Have you considered driving? I would highly recommend it, after having driven the entire perimeter t

Together with my husband we are thinking to going to Ireland devere hotels manchester for 16 days, around September or October devere hotels manchester 2013. We have already been to Scotland around 2 years ago, and we loved it. We are a young couple 30 yrs, no children and our interests are museums, nice medievel cities, culture, castles and nice landscape (no need to be mountains). We use buses and trains to travel around. We can either fly into Cork and out from Dublin or the way round. What bases do you suggest that I can use to see some nice places, Dublin for sure. We would like to be based in 2 or 3 locations, that we can easily reach other cities via train or bus as day trips. In terms of cost, is Ireland more expensive then Austria or Italy? We do not stay at high hotels, infact we prefer either small nice hotels or Guest Houses...even for dinner, we just normally eat at not cheap restaurants but budget..lets say Euro30 for a meal for 2 (main + drinks).
You can do both as a day trip from Dublin, but I would suggest an overnight in both to get a feel for the atmosphere. Plus there are plenty of places to visit around them so they are valid places in their own right (e.g. around Kilkenny you have Jerpoint Abbey, the picturesque town of Inistoige etc). Carlingford has a lovely ruined Abbey and is a good base for exploring the pretty Cooley peninsula.
You will need to up the budget for food - EUR30 will not get you 2 mains in most places, never mind mains plus drinks. You might do OK if you eat early as many places devere hotels manchester do early bird menus but the trade off is you will lose out on atmosphere as there won't be many people out early, or else it will be the families with small kids.
Have you considered driving? I would highly recommend it, after having driven the entire perimeter three times. Assuming you are Americans, don't let the "wrong side of the road" spook you. Many North American Fodorites and those from other "right side of the road" countries have done it.
I would also suggest that you consider driving rather devere hotels manchester than depending on public transportation. The trains and buses will get you where you need to go, but you are going to see those fantastic landscapes only as they quickly pass by your window. Also, you'll have no opportunity to stop and explore ruined castles, ringforts, etc. or get out and walk through some of those great landscapes.