Northwestern Ireland
 

Have 10 days on my own in Ireland before meeting my family at Ashford Castle. Flying into Dublin and would like to depart for Sligo directly from the airport.

1. I heard there are express buses directly from the airport to Sligo (and/or Donegal) but can't find anything that sounds direct - does anyone know anything about this?

2. Trying to decide whether or not to visit Donegal and environs also - any opinions?

3. Any suggestions for best way to visit Aran Islands (want to stay overnight) and Cliffs of Moher?

4. Any other suggestions for this area? Willing to rent a car but prefer to minimize that as it is very expensive (especially since I have to rent an automatic)

Dublin Airport to Sligo http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1415360590-023.pdf and Donegal http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1415719270-030.pdf buses are designated "Expressway" but are not quite express http://www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=246

Best way to visit Inis Mor with an overnight stay is from Galway, there are also several tours of the Cliffs and Burren from Galway http://www.aranislandferries.com/packagedeals.php and http://www.cliffsofmoher.ie/plan-you...ng-here/coach/

To be honest for Sligo and Donegal you are best self driving as there are few tours covering either.

Thanks. Silly question: There seems to be more buses to Donegal - or do the ..... on the Sligo timetable imply there are buses in between those listed?

Also are there car rentals in Donegal and Sligo or would I have to rent at the airport?

Definitely more car rental options in Sligo, I used to rent from Derry Airport for Donegal.

If you were to get into Dublin there are Trains to Sligo from Connelly station. But they take 3 hours anyway.

If you started in Donegal you could take tours with http://www.donegaltours.ie/ then rent a car in Sligo.

Remember there is only one bus each way each day between Galway and Cong then you need to get to Ashford

This is working perfectly! I will take the bus from Dublin Airport to Donegal, spend the afternoon touring the town/cycling. Then I will take a tour the next day to Slieve and the other sights and the following day the tour to Glenveagh Castle! Then on to Sligo where I have reserved a car for a few days. I booked my first night in Donegal at the Central Hotel but it is booked for the next night so I have to figure that out.

You have helped me tremendously.

Now I have to think about what comes next. I have a total of 12 days before arriving in Galway (or 14 if I go directly to Ashford).

Thanks.

There might be some points of interest on these Maps, https://goo.gl/xrDQtD which has a limited number of sights in Donegal and Sligo along with north Mayo, included in there are a Connemara map https://goo.gl/UL09QA and a west Clare map https://goo.gl/UtW24m Unfortunately Google butchered the icons on my maps when they dumped Classic maps for their new offering.