9 days in Ireland

When: September 2026

Danielle’s Highlight: A day trip to Inis Mor

Jason’s Highlight: Exploring Muckross Abbey

Where we stayed: AirBnBs and Hotels

• Dublin: Premier Inn City Centre

• Galway: AirBnb

• Dingle: AirBnb

• Killarney: AirBnb

• Kilkenny: The Club House Hotel

TLDR: Ireland is incredible. Lively night life, delicious food, stunning scenery... what more can you ask for? Within a week, you can see so many iconic sites. Dublin is a city full of history (largely about gaining their independence) and so many great spots to watch live music with a Guinness in hand. Galway, Dingle, and Killarney are excellent hubs for some of the most beautiful places, while still offering great restaurants and shopping. It is worth renting a car for better flexibility and freedom to explore the country. If we could choose one area to see again, it would be the Dingle Peninsula.

Itinerary: This is our 8.5 day itinerary with 1.5 days Dublin, 2 days in Galway, 2 days in Dingle, 2 days in Killarney, and 1 day in Kilkenny. We planned this trip 2 weeks in advance, so these were all things you can do on short notice.

Day One: We arrived in Dublin at 12:30 pm and got out of the airport by 2:00 pm. Maybe we were just lucky, but we were out of the airport by 2:00. We were both completely exhausted, so we took an hour nap and then headed out to our first stop! We booked a self-guided tour at the Guinness Storehouse. We then walked to Darkey Kelly's for our first Irish dinner and pub. We intended to visit some other bars, but exhaustion got the best of us so we grabbed a glass of wine and dessert then retired for the night.

• Guinness Storehouse: You can't visit Dublin and not go to Guinness! This is a great place for drinkers and non-drinkers because they have 0.0% Guinness on tap too. It's a huge facility that takes you through all the stages of beer making. They have a short guided tasting in the tour, then you get your included pint at the Gravity Bar. This is self-guided, so it can take as long as you want it to. The arrival time was also pretty loose for us. We were stressed about arriving late and no one cared at all.

• Darkey Kelly's: Our first real Irish pub! I would definitely go back here if I visit Dublin again. There was excellent live music and great fish and chips. It was packed, but after walking in circles for 15 minutes we were able to share a table with another couple. This felt like the real deal Irish pub.

Day Two: We started our morning with coffee and a pastry at Shoe Lane. Our plan was to get lunch at the Brazen Head, which is a several hundred years old pub in Dublin. We meandered towards the Brazen head while walking along the River Liffey. Sadly, the Brazen Head was closed due to filming a Netflix movie. We grabbed lunch at O'Shea's Merchant across the road. Next up was the Jameson Distillery tour followed closely by the Kilmainham Gaol. We booked a last-minute ghost tour, which took us all aroun Dublin for 2 hours. After such a busy day, we ended up going to a random Italian restaurant for dinner, then a pub for our nightcap.

• Shoe Lane: This was a cute coffee shop with the basics. It's right along the River Liffey, so if you're in the area and want a unique coffee and pastry then I'd recommend it. However, you don't need to go out of your way to get here.

• Brazen Head/O'Shea's Merchant: I am still including the Brazen Head because it was where we wanted to go. The Brazen Head pub is Irelands oldest pub, Est. 1198. Sadly it was closed due to Netflix filming, so we went across the street to O'Shea's Merchant. We actually loved our meal here! It was in my top three for fish and chips. It was only 7 minutes from Jameson, so it would be a great spot if you're in the area already.

• Jameson Distillery: If you're a whiskey lover, then Jameson is an obvious must-do. We did the general tour which includes a cocktail and a tasting of three whiskeys. We added on a cask draw tasting, which was a fun and unique experience. It was probably the strongest whiskey I've ever had. Worth it if you're whiskey people!

• Kilmainham Gaol: We knew we wanted to visit the Kilmainham Gaol but it was sold out. We read online that they release a handful of tickets the morning of. This was true! Several time slots had tickets released, but be warned- the go fast! I went back and forth on times and a few slots disappeared before I could claim them. The tour itself took almost exactly an hour. It's nice to give yourself a little time after for the museum. We enjoyed this tour and many say it is a must-see, but if you can't snag tickets, don't fret. There were other museums we would have likely enjoyed just as much.

