What to do in Dublin/ Waterford in 1 day

Old Sep 1st, 2015, 06:21 PM
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What to do in Dublin/ Waterford in 1 day

i am arriving in Dublin early in the morning and will just be there for one night before I begin my trip to the southwest coast. What would be fun to do? I'm not interested in the Hop On bus. I know I will be tired and would like to just walk around and do a little shopping and take a drive possibly. My hotel is in a suburb,Killiney. What would you suggest?

I stay the next day in Waterford which I wished I would've skipped but it's too late. I thought maybe go to Mahon Fall for sure and Rock of Cashel possibly? Not interested in the crystal factory. Maybe a walk through town. I here to see nature.

Tell me what you think. I have gotten so much help the rest of my trip is awesome! I just discovered sea cave kayaking while we are at Clifden and I'm in heaven. Love to kayak.
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Old Sep 2nd, 2015, 02:59 AM
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Mahon Falls are west of Waterford.. save those for the drive west. Cahir and Cashel are on a direct route from Dublin to Cork and a long detour between Dublin and Waterford.

Consider heading down to Powerscourt (has a waterfall) and then to Glendalough and possibly Kilkenny then Jerpoint Abbey etc on the way down to Waterford. Fit that lot in and you have a full day anyway.
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Old Sep 2nd, 2015, 06:20 PM
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So what to do in Dublin the day I get there?? I arrive so 8AM so il like to find something to do, but no museums...etc. then on to Waterford the next day, so I thought I might like to walk around. What area would be a good choice for window shopping?
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Old Sep 3rd, 2015, 02:40 AM
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Killiney is Dublin's most salubrious suburb, and a lovely place. If I were very wealthy, I might choose to live there, or in the nearby village of Dalkey. Nice beach, good parks to walk in, the theoretical chance of meeting rockstars like Bono or Van Morrison. Worth an hour or two of your time.

Then you can hop on the Dart (commuter train) into the city to Tara Street station, walk by the Liffey towards O'Connell Bridge and beyond to the Halfpenny Bridge, turn left into Temple Bar (a place I don't like at night, but we are talking daylight hours) work towards Grafton Street (shopping) and St. Stephen's Green (best park in Dublin), over to Merrion Square (Georgian Dublin) and to Westland Row station to get the Dart back to Killiney.

Your programme after Killiney seems pressured. I appreciate that the hotel in Waterford is included in your package, but is it so good that you think you should not burn it and head more directly for the southwest?
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Old Sep 3rd, 2015, 03:01 PM
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I was thinking exactly that. I can't decide how to tackle the Ring of Kerry and/or The Dingle Peninsula. If I left Waterford very early, what could I get done during that day and 2 more full days. We have the Faithlegg House at Waterford, should we just skip it and take the loss, it looks really nice. I had no idea there was sooo much to see. After Waterford, we have 2 nights at Killarney, 2 nights at Ennis and 2 nights at the Ballyhaninch Castle (planned kayaking 1 day here). Love your input.
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Old Sep 3rd, 2015, 03:21 PM
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I just saw pics from Dingle Peninsula and I have to go there. The Dunchaoin Pier and Coumeenole Beach are gorgeous.
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Old Sep 3rd, 2015, 05:04 PM
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I'd find it difficult to turn down a night at Faithlegg!

Try contacting Ballynahinch to see if they will allow you to shift your dates back one day, thus allowing you an extra day in the southwest.

Report back, and w can take it from there.
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Old Sep 3rd, 2015, 05:51 PM
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I can't switch at the Bally. I should've done more research. I always do, don't know why I jumped this time. Gate 1 will switch me to another property, I've actually only used their properties in Dublin and Waterford. I've booked everything else myself. They have been really nice and got me a good airfare. I will have to decide whether to skip Waterford and head west. I saw the Parksanilla in Sneem. It looked nice. I might look into that. I'll see which properties Gate 1 will trade for. Im just going to have to come back. I want to go to the north coast so bad.
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Old Sep 4th, 2015, 01:08 AM
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I'm not up to speed on the upscale hotels in south Kerry, because my usual destination in that part of the world is Dingle. Parknasilla has enjoyed a high reputation for many years. It's possibly worth your while checking out the Park Hotel in Kenmare (http://www.parkkenmare.com/the-hotel) as an alternative.

Alternatively, you might settle on visiting just one of the southwest peninsulas. You could then use the transfer between Waterford and Killarney as an opportunity for a scenic drive along the south coast. Doing it as a scenic tour might make for a long but largely leisurely drive. It's no fun trying to make time on most of Ireland's roads.
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Old Sep 4th, 2015, 01:11 AM
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I'll be at Coumeenoole later this month. Again.
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Old Sep 4th, 2015, 09:47 AM
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Just can't decide whether to move my hotel from Waterford to the SW. Time on vacation is so short and precious. I rarely relax and am always on the go. On day 2, I could drive from Dublin to the Kenmare area and then do some exploring, spend the night and take the short drive to my Killarney hotel and drive the Dingle one day and maybe the Kerry the next day. Waterford or the South??
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Old Sep 4th, 2015, 11:46 AM
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If it was my holiday, I'd keep Waterford, follow a coastal route to Killarney, and use the one full day in the SW to visit the Dingle Peninsula.

