Help me visit Ireland

MrTLicious

I'm taking a last minute trip to Ireland soon: Dublin, Cork, Killarney and Galway. Anything I should see on that path? Mostly looking for ideas of rural spots to visit, beautiful country, that kind of thing but all suggestions welcome.

No-Quarter

You could spend the entire trip in Dublin and not run out of things to see.

1. The Guinness Brewery, if liquor is more your thing than try the Bushmills distillery.
2. St. Patrick's Cathedral, awesome on it's own, but don't you want to pay your respects at Jonathan Swift grave?
3. Dublin Castle
4. Trinity College Campus (check out the library!)

NightDragon

DEFINITELY grab a tour around the Ring of Kerry! You can find one that starts in Killarney easily. It's absolutely amazing views, gorgeous landscape, and the one I took offered a quick sheep dog demonstration too! Highly recommended.

Skeith

Go to the Cliffs of Moher. It's about an hour and a half from Galway. The Giant's Causeway is also beautiful, and if you opt for Bushmills it's really close by-- you could easily do both in the same day.

RMS Oceanic

As much as I love shilling for Norn Iron, that would mean he's visiting all four corners of Ireland. Keep in mind the travelling you're likely to do. between Dublin and Cork and Galway you're looking at two-three hours by car for each leg of the journey. Galway to Bushmills is closer to five. (Dublin-Bushmills is 3)

(But if you do come North, stop in Belfast and visit the Nomadic :P )

For towns on your Itinerary, I recommend Cobh (pronounced Cove) near Cork. It's pretty, and it's the second most Titanic-enfused place in Ireland, being her last port of call, if that's your thing

spool32

Lived in Galway for 4 years. Things you should do:

South of Galway Bay, Cliffs of Moher are striking. Couple it with a trip to the dolmen in the Burren, and a general tour (unless you drive it yourself, which is easy and fun). Be advised, the Burren tour guides compete to see who can get their passengers to believe the most outrageous bullshit story. At least they did when I lived there 2001-05. Still fun.

In the city:

Saturday market downtown if you are there. The crepe stand is unmatched in 13 nations of travelling. I dream about it on occasion.

Day trip to the Aran Islands, touristy but fun.

Hike through Barna Wood is a neat little area.

Visit the cathedral if you're into that sort of thing.

North of Galway Bay: the drive around the coast toward Spiddal is amazing and unlike anything in the USA. Bonus if you then head further north into Connemara and the boglands around the 12 Pins mountain range. Connemara hiking tour through the bog is cool. Finish in Kylemore after a trip through the Abbey.
Or if that's too far north, go back east around Lough Corrib to Kong, visit the castle and grounds there, see a yew tree older than our nation.
Boat tour out to the ruins on the Lough Corrib islands would be fun too, some ancient stuff out there.
Basically stop at any pub that catches your eye, though a thatch roof often indicates tourist friendly, or a tourist trap, or both.

Food: Don't order Tex mex anywhere. Eat seafood if you can in Galway.

Elvenshae

There's a restaurant called Crackbirds in Dublin that's fantastic. Get a MacIvors dry cider with some spicy chicken.