• Haunted Dublin Walking Tour: This was a last minute booking that was so worth it! We booked through Viator: Haunted Dublin Walking Tour. Our guide (Lee) was excellent. He told us entertaining ghost stories, but also fascinating historical tidbits about Dublin and Ireland. This would be a great tour at the start of your time in Dublin, because it takes you through popular neighborhoods and by classic sites that you can check of your list. If you're worried it's too scary, don't fret; it's more playfully entertaing with the guide's comedic touch.

• O'Donoghues Bar: We attempted O'Donoghues because it is a well known bar for live music and fun atomosphere. It was jam packed! We couldn't even squeeze through the door. I would recommend checking this pub out if you can though. We walked accross the street and went to J.L. O Neill’s, which was a mellow but quaint bar with a single musician. I would go here again for a quieter stop.

• Wandering: We had some spare time between tours and walked through Trinity College, which is a beautiful campus and hosts the Book of Kells (requires a ticket if you want to go to the Book of Kells). We saw the Molly Malone statue, which supposedly gives you good luck if you rub her... you'll find out what. We also looked at the Christchurch Cathedral and St. Patrick's Cathedral but didn't have time to go inside. If I had to pick one, I'd do Christchurch because they apparenlty have some unique artifacts in the crypt. You will hopefully wander through Temple Bar at some point. We decided not to go to pubs here because they are steeply overpriced and very crowded. The locals told us Grafton Street is the better pub scene.

Day Three: This day did not go according to plan at all. We were supposed to get up early, grab the car, then try to see as much of Connemara Park as possible before getting into Galway. We both were plagued with awful jetleg, woke up 2 hours later than intended and go the rental car by noon. We made our way to Galway (2.5 hour drive) and booked a tour at Micil Distillery while en route. After the tour/tasting, we had a traditional Irish dinner in the Latin Quarter, then went on a guided pub crawl to end the night.

• As One: We wanted a quick breakfast and this cafe was near our hotel. It was great! They have healthy options and quality ingredients. We shared toast with eggs and a ricotta jam toast, which was like a dessert but amazing. It's also just accross the river from where the Dublin Express stops.

• Rental car: If you rent a car, which I highly recommend over a bus, then it likely will be at the airport. Give yourself plenty of time to do this. I had hoped it would be a quick check-in and check-out, but it took about two hours to go from Dublin, to the airport, to the rental car site, get the car, and then leave. I also recommend getting the smallest car you will fit in. The roads are tight and I was grateful for our little Suzuki Swift.

• Connemara National Park: Though we didn't make it to the park, I will still share what we intended to do. Our goal was to get to Connemara around noon. We would have only had a few hours, so our site list was Lough Inagh viewpoint, Clifden Castle, Sky Road, and then Kylemore Abbey and Lower Diamond Hill Walk if time allowed. This is a lot to see in a short time, so I would compare sites and make a priority list. You could also rent your car the day before, or wake up earlier to fit more sites in.

• Wandering: We were bummed we missed Connemara, but also really enjoyed just walking around Galway. It's such a cute and lively town. Eyre Square has several shops and restaurants and we stayed in this neighborhood. The Latin Quarter is awesome. It is so quaint and full of unique shopping and pubs. Make sure to wander down to the water front and see the Spanish Arch.

• Micil Distillery: This is more of a tasting than a tour. It is in the back of the Oslo building. Micil (rhymes with nickel) has been in production for about 170 years. They make traditional whiskey, gin, and poitin, which is basically Irish moonshine. It is STRONG. This was a fun experience and worth it if you have some extra time in your day or love whiskey.

• M.Fitzgerald's Bar: We came here for another Irish dinner and I ordered my first Guinness and beef stew. It was great! The interior was cosy and traditional, but also historic with modern touches. They had less of a wait than other places too. These small towns can become very busy and long waits are common.

• Pub Crawl: This was another last minute booking and was one of our favorite parts of the trip! We booked through Get Your Guide: Galway: Retro Trad & Stout Crawl with a Pour-Your-Own Pint. It was so fun! We were with a large group of other travelers from around the world who were also looking for a fun evening. We went to three bars and a drink or shot was included at each place. This tour did run long and ended by midnight (but you can leave early). Very much worth it!

