I only have 5 days and nights! Flying into Shannon, flying out of Dublin. Want to spend first 2 nights in Galway and last night in Dublin, leaving 2 nights in between. The plan is - and this is where I need help (not sure if I can do it all) - is to leave Galway in the AM and visit the Cliffs of Moher and Adare on the way to the Southwest. Then maybe stay in Kenmare? The next day visit Blarney, Cork, Waterford. At this point maybe it's best to continue up to Dublin and arrive late there. Can I do this all? Also how long does it take to do the Ring of Kerry - is this even an option for my trip? I am leaving in two days.

Hi Millie:

It's a tough schedule if you're trying to see the SW. You're trying to get too much in. You're almost stuck with one night stays which can be very tiring. You could do the Cliffs of Moher on your first day, though you will be tired, but a walk along the cliffs is a good pick me up. Not sure what your plans are for Galway.

I love Kenmare, but given your limited time, you might want to see Dingle, more bang for the buck as it were. If you saw the cliffs on day three, you could continue on across the ferry at Killimer and then to Dingle. This is a full day and wouldn't leave you much time to see the area, but you could do a tour bus style tour and see it from the window. I would skip Adare. It's not really worth going out of your way for.

Blarney has nice gardens, but again, with limited time, miss it. Avoid Cork at all costs on such a short trip and probably on longer ones. It is hard to drive in and is not really a great tourism city. A nice option would be to go to Cashel and Cahir and see the Rock of Cashel, Cahir Castle and possibly the Swiss Cottage. You probably won't have time to get to Waterford and do the tour unless you blow off everything in between the west coast and Waterford, so if you need to by some crystal, you can buy Waterford anywhere. Also, since you will be in Galway, check out Galway Crystal.

There are some fine places to stay around Cashel and Cahir. If you wanted to, you could swing over to Waterford in the morning from Cahir, catch a tour and make it to Dublin, maybe seeing Glendalough or Powerscourt enroute.

It's way to fast for me, but I've tried to get as much in for you as I could. My plan doesn't really have you seeing much of Dublin so if you are set on Waterford, you could go straight there from the west coast (a long ride from Dingle, a shorter ride from Kenmare). That's a choice I wouldn't be up for. If you are going to tour Dublin, then you could get an early start from Cashel and be in by mid morning.

It's hard to see all that you want to see in 10 days much less 5. I suggest cutting a lot. Other will give other options to cut, but you must cut something.

Bill

Hi Bill: I thought I would piggyback on this thread and ask my own itinerary question. We'll be traveling from Kinsale to Dublin where we will spend a few nights. On the way, I'd like to stop and see the Rock of Cashel. About how many hours do you think it will take us to get to Dublin from Kinsale? I'm wondering what time we should plan on checking into our hotel. Also, do you think we would have the time to work in another stop between Cashel and Dublin? Do you have a suggestion for a preferred route? Many thanks for your help. Maria

Hello Millie,
Your trip sounds terrible. You should just cancel it and go visit your friend in Paris in the fall. That's my advice to you.
Rizzo

Thank you Bill - your e-mail was very helpful.

Rizzo - yours was not. Maybe I will visit Paris in the spring. But not to visit my friend.

millie12,

This will be the FIRST TIME EVER that I have said "you are doing too much" regarding an itinerary on this forum.

I spent 5 very hurried days in Ireland and drove from Limerick to Cashel, Cahir, Cork, Waterford, Kilkenny, Dublin, Athlone, Galway, and back to Limerick.

Having said that, it was in early December and the days were short. You may be able to time it so that that you are doing most of your driving after the castles close.

Have fun.

Hi Maria:

Figure 4.5-5+ hours of driving depending on traffic and how wild you are. I've done exactly what you are planning and took some silly backroads, got lost coming into Dublin and still made it by the late afternoon.

You could certainly stop at Cahir and see the castle there. The fastest route into Dublin would be the N8 to the N7. There are other more interesting and thus more time consuming options.

If you wanted, you could take the Vee Drive which heads north from about Lismore into Cahir, see the castle and then Cashel and head up to Dublin from there. That would give you some scenery. There is a beautiful drive that follows the River Blackwater north outside of Youghal into Lismore, but it is very slow moving.

OK, I kust realized I didn't sed this yesterday.

Dear Millie,

I'm disappointed that you are not taking my advice. I will offer you a prediction instead. You will have a very fun and safe trip to Ireland, where you will enjoy tea with Bono, and you will return with many good stories. And when you go to Paris in the spring you will visit your friend. You can't get rid of her. She'll find you.

Have a great trip!
Rizzo