From Dublin to sightseeing the southwest - without a car
 

We're staying in Dublin for 2 weeks in August, and we'd like to do sightseeing in the southwest, West Cork or Dingle & Kerry, or wherever.. But we really dislike driving. Is it unrealistic to try to do it without going by car? We're not young - not up for lots of hiking with backpacks...

Totally unrealistic.. From a Dublin Base in any case. Dingle being tourist central is served by Coach tours from Killarney or Limerick and yes I think there is a tour from Dublin if you want 14 hours sat on a bus. West Cork has the benefit of Not getting tours, there is a mini bus Tour from Kenmare once a week high season for Beara.

If you want to see the south west corner I strongly suggest that you have one week Dublin and one week Killarney

If you are based in Dublin - no. Why not base yourselves in the SW for a few days?

We have the use of a house in Dublin for 2 weeks. Thanks for the advice Tony2phones and janisj - I guess we'll drive down...

>>I guess we'll drive down...<<

Not as a day trip I hope . . .

I don't think it is worth the hassle of going to West Cork or Kerry unless you are prepared to stay at least two nights.

Have you researched possibilities closer to Dublin, places that can realistically be done as day-trips? Kilkenny, Wicklow (not just Glendalough), the Boyne Valley, the Cooley Peninsula and Carlingford all spring to mind. Most would be best managed if you decided to drive.

A company called Railtours Ireland ( http://www.railtoursireland.com/ ) does day trips, using comfortable trains out of Dublin in the morning, transferring you to a coach at the far end for a tour of the Ring of Kerry, Cliffs of Moher, Giant's Causeway in N Ireland, the castle with the Blarney Stone, and so on. They get good reports, and I've sampled their tours myself.

Or you can book trains from Dublin to Cork, Limerick, Galway etc at www.irishrail.ie

Thank you - all great ideas, gives us a lot of options... thanks