Day Four: When making our itinerary, we debating on using this day for Inis Mor or Connemara. We decided Inis Mor felt more unique. It was one of my favorite days, if not the best day. You may see it written as Inishmor, which represents how it is pronounced.

• The Flight: I get seasick, so a 90-120 minute ferry sounded terrible. For about 20 more euros, you can fly to the island. The flight lasts 8-10 minutes. Best decision ever! We did have to drive out to the airport and arrived about 30 minutes before departure. It's a tiny airport and you literally walk up, show an ID, get weighed (the scale reading is hidden), and you're good! I had never been on a tiny plane before, so this was an adventure in itself. We also heard from many tourists on the island that the ferry was rough. One gal told us that a handful of people were puking and the crew actually hand out puke bags to everyone when they board. The flight also provided more timing options, so you could arrive really early and beat all the tourists coming via ferry.

• Bike Rental: To explore the island there are bikes, e-bikes, horse drawn carriage, or a van. We opted for e-bikes and I personally think it was the best option! Though the island is looks mostly flat, there are some long upward slopes and I was very happy we spent the extra money on the electric bikes. Unless you WANT a work out, get the e-bike. It also gets you around way faster. We didn't book these in advance; there were plenty of bikes available. With the rental we were given a map which shows two main biking routes. We started with the seaside one first (green) and then returned on the route through town (red). Most roads are paved, with a couple rocky trails when you are getting to the site. Remember to bike on the left side of the road, just like if you were driving there.

• Seal Colony: A quick pitstop on your way our of town. We only saw one seal, but apparently this place can be poppin' on the right day. There is a little coffee stand as well.

• Kilmurvey Beach: It was way too cold and windy for a dip in the ocean, but I have seen photos of people swimming here. It's actually a nice sandy beach, so if you have extra time and want to cross swimming in the Atlantic off your list, this could be the place!

• Seven Churches: We wanted our first real stop to be the furthest site on our list, that way we'd be making our way back with each next stop. As the name suggests, this is an old church ruin... but it's only two churches. We were able to explore this by ourselves which made it a cooler experience (another reason to do the flight!). If time is super short, you could skip it, but if you like old church ruins from hundreds of years ago, then visit the Seven (two) Churches.

• Dún Aonghasa: Pronounced Dun Angusa. I wasn't expecting this to be so cool, but it was very impressive. This is an extremely old fortress that is a historical site, so you do have to pay to enter. The cost is cheap and well worth the money. After checking in through the visitor center, you walk about 20 minutes along a gravel road. At the top of the hill is the old ruins and the best view on Inis Mor.

• Lunch in Kilmurvey: Right next to Dun Aonghasa are multiple lunch spots. We chose to eat at Aran Seafood Cafe. They have the best fish and chips in Ireland! We also got the lobster roll... I'm drooling thinking about it. There was also a pizza truck and a restaurant, Teach Nan Phaidi.

• Wormhole: The final stop was the worm hole, or Poll na bPéist (don't ask me how to pronounce that). You walk about 20 minutes to a huge rectangular hole in the rocks that was formed naturally. It's very impressive and fascinating. Make sure to follow the red arrows painted on the ground. You are walking on uneven ground near the ocean, so if weather is poor, I'd consider skipping this, or view it from above. We went the typical route which takes you up to the hole. However, we saw people standing on the cliffs above as well.

• Brasserie On The Corner (Blake's Corner): After we made our way back from Inis Mor, we went back to the Latin Quarter and enjoyed a great dinner at the Brasserie on the Corner. There was a wait, so we just sat at the bar and drank a Guinness. The food was great and it was a slightly nicer atmosphere with great service.

• The Dail Bar: We grabbed one drink here and it was another lively traditional pub. The decor made it feel unique and worth a stop!

Day Five: We had a big day ahead of us getting down to Dingle! We made it into a scenic drive with some big sites along the way. First was the drive through the Burren in order to geet to the Cliffs of Moher. Doolin was the perfect lunch pit stop before we made our way to the Killimer Ferry. Once we got across the ferry we B-lined it to Dingle to make a dinner reservation at Doyles. It's easy to underestimate

the drive down to Dingle, so make sure you really plan ahead and check your estimated drive times!

