First trip to Ireland. We will be in Dublin for St. Pats Day next year and several days surrounding it. We still must work-out our Dublin agenda, but we want to do some driving day-trips to nearby sites and sights; that is the focus of this query. We already have a tour arranged for several days, focusing on the west and south of Ireland.

First of all, what can we expect or look for on St. Pats Day? Second how many of the things listed below can we do in one-day driving trips out of Dublin, given the fact that we, when seeing and experiencing anything, prefer not to gulp the loaf, but savor the morsel?

Newgrange, Hill of Tara, Glendalough, Powercourt Gardens and House.

We find that there is a Grey Line coach tours to some of these sites. Are they better than driving? I enjoy driving.

There are several other things we’d like to see and do, but, alas, they are not open until April or May.

Hi CWOG,

I hope this is helpful to you. We were in Ireland for a month and we drove to all of the places on your list. If we could only return to one of them, it would be Newgrange, without a doubt.

Sad to say, it doesn't 'connect' well with other destinations for a daytrip because it is pretty isolated.

Have a great trip.

Hi,
Drive
Newgrange and Hill of Tara - 1 day

Powerscourt and Glendalough - other day

What Cambe said.

Seriously -- I've done the driving day trip north to Hill of Tara, Newgrange, and Malahide, coming back along the coast in Howth to enjoy the seaside. A long day, but very worth it.

Glendalough is an incredible spot and positively great for a day trip. Go to Glendalough early to avoid the crowds, and enjoy Powerscourt in the afternoon. Note that there are falls as well as the gardens in Powerscourt, but they are at separate places.

Thank you for your helpful info. We'll split the days we go north from south.

Take the bus tours and forget the car. Its too much hassle driving in the city and you can hot all of these with various coach tours.

St Patricks day was a washout last year but its a great day out if the weather holds up. There is a fun fair in Merrion Square for a few days and also the Denny treasure hunt which is free but makes you go around the city and see things in a different light and is educational.
St Patricks day itself starts with the parade at around 11am and afterwards at the Symphony there is an open air ceili with music and dancing and the pubs start to fill up. Its a crazy but fun day