Shamrocks and Leprechauns: Self-Launched Ireland & Northern Ireland Loop
10 days · Ireland & Northern Ireland
Brendan Vacations charges £2,600
No-markup version: ~£770 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 10-day loop of Ireland and Northern Ireland covering the same highlights as the Brendan Vacations coach tour — Dublin's St Patrick's Cathedral and Trinity College, the Hill of Slane, Belfast and the Game of Thrones locations around Winterfell Castle, the Giant's Causeway and Dark Hedges, Titanic Belfast, Derry's walls, a sheepdog demo on a Galway farm, the Cliffs of Moher, Killarney and the Ring of Kerry, and Blarney Castle — using hostel dorms and budget guesthouses, public buses and trains (Dublin–Belfast Enterprise train, Expressway/ Bus Éireann coaches, Local Link), and self-bookable activities. Note: the original tour's price isn't displayed on this page, so the comparison below uses a typical advertised coach-tour rate for this itinerary (approx. £2,600 per person) — check Brendan Vacations' site for the actual quote.
Day-by-day
Arrive Dublin — historic heart on foot
Dublin
Land at Dublin Airport and take the Dublin Express or Aircoach to the city centre (~€7–10, 30–40 mins). Check into a hostel in the Temple Bar / Smithfield area. Spend the afternoon on a free self-guided walk of the big sights: St Patrick's Cathedral (€9 entry), the Georgian squares around Merrion Square, and the grounds of Trinity College (Book of Kells ~€18.50 if you want it — pre-book online). Evening: trad music and a pint in a Smithfield or Capel Street pub rather than tourist-priced Temple Bar.
🚌Dublin Express coach from airport ~£7
🛏Hostel dorm, Dublin city centre (~£25–35/night)
- →Self-guided walk: St Patrick's Cathedral, Georgian Squares, Trinity College
- →Optional Book of Kells (book online)
- →Trad music session in a local pub
Dublin to Newry via the Hill of Slane
Newry / County Down
Take the Enterprise train or a Bus Éireann/Expressway coach from Dublin to Drogheda (~£10–14, 45 mins), then a local bus or taxi to the Hill of Slane (a 10-minute taxi from Slane village; the ruins of the Franciscan monastery are free to wander). Walk up for the view over the Boyne Valley. Continue north by bus to Newry (~£10–15) and stay in a budget guesthouse or the local hostel. Self-cater or eat in a pub in Newry town.
🚌Enterprise train/coach Dublin–Drogheda, local bus/taxi to Slane, coach to Newry (~£25 total)
🛏Budget guesthouse/B&B, Newry (~£40–50 double, ~£25pp)
- →Hill of Slane walk
- →Franciscan monastery ruins
- →Boyne Valley viewpoint
Newry to Belfast — Winterfell archery & city murals
Belfast
Bus from Newry to Belfast (~£8–10, 45 mins). Book the Winterfell Castle Archery Range experience (Game of Thrones filming location near Downpatrick) directly with the operator or via GetYourGuide — medieval archery in costume, roughly £40–50, and you'll need a taxi or local bus to reach it. Back in Belfast, do a self-guided walk of the political murals in the Falls and Shankill (or a £15 black-taxi tour booked on the day) and pass Queen's University in the Queen's Quarter.
🚌Coach Newry–Belfast ~£9; local taxi to Winterfell ~£15 shared
🛏Hostel dorm, Belfast city centre (~£22–30/night)
- →Winterfell Castle Archery Range (book direct/GetYourGuide ~£45)
- →Self-guided political murals walk
- →Queen's University & Queen's Quarter
Giant's Causeway & the Dark Hedges
Belfast
Book a day tour from Belfast to the Giant's Causeway and Dark Hedges (GetYourGuide/Viator have regular options from ~£30–35, or take the 221/402 bus to Bushmills and walk ~20 mins to the stones) — the Causeway itself is free to visit, though the National Trust visitor centre is ~£13.50 (skip it and use the public path). Stop at the Dark Hedges beech tunnel on the way. Back in Belfast for fish and chips in a proper chippy (~£10).
🚌Day tour minibus or public bus 221/402 (~£30)
🛏Hostel dorm, Belfast (~£22–30/night)
- →Giant's Causeway
- →Dark Hedges
- →Fish & chips dinner
Titanic Belfast, then Derry's walls, on to Donegal
Derry / Donegal
Morning at Titanic Belfast (book online ~£21, allow 2–3 hrs) in the Titanic Quarter. Then take a coach to Derry/Londonderry (~£12–15, 1h45). Walk the 1.6km city walls yourself — free, with plenty of interpretive signs — and cross the Peace Bridge. Late afternoon bus to Letterkenny/Donegal Town (~£10–12) and check into a guesthouse or the Donegal Town hostel.