• Hazel Mountain Chocolate: This was an unplanned pitstop that we saw on our way to The Burren. Who can say no to chocolate?? There is a cafe at the front of the property and the chocolate shop and factory are behind. The factory was not in production while we were there, but we were still able to buy some tasty and fancy chocoaltes. Great souvinir stop!

• The Burren: This is a rocky landscape with some breathtaking and unique views. We did not see it all and there are some very scenic areas along the coast route down to Doolin, but there is only so much time, so we moved through this area quickly. If you do not have a deadline, I would recommend exploring the sites in and around The Burren more! The big stop we did was Poulnabrone Dolmen. This is a super old (like 5000 BC old) archealogic site that is small but worth it for a history buff and to stretch the legs.

• Cliffs of Moher: You can't go to Ireland and not stop at the Cliffs of Moher. We went to the main visitor center and parked at their $15 a person parking lot... it felt a bit steep but it was the easiest and timeliest option. The Cliffs are beautiful, but to be completely honest, maybe slightly overrated from the visitor center viewpoint. The fences are about 10-20 feet back from the cliff edge so there is a bit of a field in front of your view. There are also LOTS of people. To be fair, much of the walk way was closed to to construction on the footpaths, so we only had a small section we could see the cliffs from. I think if we could have gone further south we'd have a different perspective (literally) about the cliffs. We attempted to visit Hags Head which is reportedly a fantastic viewpoint that is a little quieter and cheaper, but this was also closed for path construction.

• Doolin & O'Connors Pub: We backtracked about 10 minutes to Doolin for lunch. There aren't many options in Doolin but O'Connors was great! It's a large restaurant so we didn't have any wait, despite it being fairly busy. Doolin itself is cute but tiny. It's a great stop for lunch, but not much else is going on.

• Ferry: We decided to take the Killimer-Tarbert ferry through Shannon Ferries. This was 1. More interesting, and 2. Saved us about 30 minutes of driving. It was very easy- you just drive on and drive off. Someone will have you pay once you're on the ferry. We heard you can sometimes see dolpins riding the ferry waves, but we did not. If decide to skip the ferry, the alternative is going through Limerick. We have heard the Bunratty castle and Durty Nellies is worth a stop!

• Wandering: Dingle is adorable, just like it's name. It is very walkable with lots of restaurants and shops. You can get a good feel for the town just a couple hours (it takes 30 minutes to walk the streets alone).

• Doyles: Make reservations! In small towns, you need a reservation to ensure you'll get a table. There are some pub-restaurants that you can still go to but you'll likely wait. Doyles was fantastic! We also heard that Out of the Blue is really good, but they were booked up.

Day Six: It was finally time to explore the incredible Dingle Peninsula. We started in Dingle, where we were staying. We were happy that we based out of Dingle. It is small but still lively. There are some other villages along the Wild Atlanic Way on the Peninsula but much smaller. I would absolutely stay in Dingle again if I came back. We started our day with a quick breakfast at The Bean. We then hit the Slea Head Drive all day (stops listed below). This day was a highlight of the trip.

• The Bean: This is a cute little coffee shop with small breakfast treats and pastries. Great for a breakfast on the go.

• Fairy Fort Ringfort: This was a bit different than we expected. We thought it would be ruins, but it is actually a ring covered in dirt and grass with no resemblance of ruins at all. More interestingly, it's more of a petting zoo than anything else. To get in, you have to pay 2 euro and it includes a cup of food for the animals. It was fun and unexpected.

  • 20 minutes from Dingle

• Hold Baby Lamb: When I heard there was a place we could hold and feed a baby lamb, I couldn't resist! We booked in advance and added on the bottle feeding, which was worth it. However, not all the lambs are legimate babies. I ended up feeding what looked like an adult, but Jason had a tiny cute lamb. With the holdng, we warned the lambs may be dirty with stray, mud, or more... so wear your rain coat as a protective layer!

  • 4 minutes from Ringfort

• Caife na Tra: We did not stop here, but I am including it because it would be the next stop on the drive. If you're hungry or need a stop, this is a highly rated cafe.

