Hello to all! I began reading this forum and must send thanks to everyone as these posts are tremendously helpful and enlightening! My husband and I are planning a first trip to Ireland in late May (flying in and out of Shannon for 7 nights). I'm a bit overwhelmed - so many wonderful things to do/see! I appreciate any itinerary recommendations.

Initially we were planning to rent a car and drive to Galway (Salthill - saw a nice B&B Sea Breeze Lodge?) spend two nights - on day two take an escorted tour from the B&B to Cliffs of Moher). On day 3, we would drive to Killarney passing through Adare and Limerick (stay at Fairview B&B). On day 4 we would take an escorted day tour to the Dingle Peninsula. We'd like to break up the driving a little bit with tours to just enjoy scenery - and relax! On the next two days we were considering Ring of Kerry and then Blarney Castle tours (but given post recommendations, we may pass on these given other potential sites, so now we are rethinking are entire itinerary, e.g., stay in Dingle possibly a night or two). The night before we left we planned to head back toward Shannon and stay at Bunrattey Castle Hotel.

We also received some recommendations to stay in Limerick our first night, head to Clifden/Quay House, then to Clare (stay at Berry Lodge, go to Clffs of Moher from there), then to Dingle for a night or two and then on to Kenmare (Sally Port House strongly recommended!) - though I would still like to stay in Killarney too.

Ultimately we want to see a bit of the west and southwest and take in as much of the scenery, sites and people - and Guiness too! We don't want to be overly ambitious and exhausted from traveling from one spot to another - a challenge I know with so many wonderful things to see do. I appreciate any itinerary recommendations - as well as B&B and/or restaurant recommendations. I promise to share any of our discoveries too!

Thank you!

Getting a little dizzy reading your itinerary for Ireland West - almost as erratic as the driving habits that you may encounter on your journey. Just to put some shape on your plan to avoid extra miles, I would suggest the following:
1. Stick with Galway/Salthill for your first two nights as its easy reach from Shannon (if you have time, turn off the main road in Kilcolgan and have your first pint in Morans at the Weir)
2. Galway city is small and compact and will provide plenty to occupy you while you shake off the effects of your flight on your first full day.
3. Would favour a day trip to the Aran Islands in preference to a bus trip to Clare. You can get a short flight to Inishmore with Aer Arann that takes a few minutes and then rent a bicycle to get out to Dun Aengus fort (it's a must see)
4. Heading south towards Kerry, you can take in the Cliffs of Moher en route and cross the Shannon Estuary on the Killimer-Tarbert ferry. Onward to Dingle.
5. After the exertions of driving, I would limit activities on the following day to exploring the Dingle area and perhaps a boat ride out to see Fungie the famous dolphin.
6. Killarney is within easy reach of Dingle but I would suggest if you had not used up the whole day there, that you would progress on to Kenmare (in daylight though as you don't want to miss the view).
7. With Kenmare as a base you have two options; drive the Ring of Kerry or explore West Cork.
8. Depending on how you have managed your nights, you might still be able to make your way up the coast through Skibbereen and Clonakilty to overnight in Kinsale. This is still within reasonable distance to make it back to Bunratty for your final night (check out the Folk Park there if time permits).

Can't help with all of it, but a few comments on what I can:

1. A visit to the Cliffs of Moher is an hour or two at most, if you choose to only visit the visitors' centre area. You can also take a cruise from Doolin (not sure if they also run from somewhere else); I really do recommend the cruise if you have good weather. Otherwise, unless you just really don't want to drive there for whatever reason, I would save your tour money and spend it on the cruise. If you choose not to do the cruise (or the weather precludes it), you could even see the Cliffs on your way to or from Galway and save your second day for something else - perhaps the Aran Islands, or seeing more of the Galway area. To be totally honest, I would take out Galway unless you have something in particular you wanted to see there.

