Republic of Ireland - what shouldn't we miss?

[OMGitsnotgood]

Planning a driving holiday around the Republic of Ireland in May. Not Northern Ireland as we have friends and family there so visit separately, and not Dublin itself as we have visited a few times, although we will probably sail to Dun Laoghaire
It all looks so lovely, finding it hard to net it down to a sensible number of stops.
If you had 2 weeks and a car, where would you say we must visit? And where is overrated & not worth visiting?
We love walking, beautiful scenery, visiting lovely towns and villages & other places of interest. Beaches - love walking by them but not so much spending time on them.
Adults only so don't need to entertain children.
Thank you .

Wild Atlantic Way, in particular Donegal

I’d start in Donegal and work my way down the west coast to Cork. The Wild Atlantic Way is a recent tourist invention. But quite a useful one, in that it just provides signage and suggests places to go, things to see, places to stay etc.

Following as planning a similar trip!

If you are coming in at Dun Laoghaire, then definitely have a drive over the Wicklow Mountains before you head west.
And Glendalough ❤️

I'd go along the coast from Dunlaoghaire through Wicklow, Wexford and Waterford ending up West Cork

Probably fairly, to me that’s the dullest bit of Ireland!

Go West!! It won't be too busy in May and hopefully the weather will be OK but pack rain gear just in case, the Wild Atlantic Way is popular and well advertised but if you do some homework you'll find accommodation of all sorts, from 5☆ hotels to yurts along its route, I'm actually jealous thinking about it, its a lovely relaxing place with nice people, don't rush trying to fit it all in, spend a few days at each place you book so you get to explore without unpacking and repacking etc. Don't do the American style bus tour - a half hour in Dingle and Killarney, the Cliffs of Moher for 10 minutes of photos, Bunratty for pictures standing outside the castle (no time to go inside or to see the village), toilet break in Adare,
Picture of book of Kells and on for dinner in Donegal, go home and tell everyone they've seen all of Ireland in three days!! (I live near one of their stops, it's amusing to see them getting the 'essential picture' but they've no interaction with anyone other than who is on the bus), they miss out on so much.

I meant UNFAIRLY, sorry!

💯 the Beara peninsula it's unreal and less touristy than the ring of Kerry. Highlights include the Healy pass and the wee village of Eyeries

Have they started ferries to DL again?! That's amazing news, they stopped the Cat when we lived there, sad times!

Well we lived in south dub, so I would always suggest Dalkey, Killiney and down into Wicklow.

Also loved Clare and Kerry, the sea down near Parknasilla Hotel is stunning, crystal clear and seals everywhere.

Obviously Ireland is really small so you can cover lots of highlights.

I would class these as must do

Kinsale - just outside cork city and beautiful village with great restaurants and shops etc

Go further into west cork and see; clonakilty (big market town, michael Collins museum if you are interested)

Glandore - tiny by lovely fishing hamlet (lunch in Hayes pub)

Schull - lovely foodie fishing village

Glengariff - get the boat to garinish island.

Then cross over into Kerry and go to

Kenmare - quite upmarket town

Dingle - gorgeous, fun village, great bars (dick Mac’s) restaurants etc

Then I’d go to Connemara - my favourite part of Ireland

Clifden - ‘ capital’ of Connemara, big town, lots going on.

Roundstone fishing village

Killarney harbour tour and Kylemore abbey.

visit one of the island - inisbofin is my favourite

Go through the Doolough valley famine walk

Westport - gorgeous town with lovely bookshops , shops, coffee shops etc

Around all the above will be beautiful walks - coast and hill walks etc and lots to see and do.

Have they started ferries to DL again?!

Ooh I didn't know they had stopped, just assumed. Worth starting this thread just for that!

😁

Didn't it just used to be the fast Cat into DL, now it's just the fast ferry into Dublin port I think.

You can still do a fast get away to DL via the toll bridge from the port and down the coast road.

Dublin Port or Rosslare in Wexford are the two access points for ferries from the UK. (and France and Spain also).

Take out the map, and calculate the distances, Ireland might be seen as a small country (and it is relatively speaking when compared to UK), but the distances are long when off the motorways.

You can either go clockwise or counterclockwise. I wouldn't try to do both and pack too much in as that will be exhausting. So for example (counter clock wise) go to the West Coast and start in Co. Clare (cliffs of Moher, the Burren, great beaches), then Cork, Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow and back to Dublin. There are huge distances involved because there is so much to see and do, you will want to do it all!

Clockwise go to Donegal, then Sligo, Mayo, Galway, and across Shannon country to Meath for the megalithic sites, (Newgrange), and back to Dublin.

There isn't enough room to list everything in this post, it would be an essay. But fire away any questions you might have and I and others will try to answer them for you.

I'm a fan of Home - Lough Key Forest and Activity Park

Cloontykilla Castle from Grand Designs is on Lough Key.

Excellent thank you. I think we'll probably end up looking at all the places ee want to visit, then split into 2 trips. This thread is really useful input to that process, thank you

West seems to be getting the most votes. Can you recommend a better route than Wicklow, Wexford, Waterford where we'd see more interesting things (in your opinion obviously!) Appreciate everyone will have their favourites and less favourites - I'll look at everyone's suggestions and then make a decision. I've already said to DH we cannot possibly do it all in one two week trip!

Good post. I wouldn't miss out on Galway city though. Nice place to potter around on a Saturday afternoon especially. Good for a night out also.

We'll probably do the West Coast, but won't manage it all. If like to spend a few days in whichever counties we decide on visiting . I'm leaning towards accommodation in the county towns... but open to suggestions. Need a selection df good bars and restaurants, somewhere nice to walk around in the evenings and where we'd be able to get parked either at the hotel or n nearby public car parks

Thanks

Westport, Croagh Parrick, Clare Island, killarey Fjord, Clifden, Dog's Bay.

Definitely Westport, nice hotels ,pubs and restaurants. Also I forgot the Greenway, you can cycle out to Achill, stunning scenery.

From Dublin, you seem to want to get to the west coast. And you do have to cross the whole country to do it. Lough key, Carrowkeel, Arigna, the Shannon, it’s all there before you get to t’other side. https://www.viamichelin.com/web/Routes/Route-Dublin-A94-Dublin-Ireland-to-Sligo-Ireland

From Sligo, turn left and head down the coast.

This. Can highly recommend the Delphi Resort it was absolutely stunning. Plus the Connemara Sands Beach Hotel.