Questions on where to go/what to do in Central Ireland for the weekend? Not Dublin please.

FrankFalcon

Hi all

I work for a company who have offices in Dublin.  I have been travelling to Ireland on and off for a couple of years but I only ever go to Dublin.  My company are sending me to Dublin again this Thursday and then I have a few days to spend in Ireland.  As lovely as Dublin is I want to do something different, go somewhere else and see more of Ireland.  With this in mind please can people have a quick browse of my intentions.  Instead of flying back to UK on Thursday night I am staying over in Ballsbridge, Dublin.  Then, from Friday onwards I want to plan a mini Ireland trip.  I have a couple of things planned and would love your suggestions where else we can visit and what we could do in the beautiful country...By the way...We do 'LIKE' a drink or two, so busy areas and pubs would be cool.

Friday: Nothing planned...Looking for suggestions.
Saturday: We plan to drive to Navan Races
Sunday: Nothing planned...Looking for suggestions.
Monday: We plan to drive to Galway Races.
Tuesday (PM): We plan to drive from Galway back to Dublin to take the Ferry back to UK.

So, as you can see we are staying within a horizontal belt in central Ireland.  We would love your suggestions on activities.
Thanks in advance.

Katiehound

visit Newgrange- prehistoric site-passage tomb. predates Stonehenge & pyramids art Giza
https://www.newgrange.com/visitor.htm
(I visited before the new visitor centre was open- fascinating)

Battle of the Boyne visitors centre at Drogheda?

Trim castle?

Hill of Tara?

Top sights in Galway:

Outdoor attractions…Aran Islands, Ashford Castle, Connemara National Park, Cliffs of Moher

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Historical places…Portumna Castle & Gardens, Aughnanure Castle, Clifden Castle

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Beaches…Coral Strand, Glassilaun Beach, Mannin Bay Blueway

I see you can sail a Galway hooker- but it looks like part of a cycle tour

Rosa_Damascena

I'm watching this thread with interest - if you could ever get me out of Ballsbridge I would probably head south but you have plans that end in Galway. The west coast is also lovely but you don't want to spend the whole weekend driving!

Looking at the map, the motorway network is highly Dublin-centric. Although motorways in England appear to be designed radially from the starting point of London, the east to west network is also well-developed in the midlands and the north.

littlegreen

Really enjoyed Waterford when there last year. Went on a great one hour Viking tour of Waterford that included the "drunk tank" and also some really good insights into how UK and ROI history is the same and differs. Had some good comedy aspects too. Honestly I learned so much about the Republic in that hour but a super UK friendly town too (to be fair all of the Irish we met when there was so friendly and helpful).
You can stop by the "magic road" on way there or back to watch your car roll up the hill. That's also very near some very nice waterfalls which are about a 30 min walk from the car park. You'd get the road, waterfalls and Waterford done in a day, we did it with a commute in

Eldi_Dos

Drive down to Blessington and get out and stretch your legs in some nice gentle countryside,maybe have a pub lunch in the area.Then a  journey down to Glendalough which is a lovely spot and finish off the day with a journey through the Wicklow Mountains National Park back to south Dublin.
Had many a happy Sunday doing that route.

531063

Sunday head over to the west, have a look round Westport, Castlebar & Achill Island and the Wild Atlantic Way, it sets you up for Galway, If your religious you have got Knock in that area 

Skiddaw1

531063 said:

Sunday head over to the west, have a look round Westport, Castlebar & Achill Island and the Wild Atlantic Way, it sets you up for Galway, If your religious you have got Knock in that area 

Oooh yes! Achill Island is fab.

I second the Newgrange suggestion too.

Katiehound

Hope you are having a 'Grand time with lots of craic ' as they say!