annatekpdx

Hello! I am traveling solo to Ireland for the first time in early November- first time out of the United States . I have 6 days, and I am flying in and out of Dublin- tickets already booked.
I am really excited to spend some time hanging out in the pubs after dark, but my days must be spent on adventures! I am renting a car. Here is what I have so far:

Day 1 - Dublin; I really want to see the library at Trinity College, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Temple Bar, Whelan's Pub (P.S. I Love You is one of my favorite movies).

Day 2 - Rent a Car and drive from Dublin to Ashford Castle; participate in some clay pigeon shooting, perhaps a hawk walk, and plenty of cocktails.

Day 3 - From Ashford visit Kylemore Abbey, then drive to Galway and stay the night there; what should I do in Galway? Is there anything else in the Ashford-Kylemore Abbey area I should stop and see?

Day 4 - From Galway visit the Cliffs of Moher, maybe stop in Doolin for lunch, then back to Galway for the night. What are some good pubs in Galway?

Day 5 - Drive from Galway to Kilkenny and stay the night there; visit Jerpoint Abbey, Kilkenny Castle, St. Canice's cathedral, Kytelers Pub

Day 6 - Drive from Kilkenny back to Dublin; stop in Glenadlough maybe on the way?
Drop my rental car off and spend my last night in Dublin in order to catch an early flight on Day 7.

Is this realistic? Is there anything I should skip or add? Is Connemara a must or should I save that for my next trip when there is better weather?

Also, any tips on B&B's or hotels would be greatly appreciated! I prefer not to spend over $100/night (other than the one night at Ashford). THANK YOU!!!

TPAYT

i also loved P.S. I Love You. But it did not give a realistic view of driving in Ireland.
IMO, you are going to see nothing but the inside of your car.

TPAYT

When I read my reply, I didn't like the tone of it.
We love Ireland and any time spent there is fantastic.
I just think you're trying to cover too much territory in too short a time.
First of all, where are you flying from? If it's the US, the first day is sort of lost to jet lag. Yes, you can see some of Dublin on the 1st day.

Day 2, picking up a car, driving from Dublin to Ashford Castle will be sort of long. So crash when you get there.

From there on, IMO, it's way too much time driving.

I may be wrong and someone else can give you a better itinerary.

flpab

Tony2phones is not popping up so I just keep posting his wonderful maps that have all things interesting to do but also give you driving times and distance. If you click on his name other maps should pop up.

www.hostelworld.com is a great source for nice hostels and might be fun for you being alone. Dublin and Galway have some on here. Snoozles in Galway is nice and close to everything in Galway. It is next to the bus station which runs some great tours from there early in the morning. You daylight hours will be much shorter.

JeffTWA

Be sure and stop at the Ireland National Gallery. See the Van Gogh and the William of Eton paintings. Interesting stuff. Enjoy Ireland. It is an extraordinary place. Jeff

annatekpdx

TPAYT- What part(s) of the trip do you think I should cut out since there will be too much driving? Any ways to make it more efficient? I appreciate your honesty and general opinion, but I appreciate actual suggestions better

flpab

Day five and six skip. Have you already booked that first night in Ashford castle? After you pick up your car and head to Ashford castle you will have eaten up a big part of the day. You might want to spend another night in that area. I would then spend two nights in Galway and do day trips from there. There is so much to see in the amount of daylight that you have. Connemara is beautiful and would do that and the west of Ireland. The burren, cliffs and that area are a whole day and more. Doolin is a nice village and love Lahinch. Going back to Dublin stop and see Clonmcnoise and Newgrange. Spend your last night in Dublin a little closer to the airport if your flight is early. Give yourself three hours if you are flying to the states.

flpab

http://ireland.activeboard.com/t5005...-galway-route/
from Tony again, great links for all things to do in Connemara.
There are many pubs in Galway, An Pucan has great traditional music but you have to stick your head in several and see which you like. Kings Head is suppose to be great but thought they had the worst oysters so never went back after lunch. It is a college town so lots of young people.

MaPic

I agree with flpab redoing day 5 and 6. Not sure when you get into Dublin and from where but TYPAT is right that you might be jet lagged and not able to see much of Dublin that first day. However you sound young so that might not be the case. It also sounds like your reservation at Ashford Castle is locked in so we’ll leave Day 2 as is.

I think your plan for day 3 is fine also – just take your time getting to Galway. But then I like the idea of staying in the Galway are for a few extra days. There is much to see and do in that area. Base yourself in that city and you will be able to see many sights – The Connemara Peninsula, The Cliffs, The Burren. And I think you would enjoy spending at least one day in the city of Galway. There is so much to see and do. On Day 5 you could work your way back to Dublin if there is more in that city you want to explore. Or you could go back on Day 6 and get a room near the airport. Premier Inn in Swords perhaps? Close to the airport and it has a shuttle.
Enjoy your trip – and enjoy Ashford Castle. Sounds like a real treat!

annatekpdx

Thank you all! The only things I have booked so far is my first night in Dublin and the second night in Ashford Castle.
Would you recommend going straight to Galway from Ashford on Day 3 and exploring the city a bit, then on Day 4 doing Connemara and Kylemore Abbey? Then on Day 5 head from Galway to the Cliffs? Should I spend a night in Doolin? Then head from Doolin back to Dublin for my last night? Or Kilkenny>Doolin?

flpab

You are back tracking, try staying two nights in the Ashford Castle area to see all that is there and then stay a couple of nights in the Galway area or one there and a night in Doolin for all the pub music and cliffs/burren etc. You daylight will be short.

https://maps.google.ie/maps/ms?msid=...a=0&dg=feature

flpab

https://maps.google.ie/maps/ms?hl=en...1e3&dg=feature

Tony has a lot of great maps with driving distance so you can see how long it will take you to get from each area plus many links to help you find interesting places. I think the weather might be iffy for a cruise to the Aran islands one day but you might get lucky.

annatekpdx

flpab- do you have recommendations on places/areas/towns to stay in near Ashford? What are some of the things to see in that vicinity? I know of Kylemore Abbey- definitely on my list.

flpab

http://www.westporttourism.com/ It is on my wish list. I would stay in Westport or Cliften.

nytraveler

I'm afraid by the time you get to Ashford it will be too late for the activities you want unless you leave at the very crack of dawn (in the dark). Ireland is VERY far north and in Nov days are very short (in Dublin in Nov sunrise is about 9 am and sunset is a little after 5 pm).

(Remember that time of sunset and sunrise are determined not only by how far north you are but also by where you are within the time zone - if you are at the western edge dawn will be almost an hour later than at the eastern edge of the timezone)