Have any suggestions for a round-trip itinerary from Dublin with a limited time-frame of 4 days? This is my first time there and am curious to know what are the "must-sees" of Ireland, and what cities are good stopping points to find lodging.

Is this 4 days IN ADDITION TO any time you'd spend in Dublin proper? Do any "Dublin days" include day trips from there? Or is your total time in Ireland 4 days? Will you be arriving (jet-lagged) from US or from elsewhere in a similar time zone? Just trying to get a feel for how much territory you could cover during your driving trip, based on what you might already have seen in/from Dublin.

The 4 days are in addition to Dublin. We'll be arriving from Belgium, so we will not be suffering from jet lag, fortunately! My husband and I have the tendency to move fast and not linger very long in any one location. Thanks!

IMHO, there are a billion "must sees" in Ireland, but I might suggest three alternative routes--one through the midlands, one to the southwest, one to the southeast, and one to the north.
Choice 1--midlands and Galway
Day 1 set out across the middle of the country (County Roscommon) and visit Clonmacnois, an early monastic settlement, and the peat bog where you get a little train ride where a narrator explains about the development of peat bogs, shows you the industrial peat extraction and stops to view the unique flora of a bogland environment. In the area is Birr castle with a wonderful garden. spend the night in the area.

Day2 drive to Galway and explore the city. Spend the night.

Day 3 explore the Connemara region--lots of interesting stops along the way--castles, museums, nature viewing, short hikes, etc. Back to Galway for the night.

or drive to Rosseveale and take the ferry to Inishmore for the day and return to Galway that night or spend the night on the island and experience music on one of the pubs.

Day4 return to Dublin via the Cliffs of Mohr, Burren, etc. depending o how much time you have.


Choice to the southwest
Day 1 drive to Kilkenny via Powerscourt and Glendalough. Spend the night in Kilkenny.


Day 2 Drive to Killarney and explore the national park, Muckross House, Torc waterfall hike. Spend the night.

Day 3 drive the Ring of Kerry and make many stops to explore and take in the view.

Day 4 return to Dublin via Cashel

Choice 3--to the north (don't forget to tell the car rental place that you are crossing the border into Northern Ireland)

Day 1 drive north with a stop at Newgrange. Push on to Downpatrick and take the ferry across Strangford Lough to Portaferry for the night. Wildlife preserve here.

Day2 Drive along the Ards Peninsula and the Antrim Coast to Portrush for the night.

Day 3 Visit Causeway, Dun Luce Castle, Bushmill's distillery. Head south towards Lake Nenagh. (The tourist office in Port Rush can book a b&b ahead for you if you don't want to chance finding a place on the road.)

Day 4 finish return trip to Dublin--lots of interesting places to visit along the way depnding on your time.

choice 4--southeast

Day 1 drive to Kilkenny via Glendalough and Powerscourt. spend the night in Kilkenny.

Day 2--New Ross via Jerpoint Abbey. visit the Dunbrody famine ship. Drive out to Hookhead lighthouse and explore some of the small towns along the shore. On to Youghal for the night. Eplore the town.

Day 3--to Cobh and the Queenstown Experience, an exhibition covering the emigration passage and articles about the Titanic which made her last stop here before heading off to disaster. Fota wildlife park where rare specias are bred for reintrocuction into the wild. Animals (except cheetahs) roam freely through the acres. Cheetahs are fenced into a large area for the safety of other animals and humans.

Day4-return to Dublin via Cashel--a trip that will take you
over the mountains to the plain of Tipperary.

This is just a sample of some possible itineraries. There are many here who will tell you this is too rushed, but I did note that you said you like to move fast and cover a lot of ground. Th

There are many more experienced travellers who can give you other and probably better advice and fill in gaps I have left out.

Have a fun trip!

"<i>My husband and I have the tendency to move fast and . . . . .</i>" Moving fast is really not an option in Ireland. The roads (at least in the scenic parts you'll want to visit) are narrow and slow going. Averaging 35 MPH is doing good.

So pick you can pick one of irishface's four suggested loops above. Each one covers a sort of triangular bit of Ireland and is doable in 4 semi-hectic days, but you may not get to all the places mentioned.

To clarify -- >> . . . but you may not get to all the places mentioned on whichever route you choose<<

irishface did a great job giving you four options! For a first-time visit, many people would pick the SW option: it covers a good number of the sights people first associate with "Ireland." Emigration (and wild animals?), distinguish the SE option.

If you're tempted by the N option, do be sure to check on the rental car issue; some companies don't want their cars crossing borders. To avoid that issue, some people do Newgrange as a day trip from Dublin, then take the train (2 hrs) to Belfast and pick up a rental car there for their time in the North.

Lastly, the midlands option is for those who want to focus more on the wild and windswept scenery of the western coast; there's a vocal contingent who rave about the Connemara -- haven't been there yet myself! Not surprisingly, a lot will depend on what appeals to you -- good luck!

This is wonderful and all of your routes sound like so much fun! I couldn't ask for anything better (except more time in Ireland so that I won't have to pick!). Thank you very, very much for all of this great information!!

Can anyone suggest a car rental company that would allow me to pick up a car in Rosslare and drop it off in Belfast a week later?

Dear Irishface,
We will be visiting Ireland and our distant family in Dublin this August. We'll have 5 days in Dublin with family and then we'll head out for 4 days of touring before returning to Dublin for one last night. We'll be traveling with our two sons, ages 12 and 9. Do you have suggestions for B and Bs along the midlands drive or the northern route? A castle stay would also be very memorable, if you have any suggestions for this style accomodation as well. Thanks for your GREAT suggestions.

Just about an hour north of Dublin between Ardee and Collon is http://smarmorecastle.com .