Ireland Travel experts- i need some advice on an Itinerary

I went to Ireland in late May a few years ago. We stayed mostly Dublin and south, and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

We landed in Dublin and spent an hour or two then went to Galway. From there we went counterclockwise along the coast eventually back to Dublin.

Dingle was our favorite area, but all of the countryside towns were great. Get takeaway from the Fish Box then a pint from Dick Mack's next door and eat at a picnic table and watch/listen to the passers by.

We would spend the day driving around and stopping at old Abbeys and castle ruins. The green hills really are captivating. From Dingle we drove the Slea Head drive and made several stops as we meandered along the coast. I found this drive to be more scenic than Hwy 1 in Cali.

I wouldn't skip the Cliffs of Moher, but everyone is different. We also kissed the Blarney Stone, which we could have skipped but it was a bucket list item for me.

Killarney was a nice town, we stayed at a cottage in the National Park and had a nice meal in town at a place called Murphey Brown's. We did horseback riding through the park, it was a fun experience for our kids.

Dublin was just okay, a typical big city. We did the Guinness Tour and the Trinity Library.

The best part of Ireland is the people. Make time to joke with your waitress or tour guide or anyone you interact with. Most of them have a great sense of humor and love to talk. Ireland is a great country to visit.

It's been a lifetime ago, so things might've changed, but Sligo was one of my favorite places.

Went to Ireland last April. Dublin was just ok. We rented a car and drove to Galway. We stopped at Sean’s Bar at the halfway point. It is the oldest bar in the world and was a cool place.

Cliffs were very impressive and I recommend. The best part of our trip was staying in Dingle and doing the Slea Head loop. The drive had stunning views. Don’t forget to stop at the Beehive Huts.

Agree with all the posts. Dublin was the most “meh” place we went. Not bad just very touristy. Killarney, Kilkenny and cork we went to and loved them all. Kilkenny was the coolest little town. And as others have said the Irish are what makes it. Spent many hours in pubs just chatting with the locals who are happy to chat.

Driving can be terrifying and the roads are two way and the size of a sidewalk. So be prepared. We did the cliffs of Kerry because it’s a little less traveled and the tour busses are crazy in that area. Just amazing views.

It will be a great trip. One of my favorite places Ive visited.

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Yet, you're wasting time flying into Dublin instead of Shannon (SNN.)

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We have to be back in Dublin to end the trip for business reasons, so that’s why Dublin makes sense for us.

My rationale for listing cities/towns rather than attractions/ sites is because I want a good place to land, park the car and hit a restaurant and pub. So I guess my viewpoint is that I put almost as much into where we stay the night than I do for what we see during the day.

I figured there is more to see in Galway than just the Cliffs of Moher…. we might pivot and see them it’s just not a big priority especially if we see Slieve league etc

Good car / driving tips! Thank you

We did:

Land in Dublin head to Dingle
Dingle 2 nights
Doolin/Cliffs of Moher 1 night
Ashford Castle 2 nights
Bushmills Inn 2 nights - Northern Ireland/Giant's Causeway/hit the Titanic Museum in Belfast on the way to Dublin
Dublin 2 nights.

Honestly, if I had to cut anything, Cliffs Moher would be an easy choice. It was great trip. Highlights were Dingle and Ashford Castle. I also really enjoyed Giant's Causeway and Titanic Museum.

Thanks/ I may add in Ashford Castke or at least Cong.

Been to Ireland twice. For a small town we loved Kinsale. Its on the coast below Cork, very picturesque. Its known for its restaurants/food scene. I also really enjoyed Derry. If you're a history buff, the Troubles are still very "palpable" there. Belfast has the same terrible history, but it almost feels commercialised if that makes sense. In Derry it feels like the issues at the heart of the Troubles are much more pervasive and still present.

Also, if you are staying out of the bigger cities, you'll likely be staying in bed and breakfast type places. The host would typically ask us where we were headed that day, they often knew someone there and would call and make us a reservation. Allowed us to be very flexible with our itinerary.