First Day: Cashel or Kilkenny?
 

Hi All-

We are arriving in Dublin on 4/21 and will pick up our car rental at the airport. We will see Dublin at the endemic our trip. We need to be in Killarney (via a visit to Blarney) on 4/22, so we have one night in between. We are looking at either going to Cashel or Kilkenny and staying somewhere in the area. Given our time constraints and jet lag I don't think we can visit both. Which one would you pick?

TIA

That should say "end" of our trip! ��

That's a pretty ambitious plan already, particularly if you're not already accustomed to Irish roads and driving on the left. On the upside, most of the road down to either is good motorway but you could find yourself slowed down on the M50 and on the first part leading out.

I'd probably pick Cashel. Partly because I find the ruins more compelling and atmospheric than I do Kilkenny Castle (others might well disagree, liking the more complete state, with interiors). But also, if you find yourself itching to see more after the drive and touring the Rock, then Cahir Castle is very close by. And you're already on a direct trajectory towards Blarney, which might help in getting you there early the next day to avoid the lines a bit.

The road down to Kilkenny is fine, but not so much for a ways after leaving Kilkenny and going across to Cashel, as I recall.

Thanks for the advice counterclifton!

Why do you "Have to be in Killarney" day 2? If I knew you itinerary over all rather than the first day I might have different ideas. Anyway, Cashel or Killarney? Or Cahir perhaps.
To be honest I like Cashel as a visit but its not big on night out options although you'r likely early to bed. So overnight Cashel, then Cahir Castle, Swiss Cottage and Blarney then dash over to Killarney.

Hi Tony,

The rest of our itinerary is set.
Killarney 4/23-4/25
Ennis 4/25-4/28
Dublin 4/28-5/1

Thanks for the advice

So the nights of:
22,23,24 Killarney
25,26,27 Ennis
28,29,30&1st May Dublin.

I understand the fixed base fashion of travel although it's not my approach. However whilst Killarney is a typical touring base for 3 nights.

I might question what you aim to see from Ennis? Despite being one of my key locations I am not sure what your aims are from there? The more typical option would perhaps be Galway. where I might suggest 1 night Ennis, 2 nights Galway.

The 4 nights in Dublin will give 3 full days so that makes sense.

I might suggest getting an early start on the 25th and drive the Dingle Peninsula figure of eight on the way up to Ennis

Tony2phones wrote: "I might suggest getting an early start on the 25th and drive the Dingle Peninsula figure of eight on the way up to Ennis"

That's not worth doing. It leaves insufficient time to stop and look at things properly, or savour anything. You might as well view the drive on Google Streetview.

On the original question: if you are arriving on a transatlantic flight, I think it unwise to drive as far as either Kilkenny or Cashel on the day you arrive.

Thanks all. We booked a hotel in Clonmel in order to keep our options open for either Cashel or Kilkenny. I understand it's ambitious, but since half our party arrives 4/20, and the other half on 4/21, I think we can manage the drive.

Tony, We decided on Ennis in large part due to your suggestion! �� We want to use it as a home base to explore Bunratty, the Cliffs, Burren, and possibly Adare.

Also we prebooked a Renault Trafic through Avis because we got a very good rate. Will this be a nightmare to drive in terms of size? Should we change to a Ford Galaxy?

TIA

I'm sure others could feel differently, but I've driven a cargo version of the current model Trafic, though only here in Australia.

Squeezing down some of the lanes we've turned down in Ireland in one and coming up on an oncoming bus or lorry would not be fun in one. Doable, obviously - the Irish manage everyday. But IMO, it's an acquired skill on some of those little lanes. The Trafic has tons of room (I used it to pickup multiple freezers at once for our business), so I imagine lot of seating space. I can see why you'd choose it for room and the rate. I do wonder if the rate is because they're not getting a lot of takers and I suspect it's going to limit your choices in order to save nerves and your rental deposit (rock wall scrapes). Plus, the best of what we saw from our windows have been down interesting little side lanes so I'd never recommend sticking to main roads and only jumping from one major tourist attraction to the next. You'll miss the best of Ireland that way.

Can't speak to the Ford alternative - we don't have that model here. We have a Ford called a "Transit", but that's about the same size as a Trafic. I'd recommend an internet comparison of their wheelbase widths and choose the narrowest.

I have an old Renault Master camper van sat in the yard which is the Traffic's much bigger brother and most lanes within 5 miles of here are "L" rated bohreens.. You will be fine with the Tonka toy Traffic, Ford Transit or Merc Vito on the M,N and even R rated routes, on L rated routes you might have to rely on the locals knowledge of pull in places for passing points but I doubt you will be running along those.