okkuriwin

My boyfriend and I will be flying into Dublin on Saturday, 9/16 and flying out on Saturday, 9/26. We have part of Sunday and all day Monday-Thursday to drive anywhere we can and see what needs to be seen. Not a lot of time to be sure which is why I would love to know what you think we must see.

We will have a car so we can drive anywhere and will be coming from Bristol so no need to factor in any jet lag. We love castles and cliffs and natural beauty. I'm also a huge fan of hanging with the locals, I live in a big city so that's not so interesting. Is it worth it to see the Blarney Stone and the Aran Islands? How about going north to Giant's Causeway? I do hope to go back to Ireland again someday but, just in case, is there something that absolutely must be seen?

I'll take Dublin suggestions too although I know for certain we will be hitting the Guiness Tour and the Kilmainham Gaol.

Also, I'm American and while in the UK I have a pay as you go SIM card with 3 so I think I'm safe to use it in Ireland and am doing some research on that but if anybody feels they have a better idea feel free to throw that out.

Thank you in advance for any/all suggestions!

Tony2phones

Some point between those those dates we are heading to Clifden for a couple of days of Arts week. Lots of options over on the Connemara. http://www.clifdenartsweek.ie/

Clare has more castles than other counties in various states of ruin and restoration also has Moher and more.

So Clare and Galway are options. https://goo.gl/UtW24m https://goo.gl/UL09QA

Killarney is a touring base for Kerry.

Blarney and the Causeway are opposite ends of the island so fitting those in means a lot of driving.

okkuriwin

Do you feel like one is better to see than the other between the Blarney Stone and causeway?

Thank you for the clarifications and the festival info!

flpab

Blarney Stone or the Causeway? The causeway and the coast of NI is so beautiful, Ballintoy Harbour, Bushmills and Belfast are all better imo. I would do as Tony suggest and head to Galway and you can't go wrong with the west coast over Blarney.

bean11

Blarney Castle was fun. The Castle grounds are pretty and there is a nice "Poisonous Garden" to see. You could see everything in 1 -1 1/2 hours. Giants Causeway was spectacular and more scenery driven. The time to get there and back from Dublin would take most of a day. I thought the Causeway was worthwhile but I'm not sure it would be worth it timewise if you are spending most of your time in Southern Ireland.

Tony2phones

The way you write the date means you are non local. so How do you aim to cover from Dublin up to the Causeway then back to Dublin. To make that worthwhile you need 2 days one up and one back with an overnight possibly in Portrush. Theres a lot more to the Antrim coast than 2 hours exploring the Causeway.

Then you want to fit in Blarney which means you have the good sense not to heed Rick Steves but again you can take a day down via Glendalough and Wicklow, then Kilkenny and across to Cashel then Cahir or down to Waterford and the Copper Coast before Blarney, maybe 2 days..

I do hate to be the bearer of bad news but you really need to decide what you must see and do using your head and reject what your heart tells you would be nice. Either that or you need some more time from somewhere?

Now an option might be to fly into Cork for Blarney (you can do that by bus, no need for a car) Then spend the night before catching a bus to Limerick or Shannon and rent a car there. overnight in Galway after visiting the Cliffs in Clare possibly Dysert O'Day and Blarney Castles en route.
From Galway through the Connemara to Westport or push on to Sligo, then the Antrim coast and back down to finish in Dublin. That is a road trip and Ireland through the car window but possible.

okkuriwin

The good (and bad) thing is we are very open to anything which has made it a bit difficult to solidify any plans. I'm starting to think going north may be the best idea.. Granted we will miss some of the things that are on most "must see" lists but I love the idea of going off the beaten track.

I'll gladly take more suggestions but I am so appreciative of all the help you are all providing. Thank you!

Tony2phones

my answer should read Dysert O'Days and Bunratty (not Blarney)

flpab

A night in Belfast, black cab tour, city hall or Titanic exhibit. Drive the Antrim Coast. Great hotel at the causeway or as Tony said Portrush or Bushnell's for an overnight. I did a Game of Thrones tour and you can see the quarry from the road that they film the castle scenes, look for the sprayed on snow. Seeing the Dark Hedges and Ballintoy Harbor. If you go to the bridge there is an over flow parking lot for buses. Beyond that is where many other scenes were filmed. Dunluce castle and just magnificent views everywhere. The people of Belfast and NI were very friendly. You could do as we did and take the bus from Dublin or the train and then rent a car in Belfast.
Buy your Guinness tour tickets on line so you don't have to waste anytime. Glasnevin cemetery and the Kilmainham Gaol well worth your time in Dublin.

dburtbalto

You've received a lot of great suggestions. I've never been north of Westport, but have spent time in Dublin and surrounding counties and all along the south and southwest coast. In County Meath north of Dublin the prehistoric sites of New Grange and Knowth (you can see both on the same ticket)are fascinating. You said you like off the beaten track and connecting with locals, so I'll recommend places that we fell in love with when we spent a week in Connemara in the tiny village of Cleggan (near Clifden). If you take the M6 west from Dublin, get to Galway and then going northwest on the N59 you will come to Clifden (a place with wonderful pubs and restaurants and shops). If you continue west on the back roads to Claddaghduff, where, if you have lucky timing you can drive across the sand at low tide and visit Omey Island, a place no longer inhabited, but families who used to live there still go back to bury their dead. You will probably be the only people there or nearly so. I found it pure magic. Going around the penninsula from Claddaghduff to Cleggan you'll see the kind of wild, rocky, stark landscape that is to me classic Ireland. When you get to Cleggan you can take a ferry to Inishboffin, an island similar to the Aran islands, but without the crowds (but also without some of the famous ruins of old forts, churches, etc.) The locals in both Claddaghduff and Cleggan don't see lots of tourists and love to talk about the area and with luck you might catch a session with dancing at Joyce's pub in Cleggan. There's also a famous castle in the area, but I haven't been there and can't remember the name. Best of all you can't go wrong with any of the ideas people have shared. But my advice would be don't try to fit too much in; save a lot for another time and enjoy wherever you go and whatever you see and whoever you meet.

okkuriwin

Wonderful suggestions. Thank you so much!

GreenDragon

I definitely add a vote for the Antrim Coast. There is a huge amount of sites along that drive, and they are gorgeous. Are you a Game of Thrones fan? Several places along there were used in the filming.