🚌Coach Belfast–Derry ~£14; bus Derry–Donegal ~£11
🛏Hostel/guesthouse, Donegal Town (~£25–30pp)
- →Titanic Belfast (book online ~£21)
- →Derry city walls self-guided walk
- →Peace Bridge
Donegal to Galway via a sheep farm
Galway / Limerick
Bus from Donegal to Sligo, then a Bus Éireann coach on to Galway (~£20–25 total, 4–5 hrs). Book a sheepdog-handling demo directly with a working farm — Killary Sheep Farm in Connemara (~€20–25, reachable by Local Link bus) or a similar farm experience near Galway — for the shepherd-and-dog show the coach tour does at Feeney's. Wander Galway's Latin Quarter and Spanish Arch, then take an evening coach to Limerick (~£10) and stay near the city or in Bunratty.
🚌Coaches Donegal–Galway–Limerick (~£32)
🛏Budget B&B/hostel, Limerick or Bunratty (~£25–30pp)
- →Sheepdog & sheep farm experience (book direct ~£20)
- →Galway Latin Quarter & Spanish Arch
- →Optional Bunratty Folk Park (~£16)
Cliffs of Moher & Foynes Flying Boat Museum
Killarney (via Clare)
Take a Bus Éireann route 350 or a Cliffs of Moher day tour from Limerick/Ennis (~£25–30 including entry); the Cliffs visitor centre ticket is ~£7 and the cliff walk is breathtaking in any weather. On the way back, stop at the Foynes Flying Boat Museum (~£10 entry) to board the replica Boeing 314 flying boat — check opening days (seasonal). Evening coach to Killarney (~£12) via Limerick, and settle into a Killarney hostel.
🚌Bus 350 or day tour ~£28; coach to Killarney ~£12
🛏Hostel dorm, Killarney (~£22–28/night)
- →Cliffs of Moher & visitor centre
- →Foynes Flying Boat Museum
- →Boeing 314 replica
Ring of Kerry loop
Killarney
Do the Ring of Kerry the budget way: the public Bus Éireann 280/281 circulates Killarney–Killarney via Killorglin, Cahersiveen, Waterville and Kenmare, or join a hop-on coach day tour from Killarney (~£20–25, booked on the day or via GetYourGuide) which stops at the main viewpoints — Ladies View, Derrynane, Torc Waterfall. Alternatively hire a bike (~£18/day) for the first stretch. Evening: trad session in a Killarney pub and a walk to Ross Castle.
🚌Ring of Kerry day tour or public 280/281 (~£22)
🛏Hostel dorm, Killarney (~£22–28/night)
- →Ring of Kerry scenic drive
- →Ladies View & Torc Waterfall
- →Ross Castle walk
Blarney Castle, then back to Dublin
Cork / Dublin
Train or bus from Killarney to Cork (~£14–18, 1.5 hrs), then a local bus (215) to Blarney. Blarney Castle and Stone entry ~£18–20 (book online to skip the queue) — the grounds and gardens are worth an hour on their own. Return to Cork and take the InterCity train to Dublin (~£20–25, 2.5 hrs, book on Irish Rail for cheaper advance fares). Finish with a farewell pint or dinner aboard a Dublin canal-boat pub if you want the tour's last-night experience, or simply a good pub dinner in town.
🚌Bus Killarney–Cork ~£15; train Cork–Dublin ~£22
🛏Hostel dorm, Dublin (~£25–35/night)
- →Blarney Castle & kiss the Stone
- →Blarney gardens
- →Farewell pub dinner
Dublin depart
Dublin
Slow morning — a free self-guided stroll along the Grand Canal or a look at Dublin Castle, then the Dublin Express coach back to the airport (~£7). If your flight is late, stow bags at the hostel and use the extra hours for the Guinness Storehouse (~£22, book online) or the Chester Beatty library (free).
🚌Dublin Express coach to airport ~£7
🛏—
- →Grand Canal or Dublin Castle walk
- →Optional Guinness Storehouse (~£22)
Self-launched vs. Brendan Vacations
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Brendan Vacations | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£770 | £2,600 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,830 per person (70%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Brendan Vacations-style trips? Check them out here.~£770
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Shamrocks and Leprechauns: Self-Launched Ireland & Northern Ireland Loop cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £770 per person for 10 days in Ireland & Northern Ireland. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Brendan Vacations?+
Yes — Brendan Vacations charges around £2,600 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £770 — a saving of roughly £1,830 (70%) per person.
How long is the Ireland & Northern Ireland trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Ireland & Northern Ireland.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, budget, backpacker trip through Ireland & Northern Ireland, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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