Cambe, or others, is there a website with country hotels (i.e.the Japanese Guest House website that lists all of the ryokan?)

One more question relative to the off season: I keep reading about tour buses and get the distinct impression that they dominate the landscape, at least in the nicer parts of the year. Will they be gone in late Nov/early Dec? Fewer but still there? Places like the Ring of Kerry seem miserable to drive with the buses but I wonder if it will be easier in Nov. Have never driven on the left and not sure whether to try it!

The Blue Book is probably the best known
www.irelands-blue-book.ie

This is also good
www.cmvhotels.com

You could also try the Irish tourist office
www.discoverireland.com

Highly recommended if you go to Connemara is the Renvyle House hotel. Quite old fashioned with stone floors in the reception area and big big peat fires blazing. The food is excellent.

www.renvyle.com

Try this for escorted tours by CIE but you would really be better to hire a car. There is unlikely to be any ice in November (but you never know) the biggest problem in November is fog although even that is not as bad as it used to be and usually clears up in the late morning. You don't need a car in Dublin

http://www.irishtourism.com/escorted...land/index.htm

I rarely even encountered tour buses on the Ring of Kerry in June. You'll be fine.

I did, however, make the mistake of driving the Ring of Kerry when they were doing a charity bike race. There were literally hundreds of bicyclers going the same direction we were - not on the side of the road, but in the same area that the cars were supposed to be. It was quite maddening! We finally took some time off at Valentia Island to explore, and most were gone by the time we got back on the ring.

Thanks again all. My idea