Planning first trip to Ireland, June 15-30. Husband and I are late 20s, live in NYC, love culture, beaches, publife, and country walks/hiking. We are flying in and out of Dublin and will be renting a car for most of the trip (not in Dublin!). We'll be in Dublin for the first 3-4 nights at the Shelborne (yay, Marriott points!), giving us another 10-11 nights to explore. I'm interested in Galway, Aran Islands, and Cork, but now Husband is wanting to see Belfast. I realize that something has to go. What would you advise:

Option 1: West and North
3-4 nights Dublin
Drive straight to Galway, stay 2 nights making day trips around the area.
Aran Islands 2 nights (or go before Galway?)
Drive north to Co. Mayo/Sligo, 2 nights (not at sure where yet, obviously)
Cross into Northern Ireland (how is this in rental car re: insurance?), stay ?
Belfast 2 nights
Giant's Causeway/Bushmills?
Drive back to Dublin, return car, stay near airport for early flight home.

OR:
Option 2: West and South
3-4 nights Dublin
Drive South to Wexford, 1 night?
Cork City/Kinsale 2 nights
Dingle Peninsula/SW coast 2-3 nights
Drive north to Galway, stay 2 nights making day trips around the area.
Aran Islands 2 nights (or go before Galway?)
Drive back to Dublin from Galway, last night in town.

So, should I cut Cork & the south or Belfast & the north? I realize that either way, we will miss some "must-sees" but it's only our first trip, we're young! Thanks for your feedback!

Try the south/Western route Wexford 1 night.kinsale 1, killarney or Kenmare 2,Dingle town and peninsula 2, Doolin or Kinvara 1, Westport and connemara 2then head to athlone for 1 night before staying outdide of dublin close to airport. A grand tour

I would choose option 1, Galway is a great city as are the Aran Islands. I would then go north to Mayo and drive out to Achill Island. I was there last summer in June on a great sunny day and the beaches (drive all the way to the end) are some of the most spectaular I have ever seen (that is coming from someone who lived in Hawaii for 8 years). In Sligo, there is a great hike up Knocknarea Mountain (near Strandhill) and the views are out of this world. There are some other nice beaches on the way to Donegal and the North like Rosses Point and Mullaghmore. Although, I have never been to Belfast, my niece and sister were there last year and really enjoyed it and they loved the Giants Causeway (nothing like it anywhere else on earth). You are going at a great time as it does not get dark until 11 pm so you have great long days for traveling, hiking etc. Enjoy your trip and hope the weather is dry.

For your first trip and interests...I think your option 2 would be best (we did similar trip, opposite direction, on our first trip).

I would suggest the following changes...

2/3- Dublin (you may want to take an optional day tour to Newgrange/Tara).
1-Cashel(puts you closer to Kinsale, plus great sight)-stop at Glendalough on the way, Rock of Cashel.
1/2-Kinsale-could tour Cahir castle on way south, we enjoyed tour of Midlton Distillery, in Kinsale see Charels Fort.
2-Kenmare (one of our favorite towns, good pubs and B&B's in town)-explore coastal roads on way, next day Beara Peninsula/Healy Pass, we also did a trip to Garnish Island.
on way to Dingle drive scenic route past Ladies' view thru Killarney National Park
2-Dingle (favorite town, great B&B's in town and great pubs!)-Slea Head loop...nice beaches to explore (you may want to plan a morning horseback ride on the beach)
1-Doolin-via Tarbert Ferry across shannon up coast, stop at cliffs of moher. (breaks up drive, scenic coastal drives, great pubs)
1-Aran Islands (think one night would be enough to enjoy)
2-Westport (pretty town and fun pubs, enjoyed much more than Galway (which can be a pain to drive in)-scenic drive past Croagh Patrick thru doo lough valley to connemara
1-last night Dublin (a good stop on way could be Clonmacnoise-famous high crosses)

