Hi Elizabeth,

Shame to stay only 5-6 days as there are so many beautiful places to visit. 

I'm assuming you .flying into Dublin?  If so, I would say stay one night/one day in Dublin.  Visits not be be missed in Dublin, Guiness Brewery...it's amazing!!   Night life in Dublin:  Temple Bar is the place to be.  If you are still alive the next day, and not too hungover and feel like driving, go right accross the country to Galway.  This a vibrant, fun city.  Normally motorway all the way there but count 3-5 hour drive. If you don't mind driving, from Galway, go south to Clare and the Cliffs of Moher. This is the most spectacular place in Ireland.  Driving from Galway, go along the Coast you will visit fabulous little villages like Dullin and Lisdoonvarna, and the scenery along this coast is awesome.  If you get that far, drive to the peer in Dullin and walk along the rocks here. If the sea is rough, the waves crashing along these rocks are breathtaking! From here, you can take a boat out to the Aran Islands.  Don't go to the bigger Inismor Island, but rather one of the smaller ones.  On the Island, you can take a horse driven trap around the island and stroll on the beach and listen to the local brogue.  Everyone speaks Gaelic on the Islands!! 

Now, if you prefer not to drive too far, and believe me if you take the above trip, you will spend a lo t of time in the car, you could check out the East Coast - to the South, the Wicklow Mountains, notably Glendalough, it a beautiful magical place. North of Dublin you could visit historial sites of Slane Castle and the Boyne Valley in Meath.  Lovely countryside and Celtic ruins to visit (New Grange) http://www.knowth.com/ .

Have a good trip.

I agree with everything and have one thing to add.

In dublin go to this: http://www.theirishhouseparty.ie/

Details on the webpage but i cant reccomend it highly enough. You will be singing irish songs for hours after :)

Wow, thanks so much guys!

Agree with Cladagh... or to cut down the driving fly to Shannon and stick to the west coast for this trip, and do Dublin another time for the weekend.

There are some lovely country house hotels dotted around the coast, from where you can base yourself.

If you want the singing and folk music (which Galway and Clare are famous for) try a pub called Durty Nellys in Banratty (the castle next door has touristy theme nights as well with dancing etc). www.durtynellys.ie

For food Banratty has one of the better seafood restaurants as well.... then you can get the feel of proper Ireland beyond the party scene in Dublin.

A piece of driving advice in Ireland... apart from being on the wrong side to here... "expect the unexpected"....  this way when you scream round a bend to find an old fella staggering on his way home from a pub in the middle of the day and middle of the road you'll be fine.

The Garda are pretty understanding of Europeans, but take care.

Also look out for some excellent gourmet pubs where you can eat fantastic food like locally caught seafood and stews etc.

Slainte

Charlie

Thanks all. That was really helpful. Im really looking forward to this trip. Sounds like Ireland has quite a distinct feel and culture:)

Oh, one more thing- Can I rent a car and legally drive over there with a US liscence?

yes... as you would in any EU country