I am traveling to Ireland in May of 2011. I am using public transportation for part of the trip and driving the other part. These are my plans as of right now...

Day 1: Arrive in Dublin. Check into hotel and explore Dublin (Trinity College/ Grafton Street/ St. Stephen's Green).

Day 2: Take a day trip from Dublin to Glendalough.

Day 3: Take the train to Galway and check into B&B. Spend the rest of the day exlporing the city.

Day 4: Take a day trip to the Aran Islands

Day 5: Rent a car and explore the Connemara region and visit Kylemore Abbey (stopping in towns like Clifden along the way).

Day 6: Drive to see Boyle Abbey in Boyle and then to Clonmacnoise near Athlone. Head back to Galway for my last night there.

Day 7: Head to Tralee or Listowel???? I am unsure of where to spend one night between Galway and Dingle.

Day 8: Head to Dingle and check into B&B. Spend my first day exploring the city and spend the day relaxing around Dingle. Maybe a visit to the Gallarus Oratory.

Day 9: Slea Head Drive and/or Ring of Kerry. Also visiting Killarney National Park

Day 10: Traveling around Dingle Peninsula stopping at places like Brandon Point. May take a trip to the Blaskett Islands

Day 11: Depart from Dingle and head to Ardmore. Explore Ardmore and make a trip to Waterford.

Day 12: Depart from Ardmore and head to Kilkenny for two nights.

Day 13: Spend the day exploring Kilkenny and Kilkenny castle.

Day 14: Day trip to the Rock of Cashel and explore surrounding areas.

Day 15: Leave Kilkenny and head somewhere near the Shannon Airport to get ready for departing the next day. Spend the day around town (where ever I might be).

Day 16: Turn in car rental and depart Ireland.

Does anyone have suggestions on a good town to spend the night in between Galway and Dingle? I am also wondering a good town to spend my last day/night in Ireland not too far from Shannon. Also, If there are any suggestions of places I "must see" along the way, they would be greatly appreciated. Of course, I also plan on spending time in Pubs listening to music and people watching/meeting new people.

Any advice is going to be very useful!

The subject should be "do these plans sound possible" not "does these sound possible"!

Your trip sounds very doable. (I think that is bad grammar--either it is or is not doable so no "very" needed.sorry, Jess!) Anyway it sounds like time to explore along the way and room for unexpected surprises.

My suggestion would be Ennis between Galway and Dingle. You could explore the burren along the way and take a stop at the Cliffs of Moher.

Then on the way to Dingle you could stop at Tralee and the Blennerville windmill. It is only about an hour to Dingle from Tralee over the Connor pass (at least as I recall; check via michelin or another website).

On the last day before departure, there are lots of B&Bs in the Shannon area. Might try Bunratty--it is not far to the airport and the castle and village of Irish life are on the Limerick Road from Shannon. Outside of Bunratty Village there is a town chock a block full of B&Bs. Bunratty Village is made of houses which were moved from other places (some I believe when they were building the runway at Shannon). They illustrate various building styles through Ireland. There is also a "Victorian Street." An informative visit. There is the medieval banquet at the castle--it is my favorite of the three (Dunguaire near Galway and Knappoge-just up the road "a piece"). I know that a lot of people consider it hokey and touristy, but my friends and I found it fun.

Have a fantastic trip!

Thanks irishface! I forgot that I had planned to visit the Cliffs of Moher while in Galway, but I think stopping by on my way to Dingle would work out well also! Thanks for the suggestions on places to stay! I plan on having a fantastic time!

jessg2; I also suggest that you stop in Ennis for the night on your way to Dingle. I would recommend Newpark House B& B which we have stayed at in September 09' and October 10'; it is only a 5 minute drive from downtown Ennis, the rooms are a very nice size, and Declan is a great host. You need to eat at Poet's Corner Pub at the Old Ground Hotel and get their Irish Beef Burger, GREAT! Ennis is just over an hour drive from Galway ,after checking into Newpark House you could drive to the COM, that would take about 35 minutes.

I am confused about your plans to possibly drive the Ring of Kerry and visit Killarney National Park from your stay in Dingle, that would take you about 9+ hours all total. We have visited the Park while staying in Killarney but you could do it on your way to Waterford.

I strongly recommend you visit Connermara National Park in Letterflack while you are in that area; it does not have Muckross House or an abbey like Killarney National does but the scenic walking paths are breathtaking and well worth the visit. The landscape in this area of Ireland is very different from the SW and you will probably see a couple of the Connemara ponies that are there.

You will love Kylemore Abbey the location, house, and victorian gardens are just fabulous.

Well, I guess that is all of my suggestions. Have a great time; I wish I was going with you!

Thanks Floridapugmom for the suggestions. Ennis sounds like a good place for me to stop. Stopping at Killarney Nat'l Park on my way to Waterford sounds like an excellent idea!

Two things, Killarney Nat. Park is not doable from Dingle. I haven't been to Ardmore for several years but there used to be a nice cliff walk that started at the Cliff House Hotel and ended at an ancient church and round tower near the village.

Would put a questionmark over your plans for Day 6.
Driving to Boyle from Galway will eat up the best part of two hours; the onward journey to Clonmacnoise will take well over a further hour on the road.
Given that you will have put in a full day touring Connemara on Day 5, one would question whether Boyle Abbey justifies the effort.
Athlone is easily accessible by new motorway from Galway and offers a castle in the town as well as the monastic site at Clonmacnoise. It would save a lot of time on the road if you limited your travelling to a round trip there.
You will be seeing plenty of road on the following day on your way to Dingle, via the Cliffs of Moher.

Johnod: Thanks! I don't think I was really thinking or looking at a map when I wrote Killarney Nat'l park into my itinerary.

SeeDee: I have been thinking about if Boyle Abbey is worth the trip, and I wasn't taking into account the amount of driving I would be doing the day before. I may skip Boyle and head straight into Athlone for Clonmacnoise.