8 Day Ireland Itinerary--First Time
 

Hi--we're traveling to Ireland for the first time this August. We are a group of 5 adults flying in/out of Dublin. I've com up with the below proposed itinerary and would love to get some feedback on it. I would prefer to only spend two nights in Dublin. Is that possible with what I have listed below?

Is there anything you think I am missing, or can skip for my first trip? Would appreciate any feedback you can provide.
Depart NYC Aug 9



Day 1 8/10

Arrive in Dublin in AM

Walk around Dublin

Guinness

Sleep in Dublin



Day 2 8/11

Newgrange, Hill of Tara, Knowth

Trinity College Book of Kells

Kilmainham Gaol

Sleep in Dublin



Day 3 8/12

Glendalough

Sleep in Dublin



Day 4 8/13

Leave Dublin

1 ½ hr drive to Kilkenny

Kilkenny Castle

Lunch in Kilkenny

2 ½ hr drive to Kenmare

Sleep in Kenmare



Day 5 8/14

Ring of Kerry (about 6 hours)

Sleep in Kenmare



Day 6 8/15

1 ½ hour drive to Dingle

Dingle Peninsula & Slea Head Loop (4 hours total)

Drive and car ferry to Galway

Sleep in Galway



Day 7 8/16

Aran Island and Cliffs of Mohr day trip

Sleep in Galway



Day 8 8/17

2 ½ hr drive from Galway to Dublin airport

Depart Dublin

Day 1 - recommend the on/off bus, ride it all the way around and then the 2nd time around, get off and see what you want. You could easily do Trinity and book of Kells and Kilmainham Gaol this day - pre-book tickets on both and plan on taking a taxi to/from Gaol ( maybe taxi back to Guinness ) ... with this being your 1st day, you may want to taxi back to your hotel and make it an early night... map out what you want to see so you aren't backtracking... and this is an aggressive speed considering this is the day you arrive - but it can be done...

Newgrange, Hill of Knowth and Tara - are you driving or taking a tour ? this could possibly be a full day.. and you could top it off with a Jameson's tour that you could walk to if you are staying in Dublin.... and trad music nearby at the Cobblestone...or leave Dublin, do Newgrange and such and then start driving towards the Wicklow Mountains to shave some driving off the following day...

- Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains could be done on the day you drive to Kilkenny.. ( recommend Kyteler's bar for dinner and drinks too - ask for Peter - he is great ) then that would give you an extra day in Dublin.

Driving to Dingle... drive the pennisula before going to Dingle town... then you will be hugging the side of the mountain - not the cliffs into the ocean.. allow more time because you will be stopping for photos, sheep, one lane roads...

on your Galway to Dublin leg - consider Clonmacnoise as a stop....

if you decide to do the extra day in Dublin - consider the on/off bus for 2 days and then do Dublin consecutively ( day 1 and 2 ) and save Newgrange for the 3rd day..

just some suggestions - I hope I helped and didn't confuse you... I have been to Ireland 17 times... just got back last week too... and I have driven 17 different routes... and I still haven't seen it all...