suggestions if you do
Option 1: West and North
2/3 nights Dublin (day tour to Glendalough)
Drive to Galway (stop at Clonmacnoise)stay 1 night
Aran Islands 1 night
Drive north thru connemara via doo lough valley 2 nights Westport
2 nights Donegal (on way north could stop at Carrowmore, Dunluce)
Glenveagh National park/castle.
tour Derry (bogside murals/wall)on way to Antrim coast
2 nights Antrim coast,Giant's Causeway/Bushmills/Dunluce Castle/Carrick-a-rede rope bridge
Belfast 1 night
1/2 Trim-Newgrange/Knowth, Hill of Tara, Monastaboice, Trim Castle
Drive back to Dublin, return car, stay near airport for early flight home.

Haven't done option one yet and will be going as far as Sligo next week (saving Donegal and N.I. for our 3rd trip).
We did most of option 2 on our first trip and loved it. Chip's idea is great for option 2 and the Rock of Cashel was a major highlight as was Joy's Rockside B&B practically on the castle doorstep.

Either way, option one or two- you might look into taking a train- we did this and it was a great relaxing ride

From Dublin to Galway, getting a room in Galway and doing Aran Islands the next day, then taxi (13-16Euro) to the Galway airport from city centre and picking up a car there

or vice-versa if you end in Galway, drop car, taxi to city centre, get room, Aran next day and train back to Dublin for fly home (depending on flight time either the day you fly out or late afternoon the day before)

Dingle was fantastic and if you want to stay away from City centre on this part, I would suggest The Shores B&B in Castlegregory (over the connor pass from Dingle)

For Dublin-Newgrange day tour was great- no car needed, there are many ways to get there from Dublin including a shuttle although we did Mary Gibbons tour and it was wonderful.

Good luck whichever you decide-and let us know how it was! (will keep my eyes peeled for a possible trip report)

Dawn

Thanks all for your tips, I'm saving them all for future reference. Did I mention I work at a travel magazine? It's funny how access to so much information makes it more confusing if anything. Anyway, I sat down with one of the writers who has done Ireland many times in the past two years to ask his advice and here's what I'm thinking now:

Dublin 3 nights, rent car and drive north
Belfast 2 nights
Antrim coast, Bushmills, Giant's Causeway, 2 nights
Donegal 1-2 nights
Sligo or Westport 1-2 nights
Clifden 2 nights
Galway 1 night, return to Dublin by car or maybe return car and train back.

I'm cutting Aran Islands for another trip and saving the southwest for another trip. I think this will work for us who love cities and publife, and will give us good bases for exploring the country. I'm going to use Amex points in Belfast to save money to use on wonderful places like this: www.templehouse.ie and www.whiteparkhouse.com

Thanks again for your feedback, more plans TK!

Meg

I found Belfast depressing, like much of Northern OIreland. The south is much better. The Giant's Causeway is one of those things you like or don't. I found it worth ten minutes at most, and it's a fair distance out of the way.

Weather means the difference between a good and bad holiday in Ireland. Take a good guide book as you may miss places worth visiting.

Meg,

A travel magazine! What a fantastic place to work. That was always a dream of mine.

I think that the trip your co-worker lined out for you is a great plan. I think I would do Westport over Sligo, especially if you like nightlife. There are some excellent pubs in Westport, also you can tour Achill island, which is close at hand.

You might want to reconsider Galway and opt to stay in Derry between Antrim and Donegal, as Galway is having the contaminated water issue and I am not sure when that will be resolved.

Whilst in Northern Ireland, I hope you are able to make it to the 'Dark Hedges' , near the village of Armoy, co. Antrim. It is absolutely breathtaking. Whilst in Belfast, make sure that you make time for a Black Taxi tour, as it will help gain an understanding of the struggle she has had in the not too far distant past.

Only ten minutes for the Giant's Causeway? I found myself wishing I could stay longer and I was there two hours. Of course I was trying to capture the light as it highlighted certain areas.

Enjoy your adventure!

Slan Agus Beannacht,

Bit

Meg,

I liked your co-workers itinerary very much.
Have a great trip.