Itinerary
Tap any day to expand. Tap any place to see what it is and how to find it.
0
Everyone flies. TeaJay leaves Denver via Vancouver; everyone else leaves Austin via Vancouver. All five converge on the same Air Canada AC 918 to Dublin overnight.
Tips for today
- Set your watch to Ireland time *before* you land.
- Hydrate. Eat lightly. Sleep on the long leg.
- Cell phone: confirm international roaming is on, or grab a travel eSIM before you leave.
1
Land 7:45 AM, pick up the rental car at 9 AM, and hit Dublin while you're still going. Coffee. Guinness. Wicklow Mountains. Aughrim by evening.
What you're seeing
-
Guinness Storehouse
~2 hoursSeven-story brewery experience inside the original 1904 fermentation house. The world's most-visited tourist attraction in Ireland — built around the brewing process, with a free pint of Guinness at the top.
Tip: Book a timed slot in advance — sells out daily. Top-floor Gravity Bar has 360° city views. -
Ballinastoe Woods + Lough Tay
~1.5 hoursA Coillte forest in the Wicklow Mountains with a famous boardwalk loop, used in the films P.S. I Love You and Vikings. The viewpoint over neighbouring Lough Tay is one of Ireland's most photographed spots.
Tip: The 'Guinness Lake' viewpoint over Lough Tay is a 5-min walk from the main car park — looks like a giant pint of Guinness from above.
Tips for today
- Whoever is least groggy drives. Left-side driving + jet lag is the hardest combo of the week.
- Aughrim Airbnb check-in is 3 PM — flexible. You'll arrive when you arrive.
- If anyone is fading, the simplest plan is: Guinness only, skip Wicklow, go straight to Aughrim and sleep.
2
The biggest driving day of the trip — about 5.5 hours behind the wheel. Two castles right on the route make it worth it. Leave Aughrim by 8 AM.
What you're seeing
-
Rock of Cashel
~1.5 hoursA clifftop fortress that was the seat of the Kings of Munster for centuries before being given to the Church in 1101. The complex includes a 12th-century round tower, a Gothic cathedral, and Cormac's Chapel — the earliest Romanesque church in the country.
Tip: Right on the route from Aughrim to Blarney. Cormac's Chapel inside (12th c.) is one of the finest Romanesque buildings in Ireland. -
Blarney Castle & Stone
~2 hoursA 15th-century castle near Cork, famous for the Blarney Stone — kissing it supposedly grants 'the gift of the gab' (eloquent speech). The surrounding 60-acre estate has formal gardens, ancient woods, and a poison garden where deadly plants are grown behind iron grates.
Tip: Kissing the Blarney Stone means lying on your back at the very top of the castle — fine for most, but if you'd rather skip the climb the gardens (poison garden, fern garden, lakeside walks) are world-class on their own.
Tips for today
- Leave by 8 AM. Earlier if everyone's awake.
- Stretch and snack at Cashel — gas stations on the M8 motorway have decent food.
- Blarney is busy in the afternoon. If you arrive after 3 PM the Stone queue gets shorter.
- Dinner: there are good options in Dingle town, 15 min from your Anascaul Airbnb.
3
No checkout, no big drive — just the Dingle Peninsula at your own pace. Inch Beach in the morning, the full Slea Head loop, Dingle town for dinner.
What you're seeing
-
Inch Beach
~45 minA 5 km sand spit jutting into Dingle Bay. Sammy's at Inch is the unmissable café for breakfast or a quick bite right on the beach.
Tip: Wide flat sand — easy walking even at high tide. -
Slea Head Drive
~3 hours (loop)A 30-mile loop around the western tip of the Dingle Peninsula. Iron Age beehive huts, dramatic Atlantic vistas, and the Star Wars: The Last Jedi filming location. Possibly the most scenic short drive in Ireland.
Tip: Locals strongly recommend driving CLOCKWISE (start by heading west out of Dingle on R559) — you'll meet fewer tour buses on the narrow cliff sections. -
Coumeenoole Beach
~30 min stopA small horseshoe of sand at the very tip of the Dingle Peninsula, framed by towering cliffs. Featured in Ryan's Daughter (1970).
Tip: Popular Slea Head photo stop. Stairs down to the sand are steep — easy to view from the top. -
Peddler's Lake
~20 min stopA small alpine lake near the highest mountain pass in Ireland, the Conor Pass. The road between Dingle town and Tralee gives views over both sides of the peninsula.
Tip: Tiny mountain lake on the Conor Pass road — pull over, breathe, take in one of Ireland's most beautiful drives.
Tips for today
- Drive Slea Head CLOCKWISE — head west out of Dingle on R559. Locals always recommend this; you'll meet fewer tour buses on narrow cliff sections.
- Pubs in Dingle town for traditional music: Foxy John's (also a hardware store), Dick Mack's (also a leather shop). Yes, really.
- Funghi the Dolphin statue on the Dingle harbour is a photo op for the kids.
4
Big castle day for dad — Desmond Castle ruins, Bunratty (the half-day folk park), and King John's Castle in Limerick. Adare for lunch in between.
