Dublin to western Ireland, ending in Cork for flight to Paris
 

We're renting a car (2 older adults to be joined by 2 younger adults) for 4 days and 4 nights in the country, after 2.5 days in Dublin. We're thinking of one day via Kildare and possible night near Clonmacnoise or in Birr and then heading to Tipperary to pick up 2 joiners training from Dublin and continuing to somewhere outside LImerick (Killmallock? Bruree) and using that as a home base for forays around. We would then drive last day (day 5) to Cork for plane to Paris. Questions: 1) are we stopping to soon on night 1? We hope to lunch and explore on the way in Kildare. 2) Is there a more desirable spot to settle for a home base a little farther along? 3) Perhaps we push on on day 1 and find a 2-night home base followed by a second 2 night home base? We are interested in landscapes, nature, gardens, and towns/lithics and historic (including 1916) sights. Not so much recreation/hiking/water sports. Also would appreciate lodging recs for Dublin near the Liberties area. And any rental car tips.

P.S. this is my first post, so pardon any violations of word counts, etc. Tips on that welcome, too!

For the dyslexic amongst us (maybe just me) a bit of spacing helps. no word counts just say what you have to and take as much room as you like.

Birr is a great stop for the night and handy for a bit of time down round Loughderg on the way to Tipperary. Course I'm biased being on the west bank in Clare/Galway Slieve Aughty and Tipperary Silvermines being on the western side.

Lough Derg is a handy spot for landscapes nature and Gardens From Portumna at the northern end to Killaloe Ballina at the southern crossing http://www.discoverloughderg.ie/

Thanks Tony2phones for the suggestions on BOTH counts. It wuld be great if you indulged your biases with more suggestions.

No problem telling you what I would do but its not my trip, I already live here.

Without knowing dates I cant link any possible events. For gardens http://www.loughderggardens.com/ The Clare Museum in Ennis has some records from the 1916 events http://www.visitennis.com/see-what-to-do/clare-museum/ http://www.clarechampion.ie/clare-museum-1916-journal/

You don't have any Coastal locations or the usual Key tourist sights? West Clare has some good options and excellent coastal features http://goo.gl/UtW24m

I am not a wealth of knowledge in respect of Dublin so as no one else has chirped in perhaps ask a new question for that section?

For Cork, given your interest in events then http://www.michaelcollinscentre.com/ could be a good option before you fly out.

Thank you for the links.

You're correct, in that we were worried about being too crowded (time-wise and people-wise) to do the typical west coast.

Taking in the Japanese Gardens at the National Stud (Kildare) in the morning, travelling west to Clonmacnoise after midday and making it to Birr Castle and Gardens in the late afternoon would constitute a full but not overstretched day of travelling.
Dooly's Hotel is a pleasant place to stay in Birr; old fashioned and unpretentious,

Seedee

Thank you. Succinct and right to our concerns.

SeeDee

We're booked at Dooly's. Thanks! and the garden at Birr looks great.

You don't state when you're travelling but, from April through the summer months, your next stop after Birr could be in nearby Roscrea to explore Damer House and Roscrea Castle...

See Dee

Thanks, we will check that out.

Any recommendations on car rentals? Pick up at Dublin, drop off at Cork. Need an automatic, I'm afraid, to minimize adjustment to left side driving.

Dooley or http://www.easytourireland.com/ seem popular rental operators with least problems If in the US the option seems to be to call Dooleys 0800 US number and negotiate the best deal direct.

Tony2phones

Thanks!

See Dee et al. We're looking for suggestions for the rest of the trip, starting from one night in Birr in early June. We are two older adults to be joined by a younger couple on day 3 of this leg, who will be taking the train from London, probably to the Tipperary area.

Remaining time: 4 days and nights on the road, day 5 arriving in Cork for a flight to Paris.

We are hoping to carve up the 4 nights with two 2-night layovers or 1 single night and a 3-night.

For Day Two, you need an interesting loop to travel if you are to meet up with your other travellers from the train in Tipperary (are we talking Thurles train station?).
I would suggest moving east after Roscrea, wander into Morriseys in Abbeyleix for a toasted sandwich and stay overnight in Kilkenny. Lots to see in Kilkenny but not too far to travel next day to meet the train.
Not sure why Tipperary is to be the pick up point as they can travel on to Cork city if they wish.
This would give you an alternative route for Day Two, heading south through Cashel (Rock of ..) Cahir (Castle), the scenic drive through the Knockmealdowns (the Vee) and the pretty village of Lismore. Perhaps overnight in Youghal, with a little time to explore Cobh in the morning before meeting the train in Cork.
From Cork, the coastal loop is probably your best option - working your way clockwise, starting in Kinsale through West Cork and Kerry and finishing for a final night in Adare, which is a convenient distance back to Cork airport.
For a three night base for West Cork/Kerry, you should investigate what Kenmare has to offer.

OK, trying to decide on itinerary -- we are on a tour, starting Dublin, then to County Cork, next day ring of Kerry, then back to Dublin & the rest of that day in Dublin.

After that, we leave Dublin 3/29, pick up a car at Dublin airport & have till 4/5 when we dep fr Shannon Airport.

I've read so many great things to do that I'm overwhelmed. My thinking - take a day to drive to Belfast & spend night there; then a couple days Galway & couple days Dingle.

Does that make sense? Am I missing something "must-see"?

Also -- looking for hotel suggestions -- these are ones I was checking out:

GALWAY: The Western Hotel, The Connaught Hotel Galway, Galway Harbour Hotel

DINGLE: Dingle Benners, Dingle Harbour Lodge

BELFAST: Hastings Europa, Madison's Hotel, Park Inn by Radisson, Holiday Inn

We'd like places centrally located.

Thoughts?

Probably better asking a New question rather than piggy backing something unrelated.. your locations are all over. Belfast Galway and Dingle 2 nights each and a day each travelling between them. Dingle is a base for Dingle and no where else. so with Galway and Belfast both above the Dublin Shannon line stick to getting between those two..

Please answer in a new question.

We rented a car in Ireland 2 yrs ago in May...the BEST purchase Before arrival was a Garmin GPS specifically for ireland. We spent 10 days driving all over & never got lost!