Ireland suggestions needed

[greenpurplesocks]

I’m visiting Ireland in the spring for five days to make a pilgrimage to family graves and to see the area my grandparents were from. Also want to see a few sights.

We are flying into Dublin and out of Belfast. Staying first night in Glendalough and the final 2 in Belfast.

I want to visit Newgrange and we have a stop in the Dundalk area. Otherwise I’m looking for suggestions of places to visit and explore roughly on that trajectory avoiding visiting Dublin.

Also suggestions of places to stay along that trajectory. Maybe a spa hotel for one of them so can have a massage but otherwise reasonably priced places! I was looking at Howth but can’t see there’s much there? Also think going past Dublin on the West would be best?

I asked Chat GPT but some of the places it suggests don’t seem to exist 😂

Thank you.

From Glendalough you could look at Kilkenny and Wexford.
Monard in Wexford is a fabulous but pricey adult only spa hotel.

Where are the graves and do you have any relatives living nearby?
Trim is on the Boyne and has a good castle and a couple of hotels.
Carlingford is also good between Dublin and Belfast. Both places avoid going into Dublin.

I’d second carlingford. Beautiful coastal village/ town.

Another vote for Carlingford. The spa at the Four Seasons there is supposed to be nice.
From there do the Mourne Mountains coastal route, its very pretty in good weather.

We had lunch in Slieve Donard in Newcastle north of the border last year. It used to be excellent but last year it wasn't. Its a lovely site though.

Westport in Mayo. Great little welcoming town. Beautiful drives from there on the Atlantic Way, climb Croagh Patrick if you’re adventurous and the beaches are white sand and backed by mountains.

Mayo Sligo and Donegal are beautiful...but might be too far from the Dublin and Belfast route. They deserve a flight to Knock and a week to themselves. (Dreaming of long sunny walks late in the evening...)

Just a heads up, not sure where you’re staying at but I read this the other day about the Gelndalough Hotel. Ps not bashing the hotel as I’ve stayed before a few times and loved it but this would change my mind.

@Cleanthatupoh dear… I already booked it 😂
Will just skip breakfast I guess!

This route is on our list for next time. Looks amazing thank you.

Graves are in Dundalk area. I’ll look at Trim as that’s en route, thank you.

We had friends who stayed in Knightsbrook in Trim. It is one of the many Celtic Tiger hotels. There's an old hotel near the castle.
And its good that any hygiene problems are discovered and sorted!

Kileavy Castle in the Slieve Gullion area is stunning and has a beautiful spa, it’s a few miles outside Newry so very convenient for the Dublin, Dundalk, Belfast route.

Two restaurant recommendations for Dundalk - The Cathedral and Number One Jocelyn.

Also Strandfield Garden Centre north of Dundalk just off the M1 - outstanding daytime restaurant.

If you are still hungry the McWilliam gallery at Banbridge is one of our favourite stops for traybakes or huge lunches. And some art obviously.