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A Week in Ireland – Enchanting Castles, Wild Coastline, and Star Wars

Last Updated August 23, 2022 William Tang

You are here: Home » Attractions & Experiences » A Week in Ireland – Enchanting Castles, Wild Coastline, and Star Wars

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Fáilte means welcome and in Ireland they truly mean it.  Over the course of our week in Ireland, the warm and welcoming Irish we met along the way was just the start of our incredible adventure around the southern part of the island.  It's hard to explain but I was utterly put in a spell with my imagination run wild through the lyrical energy, ancient rocks, the baaahh of sheep, the raging Atlantic, and the tiniest of towns set in the wide expanse of undulating hills of Ireland.

It's a cultural, historical, spiritual, and visual flooding of the senses that is truly a dream to drive through.  Everywhere we stopped along our road trip was a postcard moment – some planned and plenty of surprises along the way too.  A week in Ireland surely wasn't enough but it made such a lasting impression that it ensures it won't be my last.

Read more about Ireland

  • Ultimate Ireland Planning Guide
  • Why You Absolutely Must Do A Roadtrip Around Ireland
  • 10 Must-See and Do Things For Any Road Trip in Ireland

How to save money on car rentals in Ireland?

  • From my experience, Europcar had some of the best rates but if you're super savvy, make sure you also check out the full list of car rental corporate codes to take advantage of.

Table of Contents

Here's what we're covering:

  • What an Enchanting Week in Ireland Looks Like
    • GETTING TO IRELAND
    • GLENDALOUGH
    • KILKENNY
    • ROCK OF CASHEL
    • BLARNEY CASTLE
    • SKELLIG MICHAEL
    • RINGS OF KERRY AND SKELLIG
    • KILLARNEY
    • DINGLE
    • CLIFFS OF MOHER
    • BURREN
    • GALWAY
    • DUBLIN
    • IRISH HOSPITALITY

What an Enchanting Week in Ireland Looks Like

With only 7 days to work with, we knew that to do the Emerald Isle in its entirety was going to be impossible.  That's why I put together this brilliant 7 day Ireland itinerary that focuses primarily on the southern part that covers some of the very best that the island has to offer.  Here's a look at some of the big spots we went to in our week in Ireland and what made it so special.

GETTING TO IRELAND

  • Comforts of earphones, pillow, and eye shades on Air Transat flight
  • Getting off the plane in Dublin Ireland
  • All Items included in Comfort Package With OptionPlus on Air Transat
  • Braised Leg of Lamb by Daniel Vézina on Air Transat Flight

Getting to Ireland is easier than ever with Dublin the major international airport on the island.  Air Transat is my carrier of choice to get from Toronto to Dublin.  In a short span of 6 hours and 40 minutes, the direct flight to Dublin was as smooth as can be.

A big part of that was because we booked with the Option Plus upgrade, which gave us a nice comfort bundle on the flight, plenty of snacks to never get hungry, and the short-cut line to checking in.  I'll also never look at in-flight meals either as we had the opportunity to purchase meals created by culinary legend Chef Daniel Vézina where duck confit lasagne and braised leg of lamb were on the menu.  Oh and even in economy, we had so much legroom for a 5'11” guy like myself!

#ExperienceTransat

Start planning your trip to Ireland. Find the best deals on flights coast to coast in Canada.

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GLENDALOUGH

  • Glendalough Monastic City in Wicklow County
  • The Glendalough Round Tower
  • Short Hike From the Monastic City is the Upper Lake in Glendalough

I knew we didn't have enough time to do the full eastern route into Ireland's Ancient East to do it justice but to get a taste of it, upon landing in Dublin, we hit the road right away and made our way to the Monastic City of Glendalough.

It's here that you truly get an idea of the Christian movement that swept through Ireland with the remains of buildings like the church and the giant Round Tower that stands 30m high set with the backdrop of the beautiful Upper Lake.

KILKENNY

Kilkenny Castle grounds week in ireland

Kilkenny was known to me before for their Irish cream ale but what I didn't know was the castle, that makes up the heart of the city, is the perfect place to have a picnic or throw a frisbee on its sprawling green lawn.