What you're seeing
-
Blennerville Windmill
~30 minAn 1800 grain windmill that's been restored to working order — at 21 m it's the tallest in the British Isles. The site also has a small emigration exhibit (Blennerville was a major famine-era emigration port).
Tip: Quick photo stop just outside Tralee. The tallest working windmill in Ireland and Britain. -
Adare Village + Desmond Castle
~1.5 hours (lunch + walk)A picture-perfect heritage village with a row of thatched 19th-century cottages, a 13th-century Trinitarian abbey, and the medieval Desmond Castle ruins on the River Maigue.
Tip: Often called Ireland's prettiest village — thatched cottages line the main street. Lunch at the Blue Door or 1826 Adare. Desmond Castle ruins sit by the river (free to view from the path). -
Bunratty Castle & Folk Park
~2.5 hoursThe most complete and authentic medieval fortress in Ireland, built in 1425 on the River Ratty. The adjacent Folk Park brings you through 19th-century rural Irish life — staffed by costumed historians and complete with working farms.
Tip: Full half-day attraction. The Folk Park is a recreated 19th-century Irish village with farmhouses, a school, post office, and pubs — extremely engaging for all ages. -
King John's Castle
~1 hourA 13th-century Norman castle on King's Island in the heart of Limerick. Massive walls, drum towers, and an audio-visual exhibition that walks you through 800 years of siege history on the banks of the Shannon.
Tip: City-center castle in Limerick — note that you'll be navigating Limerick traffic. Allow 15 min extra for parking.
Tips for today
- Bunratty is the half-day attraction — give it 2-2.5 hours.
- Limerick city traffic is the slowest part of the day. Allow 15 min extra for parking near King John's.
- If you're running tight on time, drop King John's Castle — it's optional.
5
Moher early to beat the buses, lunch in Doolin with traditional music, then drive the Burren coast up to Dunguaire Castle in Kinvara.
What you're seeing
-
Cliffs of Moher
~2 hoursFourteen kilometres of sea cliffs on the Atlantic, rising to 214 m (702 ft). One of Ireland's most-visited natural attractions — featured in The Princess Bride, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, and Father Ted.
Tip: Book a timed slot online (parking is included). Get there by 9 AM to beat the tour buses. The visitor centre area is paved; the unpaved coastal trail beyond is uneven. -
Doolin
lunch + ~1 hourA small fishing village considered the traditional-music capital of Ireland. Three legendary pubs (Gus O'Connor's, McDermott's, McGann's) host live trad sessions almost every day.
Tip: Gus O'Connor's pub for traditional music — afternoon sessions usually start around 2 PM in season. -
Fanore Beach
~30 minA long sandy beach on the Burren coast, where karst limestone meets the Atlantic. The dunes behind are home to rare orchids and butterflies.
Tip: Quiet stretch of sand backed by dunes, with the Burren limestone hills behind. Less busy than the better-known beaches. -
Dunguaire Castle
~45 minA 16th-century tower house dramatically positioned on a rocky outcrop over Galway Bay. Held by the O'Hynes, the Martyns, and ultimately Oliver St. John Gogarty — the early-20th-c poet who restored it.
Tip: Possibly the most photographed castle in Ireland — perfectly positioned over Galway Bay at Kinvara. Famous medieval banquets if you book ahead.
Tips for today
- Be at the Cliffs by 9 AM — afternoon brings tour buses.
- The Burren is unique in Europe: limestone pavement landscape, tiny purple gentian flowers, megalithic tombs.
- Dunguaire's medieval banquet (if you book ahead) is touristy but dad-approved fun.
6
Drive across Ireland with a stop in Galway for lunch and a walk through the Latin Quarter. Drop the rental at the airport, taxi to the Moxy, dinner in Temple Bar.
What you're seeing
-
Temple Bar
eveningThe cobblestoned cultural quarter on the south bank of the Liffey, known for its pubs, traditional music, and street performers. Yes, it's touristy — go for the atmosphere, not the prices.
Tip: Touristy but a must-do once. The Brazen Head (Dublin's oldest pub, est. 1198) and The Cobblestone are quieter alternatives a short walk away.
Tips for today
- Dropping the rental at Dublin Airport is cheaper than dropping it city-center.
- From the airport, an Uber or taxi to Moxy Docklands is ~€25 / 15 min.
- Pack lightly for the Moxy — your big bags will be in the rental car until drop-off.
7
Be at Dublin Airport by 6:30 AM for the 9:20 flight. Moxy is 15 min from the terminal.
Tips for today
- Pre-clearance: Dublin has US customs INSIDE the terminal. You'll clear US customs in Dublin, not on US arrival.
- Allow extra time for John's wheelchair assistance.
Map
Every stop, color-coded by day. Tap a pin for details. The houses are your nightly stops.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Free, no account, no tracking.
Checklists
Tap to check off. Your checks are saved in this browser — they'll be there when you come back.
📋 Pre-departure
Documents
Money
Connectivity
Bookings to confirm
Health
Home prep
Final 24 hours
🎒 Packing
Documents & money (carry-on)
Electronics
Clothing — Ireland late May
Toiletries
Medical
For William (the kid)
Useful extras
Don't pack these (you'll regret it)
Ireland — what to know
Basics for a first-time visitor. Read once before you go.
