Good for you. I did it myself as well, I was the executor and a solicitor was also named. He renounced. Fairly simple small estate.
Here's a good thread on the procedures.
I couldn't find a good, clear guide to taking out probate without a solicitor, so I will compile this as I go along. Suggestions and corrections welcome. This thread applies only Where there is a valid will You are the named executor Please ask posts about any other situation in a new...
www.askaboutmoney.com
(if you find anything in that link is now different you might say so on the thread or on here)
I did hire a solicitor for the conveyance (sale of the property). That would be a nightmare otherwise and it actually was because the title was a mix of land reg and Reg of Deeds. The Land Registry had about 50 questions as at that time they were sorting out titles in Ireland. So due to other circumstances I left the property for a couple of years (family grieving and losing the plot) and then LR was only interested in about 5 questions).
I'd no issue with getting the grant from the probate office, they gave me an appointment and I flew in to deal with that, not Dublin. I needed some docs witnessed and got that done in a solicitors across the road, the solicitor had a chat with me, nice chap and never charged me anything. Probate office, in the court house are very helpful and pretty nice.