A bonus discovery here was Smithwick's Red Ale which I have to say, while not a craft beer, was one of our favourite beers in our week in Ireland for its sweet malt and smoky tones.

ROCK OF CASHEL

  • Inside the North Transcept of the Rock of Cashel with Round Tower Behind
  • Entrance to the Rock of Cashel
  • Rock of Cashel On The Hill

Everyone know's St. Patrick's Day but where does this famous saint come from and what did he do?  You get to learn a part of this story through impressive historic sites like Rock of Cashel which is an ancient fortification set up on limestone rock straight out of Game of Thrones (think Casterly Rock).  This is where the King of Munster was converted by St. Patrick in the 5th century, and hence why it's also called St. Patrick's Rock.

Ireland is insanely gorgeous - I wish I could go right now.Click To Tweet

BLARNEY CASTLE

  • Entrance to Blarney Castle
  • Blarney Castle with Restoration Happening On The Right Wall
  • Will Kissing the Blarney Stone

Have you ever kissed a famous stone?  It sounds a little preposterous and in some ways it was as we had to queue for an hour to get to the top but who can argue the levelling up of eloquence.  Hopefully you'll agree with me in my persuasive writing skills of why you should be coming to Ireland after reading through this whole article ;)

Even if you don't kiss the Blarney Stone, the view of the castle and its surrounding massive garden is completely worth it and somewhere you can easily spend a full day in.

Oh and I also learned a new phrase here which is in the city's namesake.  The key is to not confuse the word blarney with baloney.  This is best explained by a former Roman Catholic bishop, “Baloney is praise so thick it cannot be true. And blarney is praise so thin we like it.”

SKELLIG MICHAEL

  • Last Set Of Steps To Top of Skellig Michael
  • Cute Puffins on Skellig Michael
  • Beehive Hut with Little Skellig Behind
  • Will inside a Beehive Hut of Monastery at Skellig Michael
  • Hiking Up Skellig Michael to See the Monastery
  • Will wielding a Sith lightsaber at Skellig Michael in Ireland
  • Inside the Monastery And The Chapel At Skellig Michael

Luke Skywalker was nowhere to be found until Rey travelled to a mysterious planet only to find him on an island which can only be assumed to be the first Jedi Temple.  That's how Star Wars lore tells us but in reality, this is the island of Skellig Michael and the ruins of a Christian monastery.

I have to say that out of everywhere we went in our week in Ireland, this was the most impressive and not just because I'm a big Star Wars nerd.  Beyond whirling my mini lightsaber around to train to become a great Jedi, following over 600 steps up to the isolated monastery to find the beehive shaped huts and also being surrounded by 10,000 puffins was truly what made the larger of the two Skellig islands a special place.

RINGS OF KERRY AND SKELLIG

  • Colourful Houses of Portmagee Along Ring of Kerry
  • View Of Kerry From The Top Of Geokaun Mountain
  • Craggy Rock View From Kerry Cliffs

In order to catch that boat out to Skellig Michael, you have to enter the Ring of Kerry and from there you're transported into another world of drop-dead gorgeous scenery.  One of the many fingers that stretch into the Atlantic, this magical kingdom of Kerry and its circuit open to spectacular mountains, cliffs, beaches, quaint towns, narrow roads, views of great valleys, and medieval ruins.

The Ring of Kerry is well travelled with tour busses that loop counter-clockwise daily but the trick is to detour into the Skellig Ring where busses can't go and is off the beaten path.  Both of these rings belong to what's known as Wild Atlantic Way.

KILLARNEY

Inside the Elven-Like Courtyard of Muckross Abbey in Killarney National Park

Canadians will know Killarney as provincial park in northern Ontario but its origins come from a well-known city that is situated right at the start (or end of it depending on which way you go) of the Ring of Kerry and opens into a large national park that presents a greener, lusher, woodland, and also more estately look to Ireland.  Highlights here include Muckross House, the Abbey, Ross Castle, and Torc Waterfall.

