Ireland Road Trip
Where we stayed: Dublin, Galway, Dromoland Castle
When we went: March 2019
6 nights: 2 in Dubin, 1 in Galway, 2 at Dromoland Castle, 1 in Dublin
Stop #1 Dublin
We spent two days in Dublin to see the city and experience St. Patrick’s Day! It was a bucket list weekend for us. You can see all of our stops and recommendations on our Dublin list in the Ireland section. The highlights were Jameson, Temple Bar, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Hop On Hop Off Tour, Trinity College and all of the friendly locals and tourists.
Stop #2 Galway
It is a 2-3 hour drive from Dublin to Galway, making it an easy first stop on your way to the Cliffs of Moher. Galway is adorable with an amazing restaurant and bar district. If you are a fan of the famous Claddagh Ring, Claddagh is a 5 minute walk across a bridge over the river. We bought a Claddagh Ring there to commemorate our trip since it was our 10 year anniversary. If you are a fan of Ed Sheeran, make sure to listen to Galway Girl on your way. We stayed at the most convenient hotel right by the main area called Jurys Inn.
Stop #3 Cliffs of Moher
It is a beautiful 1 1/2 hour drive from Galway to the Cliffs of Moher. The roads are tight with rock walls on both sides and no place to pull over. If you aren’t comfortable driving a route like this next to tour buses you can book a tour bus to and from Galway. The first time we tried to go to the cliffs there was 0% visibility, so we doubled back the next day. If you are concerned about fog you can call ahead. Their phone number is on their website.
Stop #4 Dromoland Castle
We did a lot of research on the amazing castle hotels in Ireland and decided on Dromoland Castle Hotel. It was a perfect dream come true choice! The castle and grounds are stunning and straight out of a fairytale. The staff was friendly and our room was perfect and located at the top of the tower. We enjoyed a horse drawn carriage, archery, a walk around the grounds in the morning, delicious breakfast, and a spa day.
#5 Blarney Castle and the Blarney Stone
Legend says that kissing the Blarney Stone will make you eloquent. Kissing said stone is easier said than done, but so thrilling. We navigated our way through the castle’s tight spiral stair cases to the very top where the stone sits hanging over the edge of the roof 85 feet up from the ground. You have to lay on your back, bend backwards, hold a bar, and partially hang from the roof to kiss the stone. We did it…and shook for about 5 minutes after. We’ll never forget it!
Stop #6 Back to Dublin
Our drive back to Dublin was the longest part of our trip, but if we had more time we definitely would have driven through the Ring of Kerry which takes about 3.5 hours. Next time!
Safe Travels!
The Cecils