IRELAND: 10 Days on a Budget

Our flight on AER LINGUS left Los Angeles and landed in Dublin about 15 hours later. We LOVE Aer Lingus; excellent friendly service. The airport was clean and efficient. Directly outside from where we collected our luggage was the taxi queue with an attendant that whisked everyone needing a taxi into cars with Disneyland-speed. (There are ATMs in the terminal if you need the 25 Euro fare to City Center.) The private taxi was well worth it, as we found Dublin taxi drivers to be not only informative, but extemely friendly and full of Irish wit as well!

This itinerary was a little aggressive for the amount of time we had allotted. There were some additional places that I had wished to squeeze in… but I wisely decided to save that for another trip! With that being said, hold on to your hats, for this one is a bit of a whirlwind! (Note prices are in U.S. dollars per person and are estimates due to fluctuations in conversion rates)

DAY 1: DUBLIN – Perfectly situated in Lower Dublin, stay at the O’CALLAGHAN DAVENPORT HOTEL https://www.davenporthotel.ie/ . I warn you it’s pricey ($235 U.S. per night, 4-star rating, includes a sit-down breakfast. Do NOT bypass those scones!), but it is situated walking distance from everything: Merrion Square with that odd Oscar Wilde lounging statue!; The Archeological Museum; The National Gallery of Ireland; stroll along the river Liffey. Book the Storytelling Dinner at The Brazen Head Pub, Dublin’s oldest pub, for an evening of food, folklore and music. https://www.irishfolktours.com/ ($58 U.S per person)

DAY 2: DUBLIN & BELFAST: Begin the day early as you don’t want to miss the excellent hotel breakfast. Next two nights are in Belfast!
–EARLY ACCESS: BOOK OF KELLS and Neighborhood Walking tour (meet at the entrance to Trinity College, Book through TripAdvisor, $55.00 U.S.)
– Rent a car (SIXT CAR HIRE) for 7 Days. It’s 2-hour to Belfast. ($65 U.S. per day if require an automatic transmission. Manuals are much less.)
–Black Taxi TOUR OF POLITICAL PEACE MURALS (Booked through TripAdvisor, $55 U.S. per person). Personal and insightful peek into “The Troubles” of Belfast.

DAY 3: GIANTS CAUSEWAY & TITANIC BELFAST:
-Easy 1-hour drive from Belfast to Giants Causeway– no need to pay for tour! Leave early if you also want to add a tour of the Bushmills Distillery! (https://www.bushmills.com/distillery/ $11 U.S. per person)
-Follow the coast back down to Belfast.
–TITANIC BELFAST museum & experience. Closing time is around 7PM in the summertime and you will require about 2 hours. It’s worth it! ( $24 U.S. per person https://www.titanicbelfast.com/ )

DAY 4: BELFAST TO GALWAY
–Bru Na Boinne / Newgrange & Knowth: tour 5000 year old Passage Tombs (arrive early as possible as limited admittance and shorter lines in early morning. http://www.worldheritageireland.ie/bru-na-boinne/built-heritage/newgrange/ )
–Trim Castle: Pay for the docent tour! Best 5 Euros you’ll ever spend! Fun Fact: if you’re a BRAVEHEART fan, each aspect of this castle is a different castle in the movie. http://www.heritageireland.ie/en/midlands-eastcoast/trimcastle/
-Stay at The Twelve Hotel for 2 nights in quaint Barna Village, just outside of Galway. Eat at the Donnelly’s pub across the street.

DAY 5: VISIT ASHFORD CASTLE
-Experience walking through the forrest with falcons for 75 Euro per person.
-Archery Lessons
-Lunch in the castle Drawing Room (need reservations) https://www.ashfordcastle.com/
-Afternoon shopping in Galway
-Return to The Twelve Hotel

DAY 6: CLIFFS OF MOHER, ARAN ISLANDS, KILLARNEY
-Leave early for Doolin (1 1/2 hr drive) to catch the boat to Inis Oirthir island. Tour the island by horse and cart ($15 U.S. available at dock). Return for breathtaking views from the boat beneath the Cliffs of Moher. https://doolinferry.com/ $34 U.S. per person roundtrip.
-Drive country roads to take ferry from Killimer to Tarbert.
-Stay at KILLEEN HOUSE HOTEL in Killarney.

DAY 7: KILLARNEY, CORK, to KILKENNY
-While in Killarney, drive through the lush KILLARNEY NATIONAL PARK and visit MUCKROSS HOUSE for a tour of a manor house ( $10 U.S. per person http://www.muckross-house.ie/ ) Check the website for other activity offerings as well!
– Drive to the coastal town of CORK. This enchanting town is the second largest of Ireland. Do your research, as there is a lot to see here! There is another Titanic experience as Cork was the last port visited by the fated ship. https://www.cork-guide.ie/corkcity.htm
-It’s another 2-hour drive to KILKENNY. Stay at BUTLER HOUSE, a restored Georgian house seperated by a garden from Kilkenny Castle. https://www.butler.ie/

DAY 8: KILKENNY and back to DUBLIN
-Explore Kilkenny Castle and its artisan shops. Other sights: St. Canise’s Cathedral & round tower; Smithwicks Brewery; and The Black Abbey.
-Return to Dublin: 2-hour drive. Stayed at The Croke Park Hotel (across from the stadium), but not situated as conveniently as The O’Callaghan from our first night.
-Return the rental car.

DAY 9: DUBLIN (So much to see, so little time!)
–St. Patrick’s Cathedral tour https://www.stpatrickscathedral.ie/ $8 U.S.
–Molly Malone statue: and maybe a fondle for luck….
–Dublin Castle guided tour http://www.dublincastle.ie/tickets-and-times/ $14 U.S.
-Shopping & walking the town

DAY 10: Return flight home
**NOTE: You need to arrive at the airport THREE hours early minimum as they do customs before you leave the country! You won’t see your luggage again until you arrive at your final destination.