Try to drive across Ireland, can you give me a time line?

Question

I want to fly into Dublin than drive around the island. Here is my estimated driving route: Dublin to Cork, then Killorglin, Limerick, Galway, Easkey, Donegal, Derry, and then fly out of Belfast. More or less can you tell me how far apart the cities from each other? Would I need to book a night for each city, or can some of them be seen in one day?

Answer 1

If this is your planned route these are estimated timings for you:

Dublin to Cork, 5 hours

Cork to Killorglin 2 hours

Kilorglin to Limerick 2 hours

Limerick to Galway 2 hours

Galway to Easkey (I presume in Mayo?) 2hours

Easkey to Donegal (depending on where) 2-3 horus

Donegal to Derry (again depending where) 45mins - 90mins

Derry to Belfast 2 hours

If you go to cork, stay there over night, some great nights out can be had,

You can stop off in Killorglin during the day and head on to Limerick, so its not the nicest place, adn has the name stabcity, so if you dont mind the extra drive head onto Galway instead. Its great there worth even staying there for 2-3 days, as if you travel down head to Connemara, the local irish langauge is spoken only here, and also the Aran  Islands, (need to get a boat or small plane to get there).

As i said i am not sure about Easkey, Donegal is a home place for me, from the Shrove area the very top point of it. Beautiful views and worth staying here for a day or so even to travel the county.

Derry is a great city and just across the boarder, but can be done in a day.

But when driving to Belfast, you must stop off at teh bushmills distillery, it is just 30mins from Derry, and a great way to pass as you learn about the whiskey business and can buy a rare whiskey with your personalised name label on it!! and of course from there another 30mins away is the giants causeway and amazing view of stone creations and myths.

Belfast its a great city and worth a night there too!!!

Hope you enjoy your trip, over all i would suggest at least a 7 day trip! but more like 10days just incase!!

Answer 2

I had 5 nights in Ireland.  I (bussed) into Dublin and stayed the night there, then hired a car and drove to Kilkenny (about 2-3hrs), then to cork (via Cashel...a few hours travelling here), and round the Dingle penisular (via tralee...a LONG day about 8hrs drving here) staying in Limerick and then back to Dublin for another night (a couple of hours driving again).

I found I was driving a LOT of the time, although I got to see some cool little places.  I was really exhausted at the end of the 5 days really. I found it always seemed to take a bit longer than I would think to get from place to place.  THe roads are often just single lane ones ,and traffic can build up in front making it difficult to pass.....but when you hit the motorways its great and you move much more quickly!!

Ireland is small and it will take a few hours to get to each place, if you are direct, but I guess you would need about 12 days to  2 weeks to see all those places (properly ie not just drive through and have an hour walk around like me at times, although there are places that you can do that to), have time for a break now and then and to be able to meader along.

Accommodation wise:

There are LOTs of B&Bs everywhere.  I only booked 1 night and either drove into places directly or went to the tourist info centre which helped (ie they booked for me.  I went there in early July so its not THAT bad).  Having the car is a major plus, in that you get stay in cheaper places a bit futher out of towns/outskirts etc.  I found Cork was the most expensive place to stay.

Maybe getting hold of an Ireland B&B book may help you.

Have fun!