NE UK to Ireland - best way and things to see?

DH wants to take me to Ireland and I want to go to Donegal as my grandfather was born there but we also want to go to the blarney stone...

So in essence as to traveling all over Ireland I want to know the best way to do it?
Do we fly from Teeside/Newcastle and rent a car?
Do we just drive and take a ferry over? Where the heck to you catch a ferry?

Any other places besides the main Dublin area - we figure a good long weekend...

On a side note I want to go to Scotland too and DH kids that is a summer trip and since it is hailing and snowing and its summer we decided to wait ;-P

Ferry! Yes, it's more expensive that hopping over on a plane but it is FAR more comfortable.

I've taken the ferry a number of times -- we used to live in Ireland and that was the only way we'd go back and forth -- from Holyhead to Dublin and from Pembroke to Rosslare. If Donegal is on your list, you'll probably want the crossing landing further North in Dublin, though really there's only an hour difference between the two (straight up the N11) so it's much the same depending on your travel plans. There may be crossings at other places too, but those are the two I have experience with.

The ferry trip is very pleasant -- after the long drive over to the port, book a cabin on the ferry and snooze the whole way over! I always chose the slower ferries as it was a chance to get some sleep on the long drive. All in all, it's my preferred way to go to Ireland.

You may have trouble doing that in one weekend.  The Blarney Stone is near Cork (all the way South, about 6 hours from Donegal) and, of course, Dublin is in the middle of them.   I would defintely fly and rent a car since you will spend enough time driving and may not want to take the extra time for the ferry.

Other crossings (not sure if they are of any use to you) would be Stranraer -> Belfast or Fleetwood -> Larne.

Depending on how much time you have, if you come into Belfast or Larne, you could do a mini tour of the North coast on your way to Donegal; it's absolutely gorgeous.

It all depends on how much time you'll have though.  It's a LOT of driving to go from Dublin to Cork to Donegal.  Donegal to Dublin alone is over 4 hours, and you'd have to add a couple of hours to that going from Dublin to Cork.

So this may turn into 2 trips <g>
Time off isnt a problem as DH usually has 2 straight weeks off but we do have the kids some of that time and I am self employed but I dont work Friday-Sunday so long weekends are great...

Any other fun stuff? reccomendation on a ferry company?

I think Petunia's idea of touring the north coast would be fab! Especially if Donegal is really high on your list of things to see. If you don't have a lot of time, I would fly into Belfast and rent a car from there. Just getting to the ferry in England can be a long journey in itself. Personally, I would skip Dublin on this trip and worry about that one when you decide to go south to Blarney.

fyi - my friend occasionally drives from Cork to Donegal and it takes her +/- 8 hours depending on traffic, bed pushes, rain, etc.

I've done the Stranraer to Larne crossing which was great -- I was heading to Co. Tyrone and Donegal. And yes, the north coast is amazing. You should really see the Giant's Causeway if you're anywhere near. There's an Ulster American Folk Park near Omagh (since my day so can't say if it's good).

I've done the Stranraer to Larne crossing which was great -- I was heading to Co. Tyrone and Donegal. And yes, the north coast is amazing. You should really see the Giant's Causeway if you're anywhere near. There's an Ulster American Folk Park near Omagh (since my day so can't say if it's good).

I went to the Folk Park last summer and loved it!

I've done the Stranraer to Larne crossing which was great -- I was heading to Co. Tyrone and Donegal. And yes, the north coast is amazing. You should really see the Giant's Causeway if you're anywhere near.

Stranraer crossing is def the way to go!  Even the north coast (Antrim Glens are beautiful!) up and around to Donegal is more than enough to fill a long weekend!