland"

Madness.. These trips only operate because the motorways have opened, so 90% of your time will be on the bus.. Then Moher.. I live 50 miles away and don't set off for the Clare coast unless I know the weather, especially in winter..Think the Cliffs might be closed today with gale force winds and rain coming straight of the Atlantic but a £ to a pinch of **** the tours will still be setting out from Dublin as I type.

flpab

mindyjw, check your weather before taking the tour to the cliffs for that day. The tourist office can offer alternate tours for you if you want to see other places if the weather is crappy. Howth has beautiful views. I don't think you prepaid so you will be ok.

littlejane

Hi Mindyjw - I would also scrap the cliffs of moher tour - way too far from Dublin for a day trip IMO. The other 2 daytrips sound do-able, but if it was me, I would split the Glendalough/Kilkenny day trip into 2 separate trips, maybe so that you would have:

1. Powerscourt/Glendalough on 1 day
2. Kilkenny and surroundings (jerpoint abbey) another day

What are your plans for New Years Eve?

mindyjw

Thanks so much for the feedback everyone! My new years plans involve visiting Guinness storehouse and Jameson distillery, and then finding a pub in temple bar to relax and listen to music while ringing in the new year. I expect temple bar itself will be crazy, but are there any others nearby that you would recommend?

Tony2phones

The Brazen Head might have something on NYE try emailing them
http://www.brazenhead.com/ web site is a bit out of date.

littlejane

I don't stay in a pub for midnight, but go up to Christchurch to hear the bells and celebrate with the crowd there. It's right beside Temple Bar so you can head back into the pubs afterwards...

There is also a free concert every year, information www.3nyedublin.ie has the information on that and all the other New Years events in Dublin.