Ralstonlan

Thank you to those who have already answered my questions regarding where to stay the first night in Ireland.

We are arriving in Shannon on May 26, and have booked Old Ground in Ennis for two nights.
That will give us a chance to see some of the area without doing too much driving on the first day.
This is my very tentative direction, with a big question mark in the middle.
The two nights in Portlaoise and three nights in Dublin are a done deal as we are meeting friends there and this is what they have planned. Everyhing else is in the works.
My biggest dilemma is leaving Ennis and where to go for the next two nights. I can't decide if we should drive down to the Dingle peninsula, or head to West Cork, or any other suggestions are welcome!
Thank you all.

May 26-28 Ennis
May 28-30 ?
May 30- Cliff House Ardmore
May 31 Kilkenny
June 1-3 Portlaoise
June 3-6 Dublin

Ralstonlan

Bringing baack to the top in hopes of a reply.

Tony2phones

Consider Driving from Ennis, Round the Dingle peninsula to Killarney or Kenmare either would make a good two night base..

(Only on Trip Advisor Forum is it compulsory to spend the night in Dingle. The Peninsula is scenic, the town is tourist central.)

Another alternative would be to have the night in Dingle and then drop to Kinsale.. That would be the Tourism Ireland take.

jaja

Dingle to Ardmore would be a long drive. Kenmare or Bantry would be better. The further east you can get, the better, I think.

SeeDee

Given that the 28th and 30th will be taken up with quite lengthy journeys to and from the South West, you really only have a single day to dedicate to exploring the area.
Perhaps the best use of your time would be to drive Ennis - Killarney, taking in Dingle en route on the 28th. The Conor Pass and Dunquin are options if time allows but the drive to Killarney itself will take over four hours.
Based in Killarney, you have the option of visiting Kenmare on the 29th - with the onward options of either the Ring of Kerry loop or heading south to visit Glengariff (and Garnish Island - compulsory!).
Killarney on the 30th leaves you with a better road onward to Cork city (try to spare an hour or two to see some of the city)and then to Ardmore.

Ralstonlan

Thank you for the responses. i am beginning to thing that we will head more towards Killarney and save Dingle Peninsula for another trip.

SeeDee- Google maps and ViaMichelin is telling me the drive from Ennis to Kilaarney is 2-2.25 hours. I see that you are saying it will take over four hours. Since you have done this in the past, can you please tell me what delays that I should expect?

Tony2phones

Ennis to Killarney taking the Shannon Tunnel is no more than 3 hours unless you get snagged in traffic.

The tunnel bypasses Limerick which used to be a bottle neck.

There is a By-pass round Tralee or Castleisland that used to be the other binds depending on route. Adare traffic can be a problem in the usual rush hour periods.

I like Listowel so generally cut across grab a bite to eat and wander around then drop down rather than aiming for Castleisland which would be the straightest route.

http://www.listowel365.com/

SeeDee

I was factoring in Dingle town in the Ennis - Killarney trip when suggesting four hours for your journey.

Tony2phones

If you leave Ennis at 10 am. you will be through the tunnel by 11 am. Dingle town going via Tralee and over the Connor pass is 1 1/2 hours from there so lunch in Dingle around 1pm ish? The Slea Head drive is a couple of hours plus the drive from Dingle to Killarney another 1 1/2 hours.. so you should have no trouble getting into your lodgings (Sunnybank Guest House is a good budget option) for 6pm ish..