Getting Around Ireland

The best way to see Ireland is by car. Yes, you can take a bus or a train but then you are limited in what you can do and see. Many of the best sights are off the beaten path. (Unless you are in Dublin, then use the public transport!)

Our car was included in our package from Brendan Tours. It was a small 4-door manual transmission with a hatch back. And, honestly,you don't want anything too big. Many roads you will travel are narrow with hedgerows or even stone fences on either side. Many times we had to pull off the side of a road so another car could squeeze by going the opposite direction. But such is the joy of the Irish countryside. (Signs are in kilometers per hour. I was told by an Irishman during my first trip that the speed limits are "just a suggestion". Let me suggest sticking to them.)



Because we had our then-one-year-old daughter with us we came prepared with an in-car DVD player and DVDs. Just a note on that: the power outlet in the car we had (and probably most European cars) was larger than what we have in the US. We were able to tighten the plug by folding up paper and inserting it beside. **I am not suggesting you do this but only explaining what we did. I am not liable for any damage you may cause** I can't imagine what the driving could have been like without the entertainment for Brenna.


And speaking of Brenna; she was in a car seat. We brought ours to use on the plane but you can reserve one if you don't want to lug yours through the airport. Just make sure that you request it in advance and be sure to confirm it when you confirm your reservation (either with the rental company or have your travel agent handle it).





We made sure to plan our driving to coincide with Brenna's nap schedule. We did short trips when she was awake and made sure she got a lot of time to burn off her energy when we stopped and we did our longer drives after lunch when she napped. This worked really well and we didn't experience any tantrums or melt-downs.



In Ireland and the UK you drive on the left. The driver's seat is on the right side of the car and you shift with your left hand. This actually sounds more difficult than it is. This is your smallest worry. More importantly you need to remember to look right, then left, then right again. This is very easy to forget when you are walking in a city. I have found that the best advice I can give is to just pause before you turn or cross a street. Look everywhere. Look again. Then proceed.


As a final note: Be prepared to abandon your itinerary and follow interesting signs you see along the road. Some of the best memories are unplanned.