Waterloo12

Hello,
My husband, son and I have booked our first trip to Ireland Sept 29 - October 10th 2017. We are landing in Dublin and flying out of Shannon. We were intending on staying the first 2-3 nights in Dublin and seeing the sights but the more I research I am thinking we may just get out of Dublin right away, allowing more time to travel around, (I could still be persuaded to see Dublin but it's a fairly quick trip... and the Irish countryside and coastal scenery are what we are most excited about). We will rent a car from the airport (coming from Canada).
My itinerary has all of sudden gotten a little confusing! I originally changed Dublin to the first 2 nights (from 3) so I booked Kilkenny on the 3rd night to have a stop on the way down to Kenmare.
If we are skipping Dublin altogether would it now make sense to spend the first night near the Wicklow Mountains (We would love to see that area, and see Glendalough on day #2) then nights 2 & 3 in Kilkenny and then head to Kenmare? Or maybe it would be best to drive straight to Kilkenny from the airport and stay 3 nights?

Fly into Dublin
First night near Wicklow Mountains/ Glendalough
Nights 2 & 3: Stay in Kilkenny (Butler House)
{OR stay first 3 nights in Kilkenny}
Nights 4/5/6: Kenmare (Airbnb cottage in town)
Nights 7 & 8: Dingle (Greenmount House)
Nights 9/10/11: near Ennis (not booked yet)
Fly out of Shannon

We like to explore little towns, go on hikes, picnic, meet people, and enjoy seeing historical sights. My son will be 11 years old when we travel so will seek out some things he may like to do as well.
Thank you so much in advance for any suggestions.

janisj

I wouldn't skip Dublin (though it isn't my favorite place on earth).

You don't want to drive the first day because you will be flying in overnight and likely sleepless. IMO 2 nights in Dublin is about right for this short a trip. So stay 2 nights and then collect a car on your way out of the city to Kilkenny for night 3.

Tony2phones

To be honest I'm not a big fan of Dublin but have your first day/night in the city. There are options on the fringe of the city and no one is going to force you into Temple Bar unless you want to go.

A night on the Wicklow mountains wouldn't interest me drive through on the way to Kilkenny fine but not go and stay day one . Points of interest on https://goo.gl/maps/8Xw29wKCPT12 Buttler house is beyond my pay scale so can't comment but it is easy enough to fill a day in Kilkenny let alone fill one getting there.

Kilkenny to Kenmare (I would have gone Killarney) via Cashel is fine you can aim for Cashel either via the walled town of Fethard or up via Thurles Cathedral

Dingle I am instructed to leave to others on the forums

Ennis my home turf nearly so some possible days out options
copy and paste from my itinerary sheet
"South Clare Loop Ennis https://goo.gl/maps/gAZUfH1cGkH2
North Clare Loop Ennis https://goo.gl/maps/uM5KWqLEmvz
South East Ireland https://goo.gl/maps/veSjqPAiK752

If those links won't open for you let me know, not sure of the privacy settings.

Tony2phones

Sorry one of my maps has gone walkabout.. East Clare from Ennis ashttps://www.tripadvisor.ie/ShowTopic-g186591-i88-k9405032-Feedback_on_itinerary_thoughts_on_places_to_stay_p lease-Ireland.html#74050719

Macross

Dublin first, don't miss it.
http://www.museum.ie/Archaeology/Exh...ice/Cashel-Man

Your 11 year old will love seeing the Bog men. No charge for museums. Take him to Trinity college, see the library, Collins barracks would also be interesting for your son. Dublin zoo if he is into that sort of thing. Do the hop on hop off bus with him. This will give you a day to recover and see the history of Dublin. Great places to eat also.
Next day take the bus back to the airport and get your car and head to the country. Wicklow Mountains/ Glendalough is high on my list. Very beautiful.

Waterloo12

Thank you all so much.
We have decided to go to Dublin. It seems from a different perspective it would be nice to mix the big city with the more scenic days. Also thank you for the links (the Bog man is fascinating, my son would love that!) and the route maps, I really appreciate them. We will drive through Glendalough on the way to Kilkenny.
One question: when we rent a car is it best to go back to the airport or rent from Dan Dooley in central Dublin when we are ready to leave and make our way out of town? I think I have found a hotel only a short walk from that rental office. My husband has driven on the left before in the UK several times (in both city and on tiny Cornwall and Welsh roads) but of course it is still not easy to get used to. It seems most recommend going out to the airport. I have no sense of how difficult/congested it would be to try to drive out of the city centre in Dublin (it would be a Sunday morning if that makes any difference). Thanks again.

janisj

>>(it would be a Sunday morning if that makes any difference)<<

Are you sure the city centre location is open on Sunday morning -- that would be pretty unusual.

It is a lot easier to drive out from the airport but not horrible out of the city, especially on a Sunday. But definitely check that it is open.

Waterloo12

You are right, thank you! Of their 4 Dublin locations that one is closed Sundays. That settles it then!

jaja

What we did was take the DART out to Dun Laoghaire where we were met by an employee of Dan Dooley who had our rental car there in a parking lot.

Waterloo12

That's an idea, I will look at the logistics of that, thank you.