Ireland trip - ferry options?

[Freddyfruitba...]

I'm looking at the possibility of taking a trip to Ireland this summer, my first long one and my first time out of the UK; very roughly the plan would be to take a ferry over to the south, from Cheshire (eg Liverpool/Holyhead/Fishguard to Dublin/Rosslare); tool around for a bit and then return from Northern Ireland (Belfast to Stranraer). Any other possible routes I've missed?

Lots to consider obviously other than ferries, but as a starting point to build on does anyone have any specific experience of the pros and cons of taking the different routes?

Is overnighting on the Liverpool-Dublin ferry a good idea?

I appreciate that Liverpool is a lot closer to home for me than Fishguard or Holyhead but that in itself doesn't matter as the brilliant riding through Wales would be all part of the trip.
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KC100->CB100N->CB250RS--------->DL650AL2->R1200RS->R1250RS

[B5234FT]

Stena run Belfast to Cairnryan whilst P&O run Stranraer Larne.

Cairnryan and stranraer are all but the same place, Belfast and Larne are not!

[ThatDippyTwat]

[B5234FT]

Unsure, but the point I was getting as is consider the return journey departure point as larne is a little out of the way, but if its a fast roads holiday, avoids the city

[Freddyfruitba...]

[KTMTony]

I'm doing this next week. Cairnryan to Belfast riding round Southern Ireland then back for the larne to cairnryan crossing. Belfast to larne is about 40 mins ride so isn't that much extra.
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Riding a motorcycle is like living in a video game where people are trying to kill you.

[spnorm]

I've just returned from a week in Ireland, crossing from Cairnryan to Belfast and returning from to Dublin to Holyhead.

I basically followed the coast all the way to Killarney and then spent a full day riding the Ring of Kerry.

In retrospect, I'd have missed Northern Ireland and Donegal and headed straight to the Westport area for a couple of nights, followed by three nights in Killarney.

The ride back from Killarney to Dublin via Kilkenny wasn't too bad, especially the Old Military Road over the Wicklow Mountains.