Currency
Republic of Ireland uses the EURO (€), NOT the British Pound. ATMs are everywhere and give the best exchange rate — pull cash on arrival at Dublin Airport. Most restaurants and shops take cards, including Apple Pay and Google Pay. Keep €50-100 in cash for small pubs and rural shops.
Driving
DRIVE ON THE LEFT. The driver sits on the right side of the car. Roundabouts go CLOCKWISE — yield to traffic on your right. Rural roads are NARROW with stone walls or hedges right up to the lane edge — slow down, especially around blind corners. Speed limits in km/h: 50 in towns, 80 on country roads, 100 on national roads, 120 on motorways.
Power & plugs
Ireland uses TYPE G plugs (three rectangular pins, same as the UK). You'll need adapters — bring 2-3. The voltage is 230V; modern phone chargers and laptops handle this automatically (look for '100-240V' on the charger). Hair dryers and curling irons from the US generally do NOT work without a voltage converter — buy or borrow one in Ireland.
Tipping
Less expected than in the US. Restaurants: 10-15% if a service charge isn't already included on the bill (it often is for groups of 6+). Pubs: NOT expected. Taxis: round up. Tour guides: a few euros if they did well. Airbnb hosts: NOT expected.
Weather
Late May: highs 60-65°F (15-18°C), lows 45-50°F (7-10°C). It WILL rain — usually in short bursts followed by sunshine. Bring a waterproof jacket with a hood, dress in layers, and don't bother with an umbrella (the wind kills them). The light lasts until ~9:30 PM this time of year — long evenings.
Language
English is universal. You'll see Irish (Gaeilge) on every road sign — it's the official first language of the Republic. A few useful Irish words: Sláinte (SLAWN-cha) = cheers / good health. Fáilte = welcome. Slán = goodbye.
Emergency
Dial 112 (or 999 — both work). It connects to police (Garda), fire, and ambulance. It's the same as 911 in the US. Operators speak English. If you're calling from a US phone set to international, this still works.
US Embassy Dublin
Address: 42 Elgin Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 D04 H4Y4. Phone: +353 1 668 8777. Lost passport, serious trouble, or American emergency assistance — they're your first call.
Wi-Fi & data
Wi-Fi is everywhere — pubs, cafés, hotels. Rural Airbnbs vary; expect spotty signal in the Dingle Peninsula and parts of west Clare. Download Google Maps offline before each drive and you'll be fine even without signal.
Tipping etiquette in pubs
When you order at the bar, you don't tip. If you're at a table and a server brings food + drinks, 10% is appreciated. The Irish are extremely friendly to chatty Americans — start a conversation, you'll make a friend.
Bookings
Every confirmation, address, and phone number in one place.
🏠 Lodging
Aughrim — Wicklow
1 nightLarge 3-bedroom house in Co. Wicklow, your first night in Ireland.
Anascaul — Dingle Peninsula
2 nightsMountain View Cottage on the Dingle Peninsula — your base for two nights of Slea Head and Inch Beach.
Liscannor — Cliffs of Moher
2 nightsTwo nights walking distance from the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren.
Moxy Dublin Docklands
1 nightYour last night in Dublin before flying out — 15 min from the airport.
🚗 Rental car
National Car Rental
Intermediate SUV (Kia Sportage or similar) · Automatic
Sun May 24, 9:00 AM
Sat May 30, 8:00 AM
✈️ Outbound flights
TeaJay
- DEN → YVR United · UA 362 Sat May 23, 7:51 AM → Sat May 23, 9:51 AM
- YVR → DUB Air Canada · AC 918 Sat May 23, 3:05 PM → Sun May 24, 7:45 AM
John & Adam
- AUS → YVR Air Canada (Rouge) · AC 1763 Sat May 23, 8:50 AM → Sat May 23, 11:28 AM
- YVR → DUB Air Canada · AC 918 Sat May 23, 3:05 PM → Sun May 24, 7:45 AM
David & William
- AUS → YVR Air Canada (Rouge) · AC 1763 Sat May 23, 8:50 AM → Sat May 23, 11:28 AM
- YVR → DUB Air Canada · AC 918 Sat May 23, 3:05 PM → Sun May 24, 7:45 AM
✈️ Return flights
TeaJay
- DUB → YUL Air Canada · AC 917 Sat May 30, 9:20 AM → Sat May 30, 11:10 AM
- YUL → DEN Air Canada · AC 1075 Sat May 30, 4:30 PM → Sat May 30, 7:00 PM
John, Adam, David & William
- DUB → YUL Air Canada · AC 917 Sat May 30, 9:20 AM → Sat May 30, 11:10 AM
- YUL → AUS Air Canada · AC 1051 Sat May 30, 4:40 PM → Sat May 30, 8:15 PM
👥 Travelers
- Timothy ('TeaJay') · from Denver
- John · from Austin(wheelchair assistance booked at airport)
- Adam · from Austin
- David · from Austin
- William · from Austin(child)