DINGLE

Wild Atlantic crashing into the rocky coast of Dingle 7 days in ireland

Another highlight of the Wild Atlantic Way is the peninsula of Dingle.  The drive here is arguably even better (and sometimes a little scarier) than the Ring of Kerry because the road hugs along the coast and gives way to craggy wave-pounded rocks, sandy coves, huge surf, and the Blasket Islands in the distance.  When you go inland, you follow the ancient landscape into the peaks and valleys of the landscape where you pass by ring forts and beehive huts from a time long forgotten.

The weaving of these country roads also lead into the charming town of Dingle which is known for its seafood, artists, craftspeople, and musicians.  Oh and don't forget the famous dolphin Fungie!

CLIFFS OF MOHER

  • Standing with the Cliffs of Moher
  • The huge crowds of tourists by the tower at Cliffs of Moher
  • Cliffs of Moher Depth of Field Shot

Where the smell of sea salt, gawking of birds, crashing of waves, and the stoic wall of rock meets the Atlantic ocean is the famous Cliffs of Moher.   The 180 degree views are awe-inspiring as you get a chance to walk at the edge of the world.  Just be careful of the crowds and the heights when you're out here.  Dramatic and grand is an understatement.

BURREN

rocky and alien-like landscape of burren during week in ireland

Where alien-landscape meets Ireland is in the Burren National Park which feature glacial-era limestone that peak up to the surface and crack in peculiar long channels.  The landscape is a stark contrast to the surrounding county of Clare but makes for a perfect spot for hiking and discovering tiny pockets of oasis amongst sharp rock.

GALWAY

  • An Irish band plays on the streets of Galway
  • Pedestrian Streets of Galway

While towns weren't the focus of our road trip, everyone we talked to mentioned that Galway was somewhere not to be missed.  I'm so glad we stopped by here.  During our short time here we experienced an abundance of energy, musical harmonies, cute boutique shops, and lots of food options.

It is the kind of city that doesn't feel overwhelming and feels authentically Irish.

Planning a road trip that includes Galway? Make sure to check out these best things to do in Galway.

DUBLIN

  • Victorian Prison at Kilmainham Gaol prison in Dublin Ireland
  • Trinity College Library which also houses the Book of Kells below
  • A Rainy Evening In Front of Temple Bar

Last but not least of course is the city where it all began.  Where Dublin shines is in its dark past with a tour through the Kilmainham Gaol prison, the most famous medieval manuscript in the Book of Kells, retail therapy, and the many many pubs.

The best way to end any trip to Ireland is with a pint of Guinness in one hand while dancing to Irish music with a crowd of new friends into the wee hours of the morning.

IRISH HOSPITALITY

Throughout our week in Ireland, what warmed my heart the most was just how incredible the locals are.  Whether staying at B&Bs such as Newlands Lodge, An Portán, Slieve Elva, and Galway Glamping or hotels like The Lake Hotel or The Croke Park Hotel, we were always greeted with friendly hosts and end to end smiles.

As a traveller, you definitely notice the difference when passionate accommodations put the effort to make you feel at home and are willing to lend a helping hand, or provide local advice on say what to see and where to eat.

What you should read next

  • 7 Day Ireland Itinerary – Ultimate Road Trip Guide for the South
  • 10 Must-See and Do Things For Any Road Trip in Ireland
  • 6 of the Best Things to do in Galway
  • Ireland Road Trip Travel Guide – Everything You Need To Know
  • Why You Absolutely Must Do A Road Trip Around Ireland In Photos
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About William Tang

William is the Chief of Awesome at Going Awesome Places which is focused on off-the-beaten-path, outdoor adventure, and experiential travel. His true passion lies in telling stories, inspiring others to travel, writing detailed trip itineraries to help others plan their own trips, and providing helpful tips and tricks to guide readers to travel better. He is based in Toronto, Canada but you'll find him on the road more often than not. Make sure to learn more about William to find out his story and how Going Awesome Places started.

author will tang going awesome places profile photoHey, my name is Will and I'm here to help you travel to some awesome places around the world and my home country of Canada by providing insanely detailed itineraries, travel guides, and packing lists.

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