only 3 days IN IRELAND! help!
 

First week of July, I arrive Dublin Wednesday at noon, depart Saturday noon. Would love to
- See a bit of Dublin (+museum)
- Get out into some green country! (I live in rugged mountains, so green hills sound great)
- Avoid tourist traps
- Get a taste for what locals love (pubs I already know about)

Is there a way I could do the below WITHOUT a car? If so, can you pass along how I would do it?

Wed at noon: train to Kilkenny, see sights, stay the night
Thurs: go to/hike around Glendalough or Wickow, stay the night there (don't know if there are cheap places?)
Fri: back to Dublin (along the coast if it's possible!)
Sat: flight leaves at noon

Thoughts/suggestions? Was hoping to miss Friday/weekend crowds in Dublin, but do you think it's the best way to get it all in?

Thanks for your help!

Hello,

I'm Dublin-born and bred and write an alternative travel guide on Dublin called hidden Dublin. You have already got some good ideas and I would add:
- Kilmainham Jail visit; essential to understand modern Ireland
- get the DART electric suburban train to Malahide (castle, marina, nice seaside village), Howth (walk to the top of the hill and there is a cliff walk) or Brey (Victorian seaside resort - lovely DART journey). You will mingle with the natives on the train - fun!
- Kildare is interesting - about 40 mins by train from Dublin and has Japanese gardens (lovely in June) plus the National Stud (horses).

You can't travel by public transport between Kilkenny and Glendalough - the easiest way to go is via St. Kevin's Bus which departs daily from St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2.

Hope this helps,

Peter

Thanks Peter!

I'd love to see both Kilkenny and Glendalough somehow - would you suggest I rearrange my itinerary somehow to fit them both in? Or would you suggest I drop one? Are there good walking/hiking areas around Kilkenny?

I'd rather be in a sea of green than a sea of blue (ie I'll stick inland rather than coastal areas - will save those for the next trip!)

thanks!

You want green and you want outdoorsy stuff? That's not Kilkenny, which is a small city. It's also a bit of a tourist trap, but I wouldn't hold that against it.

If you are a real walker/hiker, Wicklow should give you plenty of pleasure. Consider this: http://www.wicklowway.com/

Accommodation outside Dublin is generally cheaper.

Hello nativebajan,

Padraig's suggestions are great - if it's walking you're after, then Glendalough is far better. There are various paths and trails and you can walk from Laragh/Glendalough to see St Kevin's bed, the medieval home of the great saint. Kilkenny is a lovely little city but quite brash and busy, excepting its lovely castle.

Great! Thanks for all your help, I'll definitely look more into Wicklow/Glendalough.