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Anytime is a good time for Ireland, just realize most of the fun will be indoors. Cork is an amazing city and is nearby alot of sites for day trips. I would be here for new years in one of the many pubs.Tuesday, thursday and friday night are always cracking in Cork. You wont have troubles with a car around Ireland but you just skip it and rely on the bus and train system. It will be cold but just bring a good waterproof and wear layers.

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Hi ya and welcome to TT.

You will find that on three or four of the days you are in Ireland many of the museums and attractions will be closed so be sure to plan around that.

You have less than ten full days in total which is probably enough time to take in the delights of Galway, Cork and Dublin with a few days in each. A guidebook would list places to visit as well as anyo9ne else can or a search of the web or TT but for things in Dublin search TT for St Michan's and add Marsh's Library and dubpubs05 or dubpubs06 for pubs in Dublin. In/around Galway things to see include Cliffs of Moher, The Burren, Aran Islands.

This - http://www.nyedublin.ie/ - gives/will give details on NYE in Dublin but at the end of the day it is the usual drunkeness, lack of toilets and paying to get into pubs. Galway was a good option for NYE when I was there once.

The weather is a good question. In the winters of 2010-11 and 2009-2010 driving might have been a bit challenging, heavy snowfalls (by Irish standards) and all. The winter of 2011-12 , not so much.

Think carefully about the need to drive between Dublin and Galway. It is motorway and unless you plan to get off it there isn't much worth seeing. At a tenner each for a bus service and reduced hassle of parking in Galway (for atleast one night) it might be a good cheaper option.

Fish and chips? Beshoff's in Howth do great fish and chips so if you are doing an afternoon trip out to to there you're in business. They're on the waterfront, look for the queue. There is also a Beshoff fish and chips in O'Connell St in the city centre.

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Weather at that time of year could be anything really - 2 years ago there was a lot of snow but i would say over the past say 10 years it is more likely to be cold and/or wet but not so much so as to prevent you from driving around.

Similar to what is suggested above, you could drive to Galway and use as a hub for exploring around the West - Cliffs of Moher, The Burren, Westport in Mayo is a lovely small town at the foot of Croagh Patrick mountain.

Other options include heading to Cork or Kerry in the southwest and explore places like Tralee, Killarney, Kinsale (seafood and good restaurants mmm) including Cork City.

If weather prevents you from driving too far, Kilkenny is only a little over an hour from Dublin and has plenty of pubs and good restaurants.

Woudl also second Beshoffs on the Fish and Chips.....

Chubby

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In terms of NYE myself and my two friends (all Irish) have just booked a guesthouse in Dingle in Co. Kerry for the night. It's supposed to be amazing. Fireworks on the pier and then a public gathering at midnight with a marching band and the church bells ringing. Ireland doesn't really do NYE very well, it's usually just people squashed into pubs at 9pm and a half hearted drunken countdown.

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Hi Angie,

Delighted you are planning a visit to Ireland :).
May I suggest that you take the train where possible between larger cities. There may be extra traffic on the roads New Years Eve!
See www.irishrail.ie for Christmas time timetables, alternatively www.buseireann.ie for bus timetables.

So far on Bus Eireann's journey planner, you can only plan up until 21.12.12, however I have this information for you...!
27th - 28th Dec Normal Weekday service
Sat 29th Dec Normal Saturday service
Sun 30th Dec Normal Sunday service
Mon 31st Dec Normal Weekday service (New Years Eve)
Tue 1st Jan Normal Sunday service (New Years Day)
2nd Jan --- normal service resumes

Otherwise car rental is a fine option. You can try: www.budget.ie www.thrifty.ie www.perfectcarhire.com www.avis.ie

We never quite know what is coming with the weather, it could be a very mild winter when you can enjoy cycling outdoors; or in such case as winter 2010/11 it was a lot snowier and at this we do not cope very well!

www.nyedublin.ie is a very helpful and exciting website where you can get the best of knowledge for all events goin on in the Dublin area. Tickets will need booked to attend the main event, but this year it is planned to be better than ever as 01.01.13 will commence the year long celebration in Ireland known as 'The Gathering' which is to celebrate people finding their roots here in Ireland and share in the love of the place! There will be many specific gatherings happening throughout the year which can be found and/or created on www.thegatheringireland.com.

Other Christmassy specifics which might be enjoyed in and around Dublin are:
I-Skate at the RDS (a large beautiful arena dedicated to hosting cultural and commercial events and exhibitions). It could be busy, but never overcrowded as entry to the ice is restricted. Your desired session can be booked; and each friday night there is 80's night with the early birds receiving free costume hire (if desired!)
or
Leopardstown Christmas Festival, a post Christmas festival of Irish social, sporting and horse racing traditions! http://www.visitdublin.com/event/Leopardstown_Christmas_Festival.

An excellent fish eaterie in central Dublin has to be Bite http://www.bitedublin.com/ which hosts some delicious Christmas menus also.

Cork really is a beautiful place to visit, with the infamous Blarney Castle and trip to kiss the 'stone of eloquece' to endow with you the commonly Irish 'gift of the gab'! is a must! It is open everyday except Christmas Eve and Christmas Day from 9am to sundown. I would recommend arriving no later than 3pm on your chosen day.

You can either drive if a car hire is your chosen option, or there is a bus every 20-30minutes from Cork bus station.

The Cork City Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour is highly recommended and hopping off to ring the Shandon Bells at St Anne's church is a great experience! If not too afraid of tight spaces, climb to take in the view from the top!

Cobh has great history re Titanic and Emigration, and is a lovely seaside stop on the train not far from Cork city at all.
...

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Kinsale, 30 minutes from Cork, is the Gourmet capital and hosts truely some of the best restaurants in the country, namely fish restaurants.

Moving further west, County Kerry and the Dingle peninsula host beautifully scenic drives, and the chance to meet our local friendly dolphin, Fungi! The weather could inhibit confidence on some of these coastal routes!!

The Burren and the Cliffs of Moher are recommended in County Clare as 'must sees'!

Galway is great 'craic' and a lively location from where you can also discover the Aran Islands by boat (weather permitting), Connemara National Park and Kylemore Abbey.

Belfast and Derry/Londonderry- City of Culture 2013 are also great stops, as is the County Antrim coast with Giants Causeway and great fish and chip shops to try out.

Finally.... enjoy your post Christmas holiday with us!