Travel in Ireland
 

We are experienced Europe travelers. We usually arrive, rent a car and go from there: EXCEPTION: When it comes to driving on the left hand side of the road.

I am moderately familiar with Ireland. My wife is not. I would like her to get a good taste of this wonderfully scenic and friendly country. Plans are for perhaps 7 days, 6 nights small escorted tour. (Starting/ending in Dublin) Unless I could rent a car/driver privately, of course. This trip would take place in either September or May. I note on the various websites that Galway is always included; never the beautiful Connemara region west of there. This would be important but not crucial. I have briefly visited the Rabbies and Exploring Ireland websites, but when it comes to factual information, you go to Fodor's. This would be part one of a two part trip. After beautiful but likely "damp" Ireland, we would be traveling on to sunny Spain. Any help in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

<<EXCEPTION: When it comes to driving on the left hand side of the road.>>

Why? Once you start doing it, it seems natural because the steering is already on the wrong side of the car so the car should therefore drive on the wrong side of the road. The freakish part would be driving a car built for the UK/Oz/Japan in continental Europe/US or driving a car built for the US in the UK (see, US Virgin Islands).

Plus, in Ireland the driving tends to be slow because the roads are not exactly LA expressways.

If you have driven on Mainland Europe then Ireland is a cakewalk.

If driving is out of the question then with only 7 days 6 nights, I recommend flying in and having 2 days Dublin 2 days Galway and 2 days Killarney. Maybe get one of the express bus's to Galway when you land either Dublin or preferably Shannon then do Killarney and then Dublin before the flight home.

All 3 bases have local tours.

I'm probably in the minority on this Forum but I hired a private driver as needed for our 10 day tour in 2011. We were a party of 4 and I knew all the driving and headaches would be left to me. We booked through Tenon Tours who subcontracted drivers for us as needed. No need for a driver in Dublin so after 2 days there we had someone drive us to Galway. We used the bus from there to get to Inishmor and back. We picked up our driver for the next 5 days. He took us to the Cliffs of Moher, Killarney, Cork, Kilkenny, Waterford, and then back to Dublin for flight home. He took us for a day trip around the Dingle Peninsula. Basically, Tenon Tours arranged for the Hotels, transfers, Drivers, and Aran Island Bus and Ferry rides. It was great having a private driver who not only got us from point A to Point B, but who made suggestions for dinners, and places to see. Actually, the time I spent with our driver was one of the highlights of our trip. I thought the cost of the driver was very reasonable (especially split between 2 couples)

If you really don't want to drive and with only 7 days, I suggest you divide your time between Dublin and Galway. Both places have numerous day trips to some of the most popular sites, and you'll still have more independence than with the usual tour.