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CAR HIRE IRELAND - Dublin City and Midlands Itinerary
» Day 1: Dublin City
There are few more imposing places to begin any tour than Dublin. Explore
College Green which contains two of the city's most interesting buildings
- the Bank of Ireland and Trinity College (where you can see the glorious
Book of Kells, perhaps the most beautiful book in the world). Find time,
too, to visit Dublin Castle, Pheonix Park, the National Museum, St Patrick's
Cathedral, the Custom House - the great domed Georgian masterpiece on
the bank of the River Liffey, and Temple Bar, the city's liveliest and
most innovative quarter.
» Day 2: Dublin to Athlone 125 kms, 78 mls
Leaving Dublin head south into the Wicklow Mountains and the pretty village
of Enniskerry. From here you can visit the Powerscourt Estate and Gardens,
which include the highest waterfall in Ireland. Continue the tour via
the Sally Gap towards Glendalough, one of the most picturesque glens of
County Wicklow with its 6th century monastery of St. Kevin. Travel on
through Rathdrum to Avoca, then to the coast and the popular holiday resort
of Arklow. From Arklow head north to Wicklow and the views over the bay.
Just north of Wicklow is the beautiful Mount Usher Gardens near Ashford,
open from March to September. Drive on through the rugged Devils Glen
through Greystones and Bray overlooked by Bray Head and the 'great' Sugar
Loaf mountain. Drive to Dublin through Killiney and Dalkey enjoying the
fine views of Killiney and Dublin Bay and the city beyond.
» Day 3: Athlone to Galway 86 kms, 53 mls
Even on a touring holiday, you should take to the water - on a trip up
the Shannon to Lough Lee. There are regular depatures on the 90-minute
trip throughout the summer. Back on terra firma, continue along the N6
as it loops its way through Ballinasloe and Loughrea all the way to Galway
city, a thriving and lively place, thanks to its university and growing
industry. The town centres around Eyre Square, with many of the bars and
restaurants concentrated in the streets to the south and west. Take a
look inside Kenny's Bookshop on the High Street - a 15th century, four-storey
building that is crammed floor to ceiling with old and new books, as well
as paintings and pieces of sculpture. If you're there during the last
week of July there's another treat - the summer Race Week at the racecourse
on a slope of a hill at Ballybrit, about four miles from the centre and
overlooking Galway Bay.
