siren6214

Hello all,
Long story - short: Husband and I touring Europe for 2 months in 2016 before settling down to start a family. We've been diligently planning/researching for months narrowing it down to the top towns we wanted to see in our rental car...it has been a bit of a challenge to cram everything we want to see in 2-months but here-goes. Ireland is the first country we are visiting so the itinerary is a little more ambitious...all advice is welcome.

July 23 - Arrive early - check into hotel - Temple Bar in evening
July 24 - Dublin:
Guinness tour, St. Theresa's, Dublin Castle, St. Patrick's, Brazen Head show
July 25 - Drive to Rock of Cashel, then Cahir Castle, then Killarney, check into hostel
July 26 - Ross Castle, Drive to Dingle, back to Killarney hostel
July 27 - Drive to St. John's Castle, Cliffs of Moher, Dine in Doolin, Galway hostel
July 28 - Drive to Dunlewy - check into hostel - Dunlewy church
July 29 - Donegal Watefall hike
July 30 - Drive to Enniskillen - check out Maguire's bridge
July 31 - Drive to Trim Castle - Drive to Newgrange - Drive to Dublin - hostel
August 1 - Flight to Scotland

We recently added Dunlewy as opposed to spending an extra day in Galway, because the images were so spectacular but I'm thinking that drive is going to be punishment given the fact we will have driven so far already by that point. We are going to Enniskillen because that is where my ancestry is- so I'd like not to take that part out. We do plan on getting a heritage pass. Do not plan on having rental car while in Dublin.

flpab

You could do Collins Barracks, the National museum of Ireland which is free after you check in on the 23rd, Trinity College and see the Library. http://www.cbl.ie/ Great art
www.stmichans.com is very interesting but limited open times.

nytraveler

Can't comment on the countryside - although some of your days seem jam-packed and some to be almost empty. What average speed are you assuming for driving. Be aware that roads in the countryside are quite narrow, have small if any shoulders and that there are a LOT of sheep - which may be anywhere - including the middle of the road. I would assume 30 mph when calculating driving times.

In Dublin I think you need to add Trinity College (Book of Kells) as the single most important sight. And I would suggest you wander around outside during the day to help reduce jet lag (sunshine helps reset the body cock) rather than sleeping in and waiting to go outside at night (when you will be crashing).

Itallian_Chauffer

I would suggest that you drop Donegal entirely. Add one of those two nights into Galway.Replace the waterfall hike with a trip to Inis Mor (plenty of hiking opportunities there!) or a driving tour of Connemarra.
Add the other night into Enniskillen, since that is where your ancestry is. As it stands, you will arrive there late and depart early, rather than actually visit there.
Take the boat ride to Devenish Island, visit some of the half-dozen, 'Plantation' Castles (Monea, Tully, Portora . . ., Castle Archdale, White Island, Boa Island ...

Tony2phones

26th July, The logistical approach might be to head round Dingle, Call into King Johns and end the night at the Roan Tree in Ennis http://www.rowantreehostel.ie/ rather than going from Killarney round Dingle back to Killarney?

The drive from Galway to Dunlewy mid north Donegal, cuts a whole lump of some of the best of Ireland west of the N17 commonly called the Connemara.

Is there a reason for going past Dublin Airport to Dublin for another day before heading back to Dublin airport to fly to Scotland can you not match the itinerary to end at DUB and a Scotland flight?

janisj

You have almost no time at all in Enniskillen.

Then the drive from Enniskillen to Dublin via Trim and Newgrange will take about 4.5 to 5 hours not counting the stops which will add at least 3 hours

I agree -- no need to go into Dublin city for the last night -- you won't have much time there anyway.