  • 7 minutes from Hold Baby Lamb

• Coumeenoole Beach: A dramatic and pictureesque beach that is great for photos, but maybe not swimming. However, there was one person who went swimming while we were there. This is where you park for the beach and the Dunmore Head hike.

  • 3 minutes from Caife

• Dunmore Head hike: This hike was overall short but still strenuous enough to get the sweat going. It's basically a big hill. I absolutely would recommend it if you're physically capable. There are epic views on the futhermost point of the hike and you should definitely walk as far out to the point as safely possible. At the top of the hill is a WW2 lookout. This hike took about 1-1.5 hr with the walking and the photos.

  • Same parking lot as the beach

• Dunquin Pier and Cupan Se: Cupan Se is a little coffee stand with the best brownies in the world! That's what they're known for and it was a pretty good brownie (we did the ice cream and nutella option). Best in the world? You'll have to try one to decide for yourself. Dunquin Pier is worth the stop, whether you get a brownie or not. It is an iconic viewpoint that I wouldn't miss.

  • 6 minute drive from Dunmore

• Kruger's Bar: We considered going back to Caife na Tra, but didn't want to back track and the cafe parking looked minimal. We found this bar which ended up being a great choice. They have a full menu and plenty of seating.

  • 4 minutes from the pier

• The Blasket Centre: This was another stop that we had on our list but didn't end up doing. We decided we'd rather get back to Dingle sooner, otherwise this would have been a great stop. It is a museum about the Blasket Islands.

  • 6 minute drive from the pier or 3 minutes from Kruger's

• Star Wars EpVIII Sunset Site: If you like Star Wars or amazing views, you have to come here. This is the site where Luke Skywalker disappeared into the force. It is also incredibly beautiful and worth it if you don't care about Star Wars. The parking is actually at someone's house and they do ask for a small donation for maintaining the lot and trail. This trail to the viewpoint is maybe 20 minutes and easy.

  • 15 minute drive from Kruger's

• Gallarus Oratory: The best preserved ancient early Christian church in Ireland, made entirely of stone without any mortar. It is dated sometime between the 7th and 12th centuries. We did have to pay to enter, but it was approx 10 euros.

  • 14 minute drive from Star Wars. 15 minute drive to Dingle.

• The Fish Box: We were told we had to eat here. The restuarant was booked up, but they have a food truck down by the waterfront. We did fish and chips and shimp and chips. Both were very good, but I would have rather eaten at the restuarant to try some of their other options that looked really good. This is a great spot if you forget to make a reservation elsewhere.

• Murphy's Ice Cream: Irish made ice cream with very unique flavors, like brown bread and whiskey chocolate. The ice cream here is less sweet and rich than in the US. They have Murphy's all over Ireland but the Dingle location is their flagship shop!

• Bob Griffin's Bar: This bar feels like where you might find some locals. It was smaller and felt more personal. They had live music, but only in one room. It looks like it might have been a house at one point because there are a few small rooms, but you can hear the music throughout the bar.

• Foxy John's: A very unique bar and I don't want to give away the surprise! It serves more purposes than just a bar and is worth checking out.

• Adams Bar: We ended up here both nights in Dingle. They have a large back patio that was nearly empty (hard to find in Dingle). On night two, there was live music and the place was packed!

Day Seven: We sadly had to leave Dingle, but had another great day of site seeing on our way to Killarney! We had a later morning and got breakfast at Pig & Leaf. We drove over Conor Pass to get to Castlegregory Golf Couse. Once we arrived in Killarney, we stopped at Ross Castle before checking into the AirBnB. We spent the rest of the day/evening bar hopping and dinner at Fig.

• Pig & Leaf: A cute coffee shop, but a relatively small menu. They had lunch sandwiches, which worked great to start another drive!

• Conor Pass: If you're on the Dingle Peninsula, you definitely should work Conor Pass into your drive. It worked perfectly for us driving to the golf course. It only takes about 30 minutes to drive, but you should give another 30 minutes for stops.