2. Why the desire to stay in Killarney? If you have your reasons, great. My experience was that there is not much in the town itself. I stayed in Killarney and visited Kenmare briefly; I liked Kenmare much more and wish I'd stayed there instead. Either is a good base for activities around Killarney National Park and the Ring of Kerry.

3. I wouldn't drive through Limerick. You can take the Killimer-Tarbert ferry between Kerry and Clare, as SeeDee mentioned; it's more direct and easier than navigating Limerick would be.

4. I would absolutely stay in Dingle. You have several tours listed. That's fine if you know you like them. My personal opinion is that I would rather drive myself, because then I can stop and take as many pictures as I choose, go down to the beach if I choose, stop for lunch when and where I choose... you get the idea. I much prefer that, personally, to seeing Ireland through a bus window. It is, of course, your choice - just wanted to throw that out there.

So, with your seven days, my personal preference would be (assuming I have your itinerary correct):

1. Arrive, see Cliffs, stay in Doolin/Ennis/somewhere in that area
2. Drive to Kenmare
3. Ring of Kerry OR Beara Peninsula OR National Park (we hiked the Gap of Dunloe; you can also hire jaunting carts to ride through it)
4. Muckross House/Ross Castle/other similar in the morning; drive to Dingle
5. Slea Head drive
6. Drive to Ennis for flight home on day 7

Thank you so much for the fast replies!

This is great info and definitely helpful in getting organized. I appreciate it so much!!

One quick question, if we rearchitect this itinerary altogether and were to forgo Galway and head west/then southwest, would Milltown Malbay for one night be too far from Shannon upon arrival in Ireland and then to head to the Cliffs on Day 2?

I don't think it's too far; it appears (on the map, at least) to be closer to Shannon than Doolin, which is a common first-night stop. To be honest, though, assuming you have good weather and your flight gets in by midmorning, you could see the Cliffs on your first day (though probably not take the cruise) and save day 2 for something else. Just a thought.

If this may be your only trip to west Ireland I would highly recommend a trip out to the Aran Islands. It was a highlight of my trip. You can drive from Shannon airport easily to the Cliffs and on to Doolin. Next day do the Aran Is. cruise. Day 3 head to Dingle- there are great archeological tours there. Day 4 do Ring of Kerry -Muckroos and Day 5 head to Kinsale, I loved the town of Kinsale. I did not find the distances so great. I guess it depends if you need to rest or want to fit in as much as possible.

Thank you for the additional replies. One itinery that may shape up is;

Day one - Arrive Shannon AP, drive to Dingle (stay at Sea View for 2 nights) - tour Cliffs - REST!

Day two - Aran Islands tour

Day three - Drive to Dingle (stay at EmLagh House for 2 nights) - take Ferry - GREAT suggestion!!

Day four - Tour Dingle

Day five - Drive to either Kenmare, Killarney or Kinsale (TBD for 2 nights) - touring en route

Day six - tour or drive to RoK, RoB or Cork

Day seven - Drive to Bunrattey (Bunrattey Castle one night)

My only concern is there is a lot of driving, I fear this may be too much driving (got spooked a bit about the 35 mph, short distance, long drive times), so still researching/ evaluating options to consolidate. Then again, isn't getting there half the adventure and beauty of an Ireland vacation!!

Assuming you plan to stay in Doolin (not Dingle) for your first stop, I think this looks great. Your longest drive will be from Doolin to Dingle. Dingle to Kenmare or Killarney is 2-3 hours at the most (depending on which town). Kinsale would be further, but I haven't been there so can't comment on that. Overall, I think it's quite doable - busy but not rushed, in my view.

Thank you for the responses!! Still deciding on Kenmare vs. Killarney, and where to stay last night near Shannon Airport. I've received bad reviews on the Bunrattey Castle Hotel and medeival dinner idea. Itinerary above seems to be solidfying though, thanks to all!!!

