Ireland for ten days
I will be in Ireland from March 23-31 and I fly into and out of Dublin. I was wondering if I should stay in Dublin the entire time and make day trips out of the city to different places or if I should stay other places. I am also open to suggestions as to where to go but it has to be accessible by train and don't plan on going to Northern Ireland.1
It really depends on your interests and style of travel, but with ten days you could safely spend a few nights in, say, three different places, taking in sights along the way. Some of the most attractive areas of the country would be difficult to get to from Dublin and back in a day. (Unfortunately, judging by the Irish Rail map, it seems lovely Donegal is not accessible at all by rail.)I'd suggest Galway as a good base for some excursions only because I've been through there a couple of times. But there are many other options, and someone who's more familiar with rail connections will be able to help more.
3
I am uncertain why it has to be accessible by train and why buses can't do the job.However, a classic itinerary would be to explore Dublin central for a couple of days, a few day trips out of Dublin (Dalkey and Howth are accessible by train and great in good weather and there is also Newgrange and a coach tour of Wicklow although both these are buses), Galway for a couple of days (although things like Cliffs of Moor and The Burren are again coach trips), and perhaps a night in Killarney and a day trip to Ring of Kerry or Dingle Penninsula.
If there is no way at all that buses are an option (and many buses are a good option on the main routes with facing seats and free wi-fi and cheaper and faster than trains) then Dublin taking in Howth and Dalkey (four days), Galway (two days) and Cork (two days with a trip to Cobh).
4
Dublin at the end of the day is a city, so you really need to get yourself out of the City and explore real Ireland.My I suggest http://www.paddywagontours.com
If you think this is too expensive, then here is another option:
From Dublin head to Galway (http://www.buseireann.ie/inner.php?id=279)
In Galway you will see day tours to the Aran Islands/Cliffs of Moher/Connemara
From Galway travel via Limerick and onto Killarney - Great for seeing the Ring of Kerry/Pass of Dunloe/Kenmare/Dingle
From Killareny travel onto Cork City and then back to Dublin.
Many Irish hotels offer great deals during the month of Jan so I would getting booking!
Hope this helps!
5
All Ireland is real, from Temple Bar to the city centre and housing estates of Limerick..An alternative to the often more expensive labelled Bus Eirran buses are citylink and gobus to Galway so check them out.
But again, this only works if buses are an option so some feedback on that would be good.
