Dublin (Dun Laoghaire) - Kells and Powerscourt in one day?

[douggw]

Will be arriving 7am, leaving 7pm.  Looking at Google Maps, Book of Kells and Powerscourt don't see too far away - is it feasible to visit both in one day?  Maybe taking DART to Book of Kells, Taxi to Powerscourt?  Is this too much for one day?

 

Thank you!

[princeton123211]

38 minutes ago, douggw said:

Will be arriving 7am, leaving 7pm.  Looking at Google Maps, Book of Kells and Powerscourt don't see too far away - is it feasible to visit both in one day?  Maybe taking DART to Book of Kells, Taxi to Powerscourt?  Is this too much for one day?

You could physically do it but it is a ton of running around. The Book of Kells is at Trinity College right in the heart of Dublin and Powerscourt is about an hour (or possibly more with traffic) outside of the city. It would be an expensive taxi ride and finding a way back would be difficult-- if you were going to attempt this I would hire a driver for the afternoon to take you there, wait, and drop you off back at the port. 

 

Powerscourt is nice but it's similar to any number of other country houses you can find in Ireland and England. Keep in mind that the main house at Powerscourt was gutted by fire in the 1970s so you are really going there for the wonderful gardens, not to tour an authentic 18th Century country house. 

 

If you haven't spent time in Dublin I would skip Powerscourt and tour the city. If you have and are looking for something different to do you can make it work but it will take some planning and you'll spend a few hours of the day in transit. 

[VMax1700]

Well, you had me there with the title of your thread!  Kells is the name of a town about 50 miles north of Dublin city centre and Powerscourt is south of Dublin city centre.  However you then say Book of Kells, which ofcourse is in Trinity College, Dublin.

 

Very few cruise ships are docking in Dublin, so probably you will be tendering into Dun Laoghaire.  It can be a long tender ride as the cruise ships have to anchor a good distance from the quay side because of tides and shipping channels.  

The 'Dart' (local train service) station is just beside the spot where the tender dock is located and you can pre purchase a 24 hour 'Leap card' for only €8 (eight euro).  It will be delivered to your mail address (not email). This card covers Dart and Dublin Bus.  Pre purchase is better than lining up at the Dart station to buy from the machines!

 

https://about.leapcard.ie/leap-visitor-card

 

Take the Dart to either Pearse station or Tara.  

 

Powerscourt is difficult to access by public transport.  Best way is probably to return on the Dart as far as Bray station then take the Bus #185 to Enniskerry, which is the closest location to Powerscourt.  It is then a 30 minute walk to the house.  The bus is only every hour, so timing will be critical for your return, remembering to allow time for the tender back to the ship!

https://www.transportforireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/TFI-Go-Ahead-Route-185-Timetable-October-FA-online.pdf

 

Powerscourt is nice enough but unless you really want to see it, then there are many other sites/sights to be seen in Dublin.

 

[douggw]

2 hours ago, VMax1700 said:

Well, you had me there with the title of your thread!  Kells is the name of a town about 50 miles north of Dublin city centre and Powerscourt is south of Dublin city centre.  However you then say Book of Kells, which ofcourse is in Trinity College, Dublin.

 

Very few cruise ships are docking in Dublin, so probably you will be tendering into Dun Laoghaire.  It can be a long tender ride as the cruise ships have to anchor a good distance from the quay side because of tides and shipping channels.  

The 'Dart' (local train service) station is just beside the spot where the tender dock is located and you can pre purchase a 24 hour 'Leap card' for only €8 (eight euro).  It will be delivered to your mail address (not email). This card covers Dart and Dublin Bus.  Pre purchase is better than lining up at the Dart station to buy from the machines!

 

https://about.leapcard.ie/leap-visitor-card

 

Take the Dart to either Pearse station or Tara.  

 

Powerscourt is difficult to access by public transport.  Best way is probably to return on the Dart as far as Bray station then take the Bus #185 to Enniskerry, which is the closest location to Powerscourt.  It is then a 30 minute walk to the house.  The bus is only every hour, so timing will be critical for your return, remembering to allow time for the tender back to the ship!

https://www.transportforireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/TFI-Go-Ahead-Route-185-Timetable-October-FA-online.pdf

 

Powerscourt is nice enough but unless you really want to see it, then there are many other sites/sights to be seen in Dublin.

 

Thank you so much for this additional information.  I think we are going to skip the gardens for now, as logistically, seems like we'd be spending more time figuring out transportation and riding.  We may do the HOHO or Dart.

[Planning to cruise]

If tendering into Dun Laoghaire you might not arrive onshore that early, or in fact at all.  As conditions were unfavourable we didnt get there until almost lunchtime.  Then you need to travel into Dublin.  There is more than enough to do and see in the city.  The Book of Kells is likely to have queues, taking time.  Powerscourt on the same day seems ambitious.  We have done it all but over several land stays.  

[swixpat]

Trinity college advises pre-booking of slots for the visit of the Books of Kells.

This means otoh that the visits can book out.

 

Maybe choose a time in the middle of the day to visit? There's a hop on hop off bus stop close by, so maybe integrate the visit in a city tour?

 

 

 

[Chocolate Teapot]

On 7/13/2024 at 11:57 AM, swixpat said:

Trinity college advises pre-booking of slots for the visit of the Books of Kells.

This means otoh that the visits can book out.

 

Maybe choose a time in the middle of the day to visit? There's a hop on hop off bus stop close by, so maybe integrate the visit in a city tour?

 

 

 

I used the Green Hop-On Hop-Off bus and the stop for Trinity College is right by the front entrance.