We are driving from Dublin to Cork and are seeking the quickest route. Originally, we were planning to drive Southwest from Dublin, through Kilkenny, and on to Cork. However we were told that we may encounter several slow, backroads and it may be just as fast (timewise to drive west to Galaway and South to Cork. Can anyone please recommend the quickest route. Thanks.

N7/M7 from Dublin to Portlaoise; N8/M8 to Cork. We know it as the Dublin-Cork road. It is signposted from Dublin. Part motorway (M designation) and part national road (N designation). Mostly good fast road. Very busy at Dublin end.

Do as Padriag says. Do not go to Galway to get to Cork!!!

I'll add my support to Padraig's option!

The only reason to go from Dublin to Galway is if you are planning to visit Galway. As to routes to Cork, Padraig knows what he speaks of.
Most of the N8 has by-passes of the towns which used to bottleneck the traffic, although Mitchelstown and Fermoy bypasses were still incomplete as of my last visit.
Why are you going to Cork? Now, don't get me wrong, I love Cork and we have family in East Cork, so we go there every year, but it's NOT a major tourist magnet. If it is just to 'get to the other side' -the West, there ARE more efficient routes than driving into Cork first.
Where are you heading, and what are you planning to see once you leave Dublin? The N8 will take you around Cashel and Cahir, both of which are worth while stops.
Without more information about your itinerary, it's very difficult to give you good advice as to efficient routing.
Bob

www.viamichelin.com
for driving directions and timings and route maps you can print out. I find it pretty accurate.

I echo Padraig's words. Turn left before Portlaois, and follow the signs to Cork.

Can I also recommend you rent a decent car? Don't go for the bottom of the range Nissan Micra. You won't enjoy driving it and it'll make everything feel much further away. And if there are a few of you with luggage, you might not even fit in the car (I have seen cars drive off from the rental area with the boot partially closed).

We are driving from Dublin to Blarney via Cashel. Is there a route to take so we won't have to worry about the traffic in Cork? Is taking the diagnol road to Mallow (N73) worth it? Then we plan to go from Blarney to Kenmare via N71. Is there a way to get to N71 (to Dromberg) without getting caught in the traffic of Cork?

Blues:

Accoridng to my Michelin, you can indeed go on the N7,M7 and N8 buit before you get to Cork there'll be a R-616 cut off which will bypass central Cork and you'll see signs for Blarney in short order. From Blarney, we've taken the back road L-69 through Tower (of course, I had to take a pic in front of the roadsign there!)..

Im afraid I don't follow your N71 logic at all...the best way to get to Kenmare from Blarney is as I mentioned above, going L-9 from Tower to Inishcarra(signs are good around there) and then you'll be on a very good secondary road, R-618 (scenic along the River Lee...at Macroom you'll be back on the N roads (N-22) which will take you to Cloonken and then most directly on to the R-569, signed toward Kenmare.

The aforementioned R roads are lightly traveled and in good condition. Do not fear them...just watch out for sheep.

Happy Travels. Keep it simple.
Stu T.

Just as a side note, I've driven in Micra sized cars many many times in Ireland and it was just fine for two if you're not packing to live there for 3 months. It should be noted that I've always driven small economical cars, so the Micra (smaller than almost all American cars) wasn't a huge change. I like the smaller cars becuase they are easier to deal with on the smaller roads.

Bill

Thanks, Tower. We wanted to visit the Dromberg Stone Circle near Glandore on our way to Kenmare. I can see what I need is a better map than the one I have been using to plan our route. The Michelin map seems to be mentioned the most on this site.

Blues: So that's why you're taking the N-71. I couldn't imagine why . It's a lot further to get to Kenmare that way, of course...but that SW coast is magnificent. By the way, I purchased the Michelin Motor Atlas for the UK a number of years ago and it has proven very worthy for several trips into Ireland, Scotland, England and the North of Ireland....excellent detail...great prevention for getting hopelessly lost.
Stu T.