Treasures of Ireland — Self-Launched (Dublin to Dublin, 6 Days)

Arrive and check into a city-centre hostel (Barnacles Temple Bar or Generator Dublin are good social options). Book your Book of Kells + Trinity College Library ticket online in advance for an early-afternoon slot (~€25 via Trinity's own site or GetYourGuide) — it sells out fast in summer. Then self-walk the classic city loop: Trinity College courtyard, O'Connell Street and the Spire, Custom House, and the Georgian squares (Merrion and Fitzwilliam). Evening free for a trad-music session in Temple Bar or, cheaper and more local, a pub around Stoneybatter or Smithfield.

🚌On foot; return airport bus (Dublin Express or Aircoach) ~€8

🛏City-centre hostel dorm, Dublin (e.g. Barnacles Temple Bar)

• →Self-guided walk: Trinity College, O'Connell Street, Custom House, Georgian Squares
• →Book of Kells & Long Room, Trinity College (pre-booked timed ticket)
• →Optional evening trad music session

Two practical ways to replicate this day. Option A (simplest): take the group-style day tour that runs Dublin–Glendalough–Waterford–Cork, bookable on GetYourGuide/Klook from about €60–75 for the day. Option B (cheapest, DIY): St Kevin's Bus from Dublin to Glendalough (return ~€20) for the monastic ruins and lakes, then Intercity train Waterford–Cork (~€15, 1h45). In Waterford, the House of Waterford Crystal factory tour is self-bookable at the door (~€15–18) and runs hourly. Wander Waterford's Viking Triangle before continuing to Cork. Optional: an Irish music and pub-supper night in Cork from about €48 if you want the version Trafalgar sells.

🚌St Kevin's Bus Dublin–Glendalough return ~£18, or Intercity/Expressway bus Waterford–Cork ~£13

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Cork city centre (e.g. Bru Bar & Hostel or Sheila's Cork)

• →Glendalough monastic ruins and lakes (self-guided or day tour)
• →House of Waterford Crystal factory workshop tour (direct booking)
• →Evening wander of Cork city centre, English Market area

Take the local Bus Éireann 226 from Cork city to Blarney (25 mins, ~€3 each way) and buy your Blarney Castle and Stone ticket at the gate (~€20, cheaper online). Then catch the Cork–Tralee train or Expressway bus (~€18–22, roughly 2h). Base yourself in Tralee or Killarney town rather than an out-of-town hotel — Killarney town hostels have far better access to the park gate. Afternoon: free entry to Killarney National Park; walk or cycle to Muckross Traditional Farms and Muckross House (~€13 for the farms; the estate grounds are free), then tea and baked goods at Deenagh Lodge. Optional jaunting cart through the park ~€22.

🚌Bus Éireann 226 Cork–Blarney ~£6 return; Cork–Killarney/Tralee train or bus ~£18

🛏Hostel in Killarney town (e.g. Killarney International Hostel) or Tralee

• →Blarney Castle and the Blarney Stone (self-booked ticket)
• →Killarney National Park self-guided walk/cycle
• →Muckross Traditional Farms (1930s rural life)
• →Optional jaunting cart ride ~€22

There's no public bus that loops Slea Head with stops, so do what independent travellers do: book a small-group Dingle/Slea Head day tour from Killarney or Tralee on GetYourGuide (~€40–50), or take the public bus to Dingle town (Bus Éireann 275/14, ~€12 return) and join a local Slea Head minibus loop from Dingle (~€25). You'll see the Gallarus Oratory, beehive huts, Slea Head viewpoint and Ventry beach. Back in the evening, the Gaelic Roots song, music and dance show is ticketed at the door (~€34) if you want it.

🚌Small-group Slea Head day tour ~£40, or Bus Éireann to Dingle ~£10 plus local minibus

🛏Hostel in Killarney town or Tralee

• →Slea Head Drive and Dingle Peninsula scenic loop
• →Gallarus Oratory and beehive huts stops
• →Optional Gaelic Roots music and dance show ~€34

Move north by bus (Tralee–Limerick, Expressway ~€15, about 2h). Leave your bag in Limerick, then take the local bus or train to Foynes (Bus Éireann 314 from Limerick, ~€5 each way) for the Foynes Flying Boat Museum (~€11) where the Irish coffee was invented — self-booked at the desk. For the Cliffs of Moher, the most economical route is the public Bus Éireann 350 from Limerick/Ennis to the Cliffs visitor centre (~€14 return); the visitor centre exhibition is included in the site entry (~€10). The Wild Atlantic Way cliff walk is the equal of anything the coach tour offers, and you get longer there than a coach group does. Optional medieval castle banquet in Bunratty ~€77.

🚌Tralee–Limerick bus ~£13; Limerick–Foynes local bus ~£9 return; Limerick–Cliffs of Moher bus 350 ~£12 return

🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Limerick city centre

• →Foynes Flying Boat Museum and Boeing 314 replica
• →Cliffs of Moher visitor centre and Wild Atlantic Way clifftop walk
• →Optional Bunratty medieval banquet ~€77

Morning at leisure in Limerick — the Treaty Stone, King John's Castle exterior and the medieval quarter are free to walk. Take the Intercity train Limerick–Dublin Heuston (~€20–25, about 2h15) or the Expressway bus (~€15). Flights home the same day need a 5pm+ departure if you're travelling by train, or stay a final night in Dublin — a city-centre dorm is cheaper than the airport hotels Trafalgar's groups use.

🚌Intercity train Limerick–Dublin ~£22

🛏Optional final night in Dublin hostel (or depart)

• →Self-guided walk of Limerick medieval quarter and Treaty Stone
• →Optional King John's Castle entry ~€12