I just read back on the thread & realized you’d recommended several of the places & activities I did while I was there lol. (These minor memory lapses happen when you get old!)
Thanks to you & everyone for your great suggestions. They were all wonderful. I was glad to have had so many weeks there — think it was 4 in Dublin, plus 2 days in Killarney & a week in Cork/Cobh. Can’t wait to get back there!
Glad to hear you had a good time! My husband and I will be there from July 17-August 1. We’ve seen most of the sights in Dublin so not sure what is left to see for us. You stayed in a lovely area - Sandymount is a great place! We’re staying in Clontarf which is also a nice area and it’s perfect as we have friends there and I have cousins living just a ten minute walk away. We feel so lucky to get this sit as the Dublin sits are snapped up very quickly. We’re planning on going to Greece afterwards as we’ve done on our last two sits to Dublin. We were actually in Seattle embarking on a cruise back in September when you were most likely in Dublin. Closer to our sit there, I will post to see if anyone wants to do a meet up there. Wow - that will be exciting if you move there! Best of luck 
Keep in touch. Can we exchange numbers on What’s App on here? I had a sitter who was in Vancouver recently call me and we had a nice chat as she was fairly new and had some questions.
@Globetrotter any chance you’re sitting two Shih Tzus in Clontarf? We had a lovely sit there in July 2022.
Yes - that’s the one! I just saw your review - it’s a very small world because my name is also Annette!
Awesome! Hi Annette! You’ll have a glorious time in Clontarf, they are very funny doggies. Not the best walkers, veerrrry slow, but everything else is lovely. I was also able to borrow the host’s bicycle and cycle along the coast at sunset a few times, very happy memories.
I’d been trying to find a sit in Dublin for some time now. I’m originally from there and have friends and cousins living in that area. Have done two sits for another couple in the Drumcondra area but haven’t been back for seven years so very excited!
I am enjoying this thread about Ireland and glad it was “resurrected”. I am very excited that I have my first sit abroad in Malahide, just north of Dublin, for 2.5 weeks in June. I really lucked out with what seems to be a fabulous sit. I have wanted to go to Ireland for a long time! I will be visiting a friend in Connemara for a week, then traveling on my own for a couple of weeks to Dingle, Killarney, and Cobh before the sit. Thanks for all the info shared!
I’m also going to be in Ireland 4 May - 18 June, with my second sit (23-30 May) about an hour north west of Dublin. Well, I hope I will be there but the Middle East conflict is going to determine whether I now get there!
Very excited for you! Be sure to visit Malahide castle while you’re there & do the tour, and the wonderful Avoca food & gift shop inside is AMAZING! (Be prepared to bring lots of goodies away with you…) Killarney is also wonderful…you’ll love it. 
What a coincidence that so many of us are going to be there near the same time.
I have a sit in the southwest (Lauragh) from the 28th March - 15th April, then I’m touristing in Dublin (with some possible short trips to Galway and/or Killarney) from the 16th - 27th April, then on a sit in Cobh from 28th April until 11th May. (After that my schedule is a bit fluid — I just need to be in London by the 18th May at the latest, although I’m trying to find a sit so may head over before that if it pans out.)
We should keep in touch, and maybe see if a meetup is feasible if you guys are interested and the dates match up @temba @Hikergal @Globetrotter
Where are you flying in from, @temba ? We’re a little nervous about flying in the US right now but thinking it should be OK in Europe at least.
@MerryPuppins Flying from Australia with a refuelling in Dubai! Many flights from Oz have a stop in Dubai, Doha, Qatar. Travel insurance does not cover war conflict.
I also have a sit south of Wexford from 6-20 May so when you’re in Cobh perhaps we could meet halfway.
Thanks! Yes, the home is very close to Malahide Castle, and the castle park is where I will be walking my little charge. Sounds like a lovely place, and I am looking forward to Avoca and the gardens/tour. The sits in Cobh and Lauragh sound great! I am looking forward to the Fota Wildlife Park near Cobh. Yes, if the stars align a meetup would be great. My sit is June 11-30, so it sounds like I will miss you all.
We are planning a trip to Ireland in the Autumn, we’ve joined a couple of Facebook pages which we’ve found helpful. We are looking at airbnb’s which are good value and you can save money by being able to prepare your own food. Try and choose a property were you can travel into Dublin via a train or bus. Look at doing a hop on hop off bus tour which is a great way of seeing the city.
Great advice. I did the HoHo bus when I arrived, & it was great. It also made me realize later how close everything actually was, and how truly walkable the city is.
I did find the Dart & Luas made traveling extremely easy; I picked up a LEAP card right away at the local convenience store, & downloaded the app to keep it topped up. (The busses were plentiful too, but less reliable, so I tried to stick to the Luas when weather was bad.)
I was lucky with the Camden Court hotel; during the week the prices were extremely reasonable - like €110/nt — and I found food shopping prices to be surprisingly reasonable. I also knew friends who got some great AirBnBs in areas like Donnybrook, which they said was an ideal location with great transport.
Perhaps there should be another thread about this, but apparently AIRBNBs in Ireland have an uncertain future. I have several booked in May/June, and have been reading up about the government changes as a result of a housing crisis. All AIRBNBs have to be registered with the government by May 2026, and some may not get approval if they are suitable for permanent residence. Some sources say all reservations made prior to May will be honored, but others feel there is risk. All but one of my AIRBNBs is an ensuite within the owners home, which should be safe. But separate apartment type dwellings may not be. Anyway, just a heads up and if anyone knows more, great!
Malahide is a beautiful place which you’ll love! Great that you’ll be able to travel around other places in Ireland as well - enjoy!
I looked at the Camden Court hotel which was super expensive but I’m unfortunately going the end of July during peak season. We’re going to Greece after the sit in Dublin and the prices of hotels are so high compared to when we went seven years ago.
Yeah I just looked and it seems they’ve raised their prices quite a lot. I was getting rooms for €120/nt last fall. Luckily I booked my upcoming stay right after I got back in Nov, at the old prices.
Maybe I was too good of a brand ambassador? 
In October 2025 I stayed with a male friend, platonic, in a 2 bedroom apartment, called MOLLOYS, above a pub, for 2 nights, 307 Euros, it was good for us. just behind the Custom House, walking distance to most places. We had our own key, could come and go as we pleased.
Check out the NYX hotel in Portobello. I’ve stayed there a few times. It is very convenient, right by the canal and an easy walk into the center of town. Rooms are small, but very clean. I’m from Ireland and visit at least once a year