I have stayed in a nice B & B in Bunratty - it is called Couryard - www.bunrattycourtyard.com
It is right beside Bunratty Castle. I would recommend Bunratty. I am Irish and live in Ireland and always presume that Bunratty Castle Banquet might be a bit twee and touristy.
However, I was pleasantly surprised when I went there with friends about 2 years ago. It depend what you are interested in, but the food and entertainment was good quality - not sure of value as I, luckily, did not have to pay.
The folk park beside the castle is worth a visit. Gives good overview of what an irish village was like in the past.
I would skip on "Dirty Nelly's" pub.
I think Bunratty might be a nice place to stay for last night in Ireland, if you want somewhere small, historic, etc and close to Shannon.

I enjoyed the Bunratty banquet as well. Maybe it was touristy, but then I was a tourist, and thought it was a fun evening, as did the rest of our group--two of us old ladies. one teenager and one twentysomething.

Greetings, I have been to Ireland many time and was there last summer for 10 day. If you can I would fly to Dublin rather than Shannon reason being there is so much to see and do there. There are tour buses that stop at all the main attraction and they run every 10 or 15 mins. Bray is a neat place to checkout which is a small seaside resort area 20 mi South of Dublin. Also Powers Court manor house is a must see and that is right down the road. So I would spend about 3 or 4 day doing the above mentioned and then head West. Galway is a very cool city. There is a great market sat & sun on the main shopping street. Everything else you mentioned sounds like a good plan. Checkout a town call Roundstone on the way to Clifden. Some good restaurants there. Be very careful driving over there, some of the rual road in the West are very dangerous.

I am also going to Ireland in May. This will be my fourth time. I've tried many different itineraries and I think Shannon is the way to go for the true Ireland Experience.
My itinerary is a bit different b/c I stay with relatives in Roscommon for a few days, however, that being said - here's what I recommend you do:

night 1 - go to Galway - tour the city and shop street - go to the quays pub or king's head for a good pint and some craic.
If you're too tired - just relax. Galway is the best "little city" in all of Ireland. I like to stay at Jury's b/c it's right where you want to be.. and walking distance.

night 2 - drive to doolin - it's maybe a 2 hour drive. Tour the burren and the cliffs - or forego the cliffs altogether and get over to the arans b/c the view from dun aengus is twice the view from the cliffs and much less touristy. Stay at Daly's House.

nights 3 & 4 - take the ferry boat over to dingle - do the drive to slea head. Drive conor's pass for the best sights in all of Ireland - warn you the road is very narrow and a bit scary, but worth it. - stay at James G. Asche B&B. Try the Beef and Guinness Stew - to die for.

night 5 - drive towards Kenmare - better base for the ring of kerry - get a b&b and do the ring - stop in waterville for lunch.

night 6 - Drive to west cork to a little town called Skibbereen or even drive to Kinsale - a bit more touristy but good seafood and a fishing village - tour Charlesfort if you choose kinsale.

night 7 - do blarney castle and head back toward shannon - stay somewhere near shannon

tarmor1 - taking notes on all your suggestions for our trip 10th - 22May. Looks like the place will be positively crawling with Fodorites!! Yay!

Apparently so! Looking forward to the trip. Going over for a cousin's wedding but then will do a bit of traveling myself.

One other place you might be obliged to see:

westport in mayo - good base for clare island, croagh patrick's, Clew bay,

tarmor1 - Please explain about the ferry to Dingle:
Is this ferry large enough to take a vehicle? Sounds like it when you say 'do the Sleahead drive etc......' after taking the ferry?
Thanks,
Tod

For all those visiting Ireland in May: Fleadh Nua (Spring Music & Dance Festival) is 17-25 May in Ennis, County Clare.
Ennis is close to Shannon airport and if I'm coming from Mayo it's usually my last overnight stop before flying home. Fleadh Nua is definitely worth a stop.

http://www.shannonferries.com/route/bothsides.html

I apologize for the miscommunication. It doesn't go right to dingle, but it cuts out driving between clare and kerry. You can transport your car on it.

Killimer to tarbert - google it.