• Castlegregory Golf Links: We lucked out with incredible weather this day. There wasn't a drop of rain while we golfed which is kind of a miracle! This course is challenging. It has curves and is surrounded by bogs. Bring PLENTY of extra balls. We lost about 14 balls on this course! We ended with 5 left and that included the balls we found along the way (in the bogs... not other people's on the green!). We were moving pretty slow because it was challenging and because I wanted to take a million photos. They do have carts here but many people walked. They do not serve alcohol here, so if you want a drink while you golf you'll need to bring it yourself. We were here about 1.5-2 hours total.

• Fig: We found this place randomly and it is located inside a hotel. It was a little pricier but food was good. They had a cream cheese and lox boxty which was fun to try. Tasty cocktails and a decaf esspesso martini which can be hard to find!

• J. M. Reidy: This was the coolest bar! I don't want to ruin the surprise, but you HAVE to explore the back of the bar. Trust me, it's awesome! We were here for hours and it was hard to leave! They have multiple spots for live music.

• Courtney's: Another very crowded pub but with live music and a cozy vibe. I wish we would have started here then ended at J.M. Reidy's.

Day Eight: It was time for another epic drive, the Ring of Kerry. We started at Muckross Abbey, then stopped at several amazing viewpoints (listed below). For brunch we went to a cute pancake house, The Strawberry Field. We also made a stop at Skellig Chocolate, which was perfect for souvenirs. Dinner and our last stop was in Portmagee. The Ring of Kerry is long! We didn't get back to the AirBnB until 8:30. If we did it over again, it could be worth starting the Ring of Kerry before Killarney and staying around the Portmagee area. Then on day two, you could stay in Killarney and wander the town. The Ring of Kerry can feel like a big feat, but it is still doable and enjoyable in a day. We started behind schedule, so if you can get yourself going close to 8 AM then you will have a more relaxing day.

• Muckross Abbey: A must see if you like ruins, history, and a super preserved historical site from the 1400s. There is a bit of a walk, maybe 20 minutes, from the parking lot to the abbey. There is also the option to go by horse drawn carriage. We chose to only visit the abbey, but there are other things to explore on the property. You need at least an hour here. The abbey was actually a friary and was the most well preserved historic structure we have probably visited. You can explore the entire place, including multiple different stories. Torc waterfall is right next to Muckross, but we chose to skip it for time sake (there is a different parking lot though).

  • 7 minutes from Killarney

• Ladies View: Quick and easy pull off for a scenic overlook.

  • 10-15 minutes from Muckross

• Moll's Gap: Another easy scenic overlook.

  • 5-10 minutes from Ladies View

• The Strawberry Field: This is a super cute restaurant that makes Dutch pancakes. They have savory and sweet options. It's a bright yellow-orange building that you can't miss!

  • 5 minutes from Moll's

• Sneem: This is a cute town with some shopping and restaurants. Great option if you're still hungry after your Dutch Pancake or if you skip the Strawberry Field.

  • 20 minutes from Strawberry

• Staigue Stone Fort: We debating coming here because of time, but I'm glad we did. It was a cool stone fort from hundreds of years ago. We were able to walk inside and even walk along the stone wall.

  • 25 minutes from Sneem

• Coomakista Pass/Viewpoint: So apparently this is a cool viewpoint along the road, but we didn't see it due to the heavy fog!

  • 22 minutes from Staigue

• Waterville: Another tiny town, but this one is quite small. We grabbed coffe at Mi-Kaffe, and to be honest, it wasn't great. However, they have high ratings, so maybe it was just an off day. There is also a Charlie Chaplin statue here.

  • 11 minutes from the viewpoint

• Ballinskelligs Beach: This is a 3-in-1 site. There is a large beach, ruins from a look-out, and ruins from a church and cemetary. All interesting and worth a stop!

  • 15 minutes from Waterville

• Skellig Chocolate Factory: We are so glad we stopped here. They close at 5 and we arrived at 4:45, so you need to keep an eye on the clock! They have tasty and unique flavors and make a great souvinir for family.

  • 12 minutes from Ballinskelligs

• Kerry Cliffs: A must see. We actually liked the Kerry Cliffs more than the Cliffs of Moher. You can get closer to the edge and they were just stunning. Downside is we had quite a bit of fog, but it was still incredible. The entrance/exit closes at 6:30, so definitely keep track of time! You can also car-camp here which is awesome if you're camping your way through Ireland.

