We are going in about a month’s time. We are spending a couple of days in Derry before heading South and eventually getting to Dublin to get the Ferry back.
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I am going to do Northern Ireland next time. We want to see the Giant causeway. I always wanted visit Derry and Belfast.
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Yes, Giant’s Causeway is on my itinerary. I also want to see Newgrange. As my wife put it: another one of my staring at rocks holidays.
On your way south try to go via Donegal and Sligo. There’s some lovely countryside up there.
If you’re looking for a good pub in Dublin, try Neary’s in Chatham St. It was my dad’s favourite Dublin pub. He was a scoundrel, but he was an expert in pubs.
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Maybe swing by Mayo if possible.
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There is one of our matches on when we are in Dublin so I’ll probably be looking for one with a telly. I can’t remember which hotel it is. Possibly near the zoo.
For some reason I thought you were over here already, as in Irish.
If you are going Derry(love Derry) , Giants causeway, Newgrange, Dublin, you should try make your way to Belfasts Titanic museum, it really is a credit to the city. You’ll be passing by Belfast on your way anyway and the Museum is easy enough to get to.
Depending on how long you are in Derry, Donegal is right next door and a beautiful bit of country to visit weather inland or the coastal Wild Atlantic Way.
If in Donegal stop off in one of the Gaeltacht towns where Irish is widely spoken, alongside english if you can’t understand.
In Dublin there will be no end of places for the football,most every pub will have it on if it’s on sky, tnt.
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I love my city but everything costs(or can cost) so be prepared.
There are free walking tours, although you may need to book in advance and then tip the lads providing the service
I’ve heard the walking tours are very good and since you are on Parnell Square you’d be very close to where they would start(GPO).The GPO on O Connell Street was the main site of our 1916 Rising, hugely significant to us, and has its own museum tour.
You could do the viking splash which is very good but it’s expensive enough.
Over the bridge on the southside you have Trinity college for the Book of Kells and the Library,Museums are all nearby and Grafton Street for the hustle and bustle of the high Street. Temple bar is a tourist trap but has many bars and restaurants at a cost.
Bear in mind Dublins Number 1 tourist attraction is the Guinness storehouse, you have to try a pint of Guinness in one of the nearby pubs. The Palace bar on Fleet Street and Peadar Kearneys(great trad music most nights) on Dame Street are 2 of my favourite. Depending on time of day/night, both might be busy.
Glendalough is beautiful, right in the heart of Wicklow, the garden of Ireland. I spent plenty of time there as a kid with the family.
Kilkenny castle is a sight to see and the city itself is lively, full of pubs and restaurants. I have a wedding to go to in Kilkenny in October and am planning an extra day to get out and about with the sister and brother.
Bring an umbrella(a small one),we’re not called the Emerald Isle for nothing 
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I second the Glendalough recommendation, and if you can, continuing on up through the pass over the Wicklow Mountains is very picturesque. Only particular landmark I remember is St. Kevin’s Pool, but I can’t think of a better place to get a sense of how Ireland is sort of shaped like a bowl sitting on a plate.
In Dublin, the emigration museum Epic just pounded me, not least because I went there right after seeing the replica Jeanie Johnston on the river in front. We have records showing how the first generation Irish ancestor to settle here sent funds to pay passage on her from Tralee for relatives to cross and come to his farm as the Famine took hold. The combination of the two was very intense.
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I was watching a show/documentary last week where the presenters went somewhere in Canada.Unbelievable how the lads there had what were effectively Irish accents.
The Wiclow Way/Sallys gap.I’m surprised you didn’t find Johnnie Foxs pub 
on the way back to Dublin.
Did you make your way down to Tralee when you were last over(i don’t remember you saying so).If not,next time you should do so,Kerry is beautiful.
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Likely Newfoundland, which has more Donegal than most people realize. But there are other pockets that are less pronounced, lots of Irish settlement up the Ottawa Valley and the accent has clear influences (the only place I have ever heard ‘does be’ outside Ireland).
We went through Tralee more than saw it. We went from Dublin down to Wicklow, through Glendalough to Newbridge, then the highway down to Cork, night in Kinsale. The back roads to Newbridge were a great glimpse of the absolutely lush country of the east, but as with many/most Irish roads the speed limits didn’t have much connection to reality by North American standards - my wife kept telling me I was too far over, oncoming drivers were suggesting likewise. Roads were signed for 80 kmh that I would be surprised to see rated for 40 kmh. Suffice to say we did not keep to the planned schedule (which was not unexpected).
Kinsale might end up a retirement spot, really love that part of the country and the climate is so gentle. From there, we drove across the base of the peninsulas, through Killarney National Park. Stopped in Killarney, then on to Dingle. I had wanted to see the Iveragh Peninsula, but it wasn’t realistic with the time we wanted to spend around Dingle. From Dingle it was a straight shot through Tralee all the way back to Dublin.
If and when, the next trip I’d like to see the NW coast. Been to Galway, but we did not venture much north.
If in Clare or Galway again take the ferry to Inis Oir.
You won’t be dissapointed.
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Would be negligent to not make aware of the huge anti social activities happening in Dublin. Open drug use, openly selling of drugs, drinking in public spaces, beggars harassing people, petty theft.
Probably need to go to Grafton Street and beyond for an enjoyable experience.
Have been pickpocketed in barca, seen beggers in restaurants in porto/lisbon, offered drugs in London, seen public drinking most everywhere and yes open drug use in Dublin amongst other things.
Goes without saying be careful as these activities are regular occurances in many major cities.
I’ve only been to inishmore but will visit the other 2 at some stage. I would highly recommend Achill as well.