Ten Days In Ireland, Thoughts on How?

Hello Community, I'm Rose and I'll be visiting Ireland in June with my husband. We want to go from Dublin to Kilkenny, Cork, Kerry, Clare, Galway, Donegal, and Wetsmeath.
I wonder if you all have a suggestion on the best route to do this full circuit. We'll be renting a car. Many thanks!

Hi Rose,

June is a fantastic time of the year to visit, the days are at their longest and the weather isn't too bad either!

Ten days is a lovely time to spend with us and you will be able to see all of the places on your list as you drive around.

The route you have mentioned is a popular one. We have a super example of a 12 day trip around the coastline that you may wish to have a look at, certainly as far as the journey goes to County Donegal. Then maybe a visit to Derry~Londonderry before going down through Omagh, Enniskillen, and Cavan following onto Longford before finishing in Westmeath.

I hope this gives you lots of inspiration, and I'm sure your fellow members and some industry partners will be able to add to this list!

Speak soon,

Martin

Hi Rose, 

When you reach the Donegal leg of your journey, having driven the Wild Atlantic Way, you might like to consider taking the car ferry from Greencastle on the Innishowen Peninsula to Magilligan on the Causeway Coast Way.  The shuttle service crossing only takes about 15 minutes and traversing the Foyle Estuary by boat is a great way to take in the beautiful scenery. 

From there you can travel east along the northern coastline where you will discover many varied attractions including the Mussenden Temple, Dunluce Castle, Bushmills Whiskey Distillery, Giant's Causeway and Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge.  The area is well known for its long sandy beaches and cliff paths.  Walking and water sports are popular all year round and especially during the long, mild summer days.  

Hope you have a memorable time exploring Ireland!
Anne

Hi Rose.

The best route depends on what you want to see: landscapes, Irish music & dance, pubs, food or Ireland's past.
Day 1: A full day in Dublin.
Day 2: Take M7/M9 to Kilkenny, see Kilkenny Castle. Continue on M9 to Waterford, continue on N25 towards Cork City. 
Stop before Cork to see Cobh, last departure of Titanic. Cork city centre can be a bottleneck, take N40 to N71, detour to Kinsale for an overnight stay.
Day 3: N71 to Rosscarbery to see Drombeg Stonecircle.
Detour to Mizen Head, but beware of time, roads get slower the more west you go. Follow the N71 towards Bantry.
At Glengariff: decision between Ring of Kerry (N70) or Ring of Beara (R572, R575, R571). Both are safe bets, but Beara is less commercialized though time consuming if you go all the way to Dursey Island. Stop in Kenmare.
Day 4: Follow the N71 through Killarney (can be a bottleneck). If you do the Ring of Kerry, you can still finish in Killarney, otherwise follow the N22 to Tralee. Continue on N69 to Tarbert and take the ferry to cross the Shannon Estuary.
Follow the N67 to the Burren. Make a stop at the Poulnabrone Dolmen and (time permitting) a detour to see the Cliffs of Moher.
Follow the N67 to Galway City. Visit the city centre for a cultural spree and stay near the city.
Day 5: You don't mention Connemara, Mayo nor Sligo. Connemara is worth seeing though time consuming (a day).
From Galway city follow the N17 north to Sligo (alternatively the N84 to Castlebar, then N5, N58, N26, N59 to Sligo). Sligo offers a great numbers of things to see but it depends on taste. You could stay near Benbulben just north of Sligo Town.
Day 6: From Sligo follow the N15 and enter County Donegal. Follow the N56 west to visit Slieve League. Follow the N56 northeast to Glenveagh National Park. If you stay in a village near the coast you might get lucky to hear people speaking Irish.
Day 7: Follow the N56 through Letterkenny and then return on the N15 to Sligo. You might want to do an alternative route to drive through County Derry and County Fermanagh in Northern Ireland as long as you find your way to the N4 from Sligo to Boyle. Stay somewhere near Boyle.
Day 8: In Boyle find the N61 to Tulsk and turn left on the N5. Stop in Strokestown to visit the Irish Famine Museum. Head back towards Tulsk (only 5 miles) and find the N61 south to Athlone. Find the M6 east. Make a detour at Kilbreggan to visit Locke's Whiskey Distillery in Westmeath. Head south 10 miles for a detour to the next distillery: Tullamore. Then find the M6 back to Dublin.
Day 9: Use this day to adjust the above routes including detours or use the day to visit Newgrange or Glendalough.
Slainte!

Poul,
Go raibh maith agat! This is quite helpful. I can see you have much experience!
Best,
Rose

We covered most of this route last May and are returning this May again for 2 weeks. Galway was our most Northern City last year and it will be Westport this year. We enjoyed Mize Head and the drive to Crookhaven to visit the most southern pub in Ireland. Stop by Bantry House for the tour. We enjoyed the stops as much as the driving. I know the desire is to see many places, but the town/pub you are in is just as good as the next, and lots closer.