I am a 27 year old female who is thinking about traveling Ireland on my own after my travel partner fell through and other friends of mine either have no interest or can't afford traveling abroad at the moment. I planned to fly into Dublin and get down the south coast and then swing up to Shannon and fly out from there. I've pretty much ruled out driving alone, but would like to either take trains or busses or find a good tour group. I have traveled abroad before, just not in Europe. I lived in Australia for 5 months and I would consider myself to be relatively saavy when it comes to traveling.

So my question. 1) Is traveling Ireland rather safe for a 27 year old woman?
2) Anyone have any good tour groups to go along with or would busses and/or trains be best to get to where I want to go? I know tour groups are a little more structure and I'd like some flexibility.

I plan on being in Ireland about 10 days.

Thanks for any tips in advance!

I just topped the best solo ireland travel report ever!by crazy mina

?? I'm sorry? What?

njsusan wants you to read a trip report of another solo woman in Ireland. Here's the link to the report.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...d-pictu.cfm?96

Ah - I looked for something that would maybe link or relate on the profile but wasn't making the connection! Thanks!

You can absolutely do it alone. I'm a lot older than you and went in July 2010. Although I never finished it (I really should do that), here is my report:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...limoncello.cfm

As a woman who has traveled to Ireland (and other places on my own), I can tell you that Ireland is very safe. I have driven on my own and can tell you that it is wonderful to be able to stop when and where for as long or as short as I want!

When you look at the rail map of Ireland, you will notice that most trains originate in Dublin, but if you take a train to one of your chosen spots in Ireland, there is bus service connecting most places.

Spend a day or two in Dublin exploring, take day trips to Newgrange or Glendalough, etc.

Just a thought for itinerary,

Train to Kilkenny

Bus to Killarney where you could book a bus trip around the Ring of Kerry, explore the National Park, Muckross House and Gardens with museum of farming life.

Bus to Dingle. Book a tour of the peninsula.

Rus to Limerick. Limerick itself is a bit of a gritty city, but from the tourist office you can book tours to the Burren, Cliffs of Moher, Cragganowen project, Quin with its abbey ruins, take the city bus to Bunratty Folk Park.

There was a trip report just recently from a couple who traveled strictly with public transportation. Click on Ireland and it will be in there somewhere.

I just topped the trip report for you. It is

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/week tour bus,train-Killarney-Ring of Kerry-Dingle-Aran-Cliff Mohr

I forgot to add cfm at the end

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...Cliff-Mohr.cfm

It is by zxcybnm so if the link does not work, try it by name.