  • 12 minutes from Skellig Chocolates

• Portmagee/Fisherman's Bar & Skellig Restaurant: We decided to grab dinner before the hour drive back to Killarney. We went to Fisherman's and it was a great spot. I would have loved to explore this area more, but it was 7:30 PM by this point, so we made the drive back to Killarney.

  • 5 minutes from the cliffs

Day Nine: It was our last full day in Ireland and we took full advantage of it! We hit one last Killarney must-see, the Gap of Dunloe. We then drove to the Rock of Cashel and the final stop being Kilkenny. We found out that day that it was the Ireland Cannonball, a car race, and the finish line was one block from our hotel. We hung out there all afternoon and didn't really explore Kilkenny much, but from what we did see it is a cute and fun town. It made for a great last stop before we drove to the airport the next day.

• Heather Restaurant and Cafe: This is a cafe just a few minutes away from the Gap of Dunloe parking. It was the perfect quick breakfast to start the day. The potato pancakes were so good.

• Gap of Dunloe: A scenic, narrow glacial mountain pass that has infamous views. We originally planned to walk to the wishing bridge, but ended up doing the horse drawn carriage to save time. It likely would have been a 2 hour walk round trip and we did it in 45 minutes via carriage. It is highly recommended that you do not drive and I 100% agree with that. You'd have a heck of a time swerving around pedestrians and having to get out of the way for the horses. Definitely do not try to drive this. Parking is at Kate Kearney’s Cottage.

• Rock of Cashel: It was about a 2 hour drive to get here from the Gap of Dunloe. It is a huge castle/church that is still very well preserved. By chance, we showed up 10 minutes before a tour was starting, so we paid the extra cost for tour tickets. This tour was provided by the facility (not a 3rd party). It was 45 minutes and I'd do it again because it was nice really understanding what happened there.

• Statham’s by Pembroke: We had late lunch/early dinner right when we got into Kilkenny. The fish and chips weren't as good, but the steak was great and it was the best sticky toffee pudding we had in Ireland!

• Kilkenny: As stated before, we spent most of the afternoon and early evening watching the Cannonball finish line. We hit a couple bars and wandered town but it was shutting down pretty early because it was a Sunday. I think Kilkenny could be a very fun and cute town with enough time to explore it. There is the Medieval Mile, which is an approx 20 minute route (without stops) full of shops and history. Kilkenny is actually regarded as one of Irelands most medieval cities!

• The Field Bar & Restaurant: We stopped here for a quick Guinness. It was rustic and they had live music.

• Matt The Millers Bar & Restaurant: When we first arrived it was so quiet. This was around 8-9 PM. Within an hour the place was poppin. There was music and dancing and the whole places was filled! Great spot for a Sunday night!

Day Ten: It was an easy 1.5 hr drive to airport from Kilkenny. We gave ourselves 3 hours at the airport, which worked great.

Overall tips:

• Driving: Notoriously cautioned due to single lane roads and left sided driving. Jason did all the driving and he thinks it was okay. There were stressful moments but you get the hang of the left-sided driving quickly. With the single lane roads, you just need to go slow around blind corners and pull off when another car is approaching (unless they pull off for you). There are several spots to pull over for oncoming traffic. We didn't have any issues or close calls.

• Bonus days: If we could go back, we both would want to visit Skellig Michael and Puffin Island. We just barely missed the window for seeing puffins, which is more in the summer months. We would also like to visit Cork and Kinsale in the future if we're down south. If we go up north, we have Donegal and Giant's Causeway on our must see list. There is also a Titanic museum in Belfast that would be interesting to visit.

• If we had to pick one place to go back to, it would be between Galway and the Dingle Peninsula. Galway was fun and quaint with many great day trips nearby. The Dingle Peninsula encompasses what you imagine of when you think of Ireland. If we had to pick between the Slea Head Drive vs Ring of Kerry, we would chose Slea Head.

• This itinerary is moderately fast-paced but we never really felt rushed. If we had to remove a stop then it would probably be Kilkenny or the second night in Killarney.

• Sláinte literally translates to "health" in Irish. It is their "cheers." It is pronounced slawn-cha.

Sláinte,

Danielle and Jason