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Vacation dates are not flexible- March 28-Apr 4 (give or take just a day). We can go for a week. Maybe rent a car the whole time, or part of the time (and public transport between cities the other part). It's our first trip to Ireland. We're 2 middle aged American women. We enjoy small cities and quaint villages, the "pub" experience, cultural sights, generally soaking in the culture and people. What would be YOUR trip recommendations?
Ireland-in/out of Shannon
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My friends and I would mostly go for "no planning trip". Meaning we go on with no plan. It's just ourselves, backpack and money. No expectation, more adventure and total fun!
Whatever you do, please include the Dingle Peninsula and Slea Head Drive. Read reviews here: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g194237-d498906-Reviews-Slea_Head_Drive-Dingle_Peninsula_County_Kerry.html
Beautiful scenery!
We also enjoyed the small town of Doolin and the Cliffs of Moher which are about 10min away. Again, beautiful scenery.
It sounds like you plan to stay in the west, so I would keep the car the entire time. It will give you much more flexibility.
Have you looked at guidebooks/web sites/etc to see which places stick out to YOU? With a week I would stay in two, maybe three places tops. Personally I would go to Dingle and Kenmare, with a night on each end closer to Shannon, but that's just me.
Here's a link to my trip report from a couple of years ago, in case you're interested and want some ideas. (We went to the UK first, so the Ireland part starts about 2/3 of the way down.) There are lots of other trip reports on the boards; I find them great for getting ideas about what I want to see.
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/trip-report-jm-in-the-uk-and-ireland-plus-philly.cfm
I agree with Jen about trip reports. And also agree with the suggestions for Dingle, Slea Head, Kenmare, etc. But just in case you're interested in reading about a trip in the other direction, here's the link for my report on our trip taken at almost exactly the same time of year in '06:
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/our-wonderful-irish-celebration-part-1-long.cfm
You're talking 'Holy Week' (i.e., the week between Passion / Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday).
West County Clare is one of my favorites: from Spanish Point & Miltown Malbay to Lahinch, the Cliffs of Moher & Doolin.
Ennis would be my 'Base,' as I toured up to Galway and into Mayo (Cong, Croagh Patrick, Westport). Ashford Castle would be one of my destinations; I might also visit Dromoland Castle if I could fit it in.
I'm not very big on counting places I've visited; I prefer a more laid-back Spring vacation. You've got Pubs in Ennis and Westport and in Galway City.
That's about as far as I would want to drive over a week.