Driving on the Left
http://www.tripadvisor.ie/ShowTopic-g186591-i88-k5586533-Driving_on_the_Left_Easy_Transition_or_Real_Nightmare-Ireland.html

Dublin for all your Stay? Many tourist features are on the western side of Ireland so too far for sensible day trips. That said there is a fare bit to see in and around Dublin. What would you like to see?

Where to go depends on your interests and use the tour that suits your needs on destination and possibly price/time.
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/3-day-itinerary-for-a-dublin-break-article.cfm

I'd go to the library and take out some books on Dublin. it'll give you 3, 4 7 day itineraries and you can go from there. Fodors, Rick Steves have itineraries as well.

There's lots to do in Dublin. How long will you be in country? There are also several day trips available--to Belfast and take in the Titanic Experience--to Boyne Valley Center for the day where you can visit Newgrange and Knowth, as well as seeing and doing so much while in Dublin. The Hop-on/Hop-off tour in Dublin will give you a good overview of the city and you can then pick and choose where you want to return and spend more time. The Dublin Castle & State Apartments, Kilmainham Gaol, all the museums--the list is endless. For nighttime we enjoyed the Literary Pub Crawl that starts out at Duke Tavern on Duke Street. You will have a wonderful, regardless of how much time you have to spend in Ireland. It's a wonderful place to visit!

Ireland is small but distances are deceptive because driving speeds are so slow (lots of narrow roads and LOTS of sheep in many areas).

If you stay in Dublin there are a lot of areas that are just too far for day trips.

Perhaps consider a staying in 2 separate spots - one Dublin and one in the west for 2 or 3 nights so you can see some of the sights there.

I like Dublin - but you can really see most everything there in 2 days and the things nearby in 4 or so.

You already have some good suggestions and I hope I can add some further advice!



If you do not want to drive but do want to see lots of Ireland then perhaps you could split your holiday between Dublin and Galway. There is a very good train service from Dublin to Galway www.Irishrail.com who publish their fares approximately 3-4 weeks in advance on their website and they are significantly cheaper than when you buy them at the train station.



You can also go directly via bus from Dublin airport to Galway. The bus leaves every hour and on your return after 3 or 4 days in Galway you could try the train back to Dublin. Buying advance tickets for the bus online does not really give you any savings. Going up and down by either bus, train or car is about a 3 hour journey.



In Galway you can take day tours to the Cliffs of Moher and The Burren, Take the ferry to the Aran Islands or visit Connemara and Kylemore Abbey . Galway is also lovely to visit and stay. There are great restaurants and places to go for a drink before dinner.



In Dublin there are lots of things to see! In particular, Farmleigh House in Phoenix Park and the National Archaeological Museum are a must. From Dublin you can take day tours to Wicklow with Powerscourt Gardens and Glendalough or you can take a tour to the Boyne Valley to visit Newgrange and Trim Castle.



Have a very nice holiday, you are going to love it!

The DART runs north to Malahide and Howth, south to DunLaoghaire and Greystones, (and beyond, in both directions), all nice areas for spending an afternoon, no tour necessary.

Driving isn't so bad outside the cities, (So says I, the navigator.)

I've been twice...the first time we drove and while we definitely saw a lot in our 2+ weeks, we nearly died several times a day due to heart failure! The second trip was all about public transportation. That works well for Dublin and a daytrip or two but after that, it becomes really limiting. If I go for the 3rd time, I'd fly into Shannon (Dublin twice is enough)and train to Galway. It's an enjoyable city and there are plenty of doable daytrips.

ashcanannie .... You might want to bus from SNN to Galway rather than find the train @ Sixmilebridge. Tours are also available from Ennis and Limerick within 30 mins of SNN.

Staying in Dublin, you could also take the train to Northern Ireland (it was about a 3 hour ride) and tour the antrim coast, giant's causeway and more - all from day tour companies. My sister did this and loved it. My aunt, who live in DunLaoghaire (and is 70), takes the train with her friend to Westport (also an EASY direct rail ride) and stays there, also touring on day trips from there. Great town - especially off season.

We have also, on occasion hired a private driver to tour a region - and it was not any more than the TOTAL cost of a rental car, which can add up quickly with all the insurance. The drivers are great because they know they roads and the unpublished fun out of the way shortcuts, so you can spend a couple days with one of them to see the remote, hard to drive areas, while stopping where YOU want to stop to take a snap.

Lots of options if you get creative...