questions about itinerary

It seems you are taking in most of Ireland's highlights. Make sure you plan your travel times well as some of the places your are travelling to are not well served by public transport i..e. Doolin and some not at all i.e. Glendalough, there is a private operator on this route but you can do an organised day tour of this area. You probably have them already but check out www.buseireann.ie - irishrail.ie - www.glendaloughbus.com - www.doolinferries.com

As you have limited time in Belfast I'd recommend doing one of those city bus tours as it will show you the highlights of the city and also bring you out to Stormont, which is just outside the city. Stormont is where the Northern Ireland assembly sits, it is set in beautiful grounds.

When you are in Cashel, try and make your way down to Cahir which is only about 10-15 minutes by bus, there is a beautiful castle here set on the river, I also found Cahir town to be nice than Cashel but everyone goes to Cashel because of the "Rock". To take great photos of the Rock of Cashel walk out of town to the N8 road and you will get a terrfic view. You should also visit Hore Abbey which is about 1km behind the Rock - don't worry you, are allowed to climb over the wall and through the field to get there

When in Doolin check www.doolinferries.com they will bring you out to the Aran Islands, a place I would highly recommend you visit, they aslo do boat trip to the Cliffs of Moher whch is really cool as you get to see the cliffs from a different perspective. If you do this, bring your sea legs as sailings can be rough at any time of the year. I did it one summer and it was like a rollercoaster but well worth it.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Enjoy!

It seems to me that you're doing the right places, but not in the right order! Giant's Causeway to Kilkenny in a day? I'd go to Newgrange via Drogheda (on main rail route from Belfast to Dublin). From Dublin, do Glendalough (it really can only be done as a day trip from Dublin, no public transport). From Dublin to Kilkenny, Cashel to Kenmare. On to Doolin, and back to Dublin at the end. If you look at a map, it makes more sense this way (in my opinion).

Looks pretty good, but I'd makea quick comment on Newgrange. Firstly, it's a must-see in my humble opinion, but you have it down for days 19-20, and I'm not sure about how that'll fit with your travel time. It's definitely only a day trip, and you might be better to get back to your digs in Dublin, which gives you the luxury of dumping your stuff in one place for a couple of nights in a row (ah, no morning packing!) and then just heading out for the day. Staying the night near Newgrange isn't necessary, and although I've never tried it so somebody may correct me, I don't think the nearest towns are particularly places you'd want to see above anywhere else. Have a wonderful trip!

Glendalough can easily be done as a daytrip from Dublin, as mentioned above. And the Aran islands are not to be missed - the train from Dublin to Galway is 3 hours, then you can do a day trip out to the largest island and see the ring fort - it's fabulous.

Are your flights booked? Is there an option to land on Belfast and then depart from Shannon? You could avoid lots of back-tracking if so!

I like #5 idea. Belfast and round to Shannon would be better. My only concerns are that you have not included Galway or Cork and I would suggest you may have committed too long to Cashel, Doolin and/or Newgrange but that could simply because these places reflect or don't reflect your interests. There seem to be loose days there (a full day in Bushmills itself?).

I agree with the guys above, looks like you are hitting the top spots.

As number 6 says, a full day in Bushmills itself is too much, apart from the distillery, it is quite a small village.

On a full day trip from Belfast you could do: Carrick-a-rede rope bridge, Causeway, Bushmills distillery. Something to think about

You could also travel up the beautiful coast road to these attractions and possibly stay over in conservation village Cushendun and go for a walk round one of the glens, my favourite - Glenariff ( walks of various lengths from Glenariff forest park)

Good luck

Sorry for the rough and ready comment on your plans. Any more questions, just get back here or give me a message.

Day 1 & 2 Dublin
Fine but you won't see everything. You never will though

Day 3 Travel to Bushmills

Train to Belfast in just over two hours. Then it is probably an hour from Belfast. It will take you a good 4 hours or more I would say by the time connections are made etc. Look at the timetables though.

Day 5 Giant’s Causeway AM -- travel back to Belfast
Consider getting a car for these few days in Belfast. It will make your touring so much easier.

Day 6 Kilkenny
Belfast to Kilkenny in a day. More than doable, but I personally would not want to do it! Get the train if you really want to do it. It is important to remember that you are going in June. You will have light from around 4am to about 10 or 11pm, so if you really do want to dit alot into a day, you can. But i would advise, normally, take it handy and relax.

Day 7-9 Cashel
1 night is enough in Cashel I think, but if you get a car again, cashel, Kerry, Claire, you would see alot more. Or even just a car for the Clare bit. Personally, I much prefer the Dingle Peninsula.

Day 10–13 Kenmare (Day 11 Ring of Kerry Bus Tour)
Day 14-16 Doolin
Day 17-18 Glendalough
Doolin - Glendalough in a day, good luck! Go to Galway, see it, then get the train to Dublin one morning and get an afternoon bus to Glendalough. Again if you had you own car, Wicklow Mtns are stunning. Don't forget in dublin though, you can do a nice cliff walk around Howth.

Day 19-20 Newgrange
One day is more than enough. A day trip from Dublin is probably better.
Day 21 Dublin

Thanks to everyone for all the great feedback!! I haven't had time to go over all in detail with a map and timetables but will definitely be doing so. I'll probably have more questions then ;-)

Edited by: alphab4701