chilegalbeagle

Hey everyone! After 10 years I'm finally getting back to Europe this summer. I'll be spending 2 weeks in Ireland and Scotland. I've got most of the Ireland portion booked but have a few questions I could use some help with. Arrival/Departure dates are set in stone. This is my itinerary so far:

Saturday: Arrive in Dublin 9:45 am, drops bags off at hostel, sight-see, staying at Generator Hostel

Sunday: Spend the day sightseeing in Dublin, staying at Generator Hostel

Monday: Options are to 1) continue to sightsee in Dublin 2) take a day trip to Belfast or 3) do other short trips such as Howth or Cliff Manor/Bray Head (staying overnight at Generator Hostel)

Tuesday: Pick up rental car, drive to Galway, stay overnight in Galway at Kinlay Eyre Square Hostel

Wednesday: Drive from Galway to Cliffs of Moher, also see ?, stay over where?

Thursday: Drive to Rock of Cashel, stay overnight at Kinnitty Castle

Friday: Car must be returned by 10am for 12:45 flight to Inverness

In Dublin, I'd like to see: Trinity College Library, Dublin Castle, Temple Bar, Guiness Storehouse, Old Jameson Distillery, St. Patrick's Cathedral (I will not be doing a hop on/off tour, please don't recommend it)

chilegalbeagle

Just looking for suggestions or maybe things to see along the way. Thanks!

flpab

I know it is a busy long day but go see Belfast. Take the early train and late one coming back. I love that city.

chilegalbeagle

I'm not concerned about busy, long days. When I vacation, I'm usually up and going out the door by 7:30 and am in bed by 11. I figure if I can get to Belfast and doing some sightseeing and still be back in Dublin by 7:30 (which is the latest time the tours get back), that still gives me some time to stroll the streets, walk along the river, and have a beer before the end of the day. I'm just not a person that gets tired when vacationing.

Tony2phones

Saturday Land Dublin, get the bus from Dublin Airport to Belfast, night in Belfast

Sunday bus back to Dublin airport, collect car and head to Cashel/Cahir (http://www.carrigeencastle.com/) via Kilkenny.

Monday drive to Galway via Limerick, Ennis, Lahinch, then the Cliffs and Burren stay Galway

Tuesday return to Dublin, drop the car and stay until your Friday departure.

Or stick to your plan but use my suggestion for Saturday, Belfast starting Dublin Sunday morning.

flpab

(which is the latest time the tours get back)
No need to take a tour of Belfast, just do as Tony said or take the train or bus yourself. If you spend the night take a day tour of the causeway, well worth it, but in Belfast do a Black cab tour, visit city hall, St George's market, Crown Pub etc, easy to get around.

littlejane

Re: accommodation in Clare:

If you are happy to stay in hostels, there are a few good ones in Clare when you visit the Cliffs of Moher and other sights (you could do some of the wild atlantic way, tour the burren,etc) - there are decent hostels in Doolin, Kilfenora and Lisdoonvarna - all offering nice pubs for the evening entertainment and a bit of local charm. There are also rooms over a gastro pub in Vaughans of Liscannor, whence you can take a boat tour to the base of the cliffs if you want to see them from both above and below.

Tony2phones

If heading from Galway through west Clare then The Roan Tree Hostel http://www.rowantreehostel.ie/ in Ennis makes best sense if then aiming for North of Birr via Cashel and then Roscrea. As Kinnity sits between Galway and Dublin its a bit off track?

chilegalbeagle

I've heard a lot about the Black Cab tours. At first I didn't think they were a respectable company but I've only been hearing good things about them. I do like the idea of moving Belfast up to the first day of the trip. Littlejane, where can I get the boats to do a boat tour of the cliffs? I picked Kinnity because it's only just over an hour from the airport and I need to be at the airport fairly early on the Friday.

Tony2phones

The Boats from Doolin do the Cliffs cruise, I use O'Brien line but they all do the cliffs.

Kinnity to DUB will need 2 hours unless you drive a lot faster than I have been known to. (assumed you had one of the deals they are putting about just now)

flpab

http://www.niblacktaxitours.com/ We used them and they picked us up at our hotel.