Linlee

This will be my first trip to Ireland, as well as my husband and 24-year-old daughter. I’ve been pouring over quite a lot of the itineraries on this forum in order to help me out…and everyone at home is leaving it up to me.
It would be very helpful, after looking at our trip, if anyone could see if I’m heading in the wrong direction.

I’ll post the entire trip, however the first and last legs are already booked. It’s the middle, Ireland portion, where help would be welcome.

Dates: 5/09/2016 – 22/09/2016

Sept -5 : Overnight from US to Edinburgh (via Amsterdam)
Sept – nights 6th/ 7th/8th, 3 nights in Edinburgh

Sept – 9: Fly from Edinburgh to Shannon. Pickup car.
Hotel booked 1 night in Listowel

This is where I get stuck. We have 9 nights, including the Listowel stay, in Ireland. The last night needs to be close enough to the Cork Airport for our flight to Paris on the 18th.

That said, this is what I have so far:

Night 1: Listowel

Night 2: Kilkenny
Night 3: Kilkenny

Night 4: Killarney

Night 5: Kenmare
Night 6: Kenmare

Night 7: Bantry

Night 8: Kinsale

Night 9: Cork (morning flight out)


We don’t mind driving around, even though new to the left side of the road.
Staying in one place for a couple nights would be better than packing everyday.

Looking to get a feel for this portion of Ireland rather than follow tour buses around.
Love historic sites, towns and food, pubs, walking, taking photos, but not traffic. Plan on visiting the Beara Peninsula instead of the northerly 2.

I originally had 3 nights in Dublin before the flight to Paris, but felt we’d be racing around. Do these locations sound on the right track?
Any insights as to how many nights to allocate where, or different towns, would be wonderful. Thanks!

Tony2phones

Listowel is the wrong Direction for Kilkenny from Shannon, Much as I like Listowel I would re think this. Possibly Cashel or Cahir? As Jet lag is not a problem you could see the Cliffs of Moher and drop back possibly spending the night in Killaloe/Ballina at the foot of Lough Derg?

Killarney and Kenmare are so close together, chose one or the other. Killarney is the better touring base. Possibly 2 days Killarney and 2 days Bantry?

Cork Airport is between Cork and Kinsale so possibly combine those 2 nights?

Linlee

Hmmm...I have to drop in to Listowel to visit someone, but I get your point.

I'll lookup the Killaloe/Ballina areas, this is the first I've heard these names.

I thought that Killarney and Kenmare may be too close, I like the idea of splitting the Kenmare nights adding 1 to Killarney and 1 to Bantry...makes good sense. Combining to 2 cities by the airport also.

It's very difficult to actually know the real time to get from one place to another...sightseeing and all, and didn't want to look at an 8 hour drive anywhere.
Thank you for your insight and time,
Lin

Tony2phones

If you can fit some time in Listowel between Kilkenny and Killarney that might work? or as a night before Killarney than you could drive the Dingle figure of eight between Listowel and Killarney.

Linlee

I guess saving Kilkenny for another trip would be a good idea. Hopping around too much is not my idea of a vacation.

Night 1 Listowel

Nights 2-3-4 Killarney with day trips

Nights 5-6 Bantry

Nights 7-8-9 Cork/Kinsale area for day trips and flight out

This sounds a bit more doable to me.

Tony2phones

Looks fine, Lots to see in the South West. Beara, Sheeps Head and Mizen Peninsulas are all worth spending time exploring and as you say don't have the traffic of Iveragh and Dingle loops.
I would though keep the Dingle figure of eight between Listowel and Killarney and when driving the Iveragh Ring of Kerry be sure to include the Skellig ring including Valentia Island (not visited by the tour bus's)

Linlee

Yes! Thank you. With the change in plans I've added those to the 'on the way' and day trips.