Ireland
July 1 - 8, 2013 (8D7N): We flew into Shannon after spending 4 days in London. You can choose to fly into Dublin as another option. We rented a car and drove along the southern part of Ireland. Driving a stick shift on the right side of the road was challenging to say the least...the ultimate road trip!
*Highly Recommended
Prices shown below are from 2013
Day 1 (Shannon)
- Arrive in Shannon Airport from London
- Pick up rental car from Hertz
- Stay @ Ardilaun Guesthouse* @ Ennis
Day 2 (Burren)
- Cliff of Moher (online combo tix booked with Bunratty castle €12)
- Drive to Burren:
- Caherconnell Ring Fort (photo only)
- Poulnabrone Dolmen (free)
- Burren Centre
- Bunratty Castle
- Castle (tix booked online, last adm. 4pm)
- Folk Park (last adm. 4:15pm, closes at 5:30pm)
- Medieval dinner* (€48)
- Stay at Ballyseede Castle @ Tralee
Day 3 (Dingle)
- Dingle of Peninsula (Clockwise driving), follow Rick Steve’s guide
- Dunbeg Fort (€3)
- Beehive Huts (€2)
- Riasc Monastery* (free)
- Gallarus Oratory* (€3)
- The town of Dingle
- Minard Castle* (free)
- Lunch @ Sammy’s* (Inch Beach)
- Stay @ Larkinley Lodge* @Killarney
- Walk around Killarney
- Dinner @ Quinlans Seafood Bar (get fish & chips)
- Laurels Pub*
Day 4 (Killarney)
- Ring of Kerry (counter clockwise)
- Town of Cahersiveen*:
- Skellig Ring Loop*:
- Velentia Island (Knightstown)
- Portmagee
- Kerry Cliff (€4)
- Ballinskelligs
- Caherdaniel:
- Derrynane House (€3)
- Sneem:
- Staigue Fort* (free)
- Killarney National Park (free)
- Stay @ Friars Glen* @ Killarney
- Dinner @ Bircin*
Day 5 (Kilkenny)
- Muckross House* (9am to 7pm, €7 guided tour)
- Rock of Cashel (9am to 7pm, €6)
- Kilkenny (52 mins drive):
- Smithwicks Brewery* (tour noon, 1pm, 3pm, 3:30pm, €10, 1.5hr)
- Walk around town
- Stay at Kilkenny River Court Hotel*@ Kilkenny
- Dinner @ Kyteler’s Inn*
Day 6 (Wicklow/Dublin)
- Kilkenny Castle* (9am- 5:30pm ;€6, 1hr)
- Drive to Wicklow:
- Dalkey (a southern seaside town, home to Bono, Van Morrison and the film director Neil Jordon):
- Lunch @ Fannegans (Michelle Obama visited in 2013)
- Drive to Dublin:
- Drive around Phoenix Park
- Return car @ Dublin Airport (take Aircoach €7 back to the city)
- Temple Bar:
- Dinner @ Gallagher’s Boxty House
- Walk around
- Stay at Trinity Capital Hotel* @ Dublin
Day 7 (Dublin)
- Breakfast @ Queen of Tarts*
- Hop on/Hop off Bus:
- Kilmainham Gaol* (9:30am-6pm; €6.00, 1.5hr tour)
- HOHO Bus around the city for 1.5hrs
- St. Patrick’s Cathedral (photo outside)
- Christ church Cathedral* (photo outside)
- Dublin Castle (view outside)
- Chester Beatty Library* (free tour at 3 & 4pm)
- Whelan’s (picture only)
- St. Stephens Green
- Shop around Grafton St
- Walk around Temple Bar & O’Connell St
- Dinner @ Elephant & Castle
- Chill by the hotel patio
Day 8 (Dublin)
- Coffee/croissant @ Trinity College cafe
- Walk around Trinity College
- Flight to NYC
Other points of interest
- Dingle: Kilmalkedar Church; Eask Tower
- Killarney: Skellig Michael (weather dependent); Kissane Sheep Farm; Ross castle
- Kenmare
- Cork:
- Blarney Castle (9am to 7pm, €12)
- Cahir Castle (1 hr drive; 9am to 6:30pm, €3)
- Swiss Cottage
- Dublin:
- Guinness Storehouse (7pm last adm, free parking, €14.85)
- Book of Kells at Trinity College – Old Library (9:30am-4:30pm; €6)
- Howth (seaside town)
Tips
- Bring a good GPS
- Don't drive through the countrysides in the dark, you might get lost!
- Car rental companies:
- Easy Tour Ireland (Hertz)
- Attracah Lyndon