I don't greatly like Waterford City, but you can do good stuff along the way from Dublin to Waterford, and you can leave Waterford early in the day in order to make the best of a largely-scenic route between Waterford and Killarney; it's a long enough drive, and I am sure you will see many places where you will want to make a stop.

If you route through Kenmare to Killarney, you get the best bit (well, my favourite bit) of the Ring of Kerry.
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Old Sep 4th, 2015, 04:41 PM
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I think I will. Thanks so much. Where should I stop between Dublin and Waterford? When we are in Waterfird, is it worth the drive to go to Mahon Falls? You are so much help. Wish I could return the favor. I think I will drive the Dingle Peninsula for my dull day and make lots of stops. Have you been to Blasket Island? I just watched a video and it looks so interesting.
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Old Sep 5th, 2015, 12:43 AM
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Typo of the week: "... I think I will drive the Dingle Peninsula for my dull day ...".

You have options between Dublin and Waterford. Which character would you prefer: historic buildings/places, or scenic?

The route from Waterford to Killarney is quite a long one if you choose scenic options. I'd suggest that you give yourself the Torc Waterfall at Killarney instead, because it does not involve a major deviation from your route.

Yes, I have been to the Great Blasket, and it is a special place. But again, time is a problem.
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Old Sep 5th, 2015, 07:43 AM
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I choose scenic always. I live in the Texas plains where it is flat, hot and dry. Could I fit in Blasket Island if I just drive the Dingle P. Starting early from my hotel in Killarney?

Good Typo...gotta love this autocorrect.

Where should I stop between Dublin and Waterford?

Wish I could return the favor. If you're ever in Colorado, give me a call. I know every inch. It is amazing in the fall.
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Old Sep 5th, 2015, 12:27 PM
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How about following a road over the Wicklow Mountains?

From Killiney, head for Enniskerry (not far, and the hotel staff can give you directions). You want a good waterfall? Follow local signposting to Powerscourt. From Enniskerry, take the road towards Roundwood (I think it is signposted); as you near Roundwood, watch for a sign for Sally Gap to the right. Follow that road, and don't miss the stunning view over Lough Tay. At Sally Gap, turn left towards Laragh (you might like Glenmacnass Falls). Laragh is the local village for Glendalough, and you might choose to visit there for an hour, and take a walk up the valley). Back to Laragh, drive down the Vale of Clara, through Rathdrum, and to Avoca (if you are a fan of Ballykissangel, you might like to stop where it was shot; if you are not, you might like it anyway). After Avoca, on to Woodenbridge; you might like to take refreshments in the Woodenbridge Hotel, a very old coaching stop. A few miles on, and you can join the M11, which takes you south towards Wexford (Ferns and Enniscorthy are picturesque towns on the route). When you get close to Wexford, you will find a road to your right (if memory serves, at a roundabout) that takes you towards New Ross and on to Waterford.

It's slow travel until you join the M11.

There are other things along or near that route, but I think I should leave you scope to follow your own caprices.
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Old Sep 5th, 2015, 12:41 PM
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I can't find a timetable for the Blasket ferry, but it's not a shuttle service. It might be that you could go into the island at 11.00 a.m. and not be able to get out until 3.00 p.m. (we Irish go in to islands, and out to the mainland). That's a big bite out of your time, and you might have to chop lumps out of your itinerary to allow it.

Provided that the clouds are not sitting on the sea (which does happen some days) you will have great views of the islands as you drive round Slea Head towards Dunmore Head. As a minor point of interest, Dunmore Head is the westernmost point on the island of Ireland.
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Old Sep 5th, 2015, 03:42 PM
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We were in Ireland for that one week of delightful weather that happened in June (I would like to take credit for it) but our day on the Dingle Peninsula was foggy and the Blasket ferry was not running. The fog also disappointed our drive over the Connor Pass. Allow for such in your scheduling.

New Ross has the replica famine ship "Dunmore" which is worth a visit if you are in the neighborhhod and have the time.
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Old Sep 6th, 2015, 01:42 AM
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jaja, my mention of Dunmore Head might have given you the wrong prompt: the ship at New Ross is the Dunbrody. It should interest some people, and might have a particular resonance for visitors whose ancestors fled Ireland during the famine years.

There is another replica of a ship from those days to be seen: the Jeanie Johnston. It's permanently moored in the Liffey in Dublin, and not far from the walking itinerary in Dublin I proposed for OP. An interesting pair for people interested in nautical matters, or in the flight from hunger.
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Old Sep 6th, 2015, 06:45 AM
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Padraig, not your fault at all...I realized too late that I had been relying on my faulty senior memory. Of course it is the Dunbrody.

We chose it after not making our way to the Jeanie Johnston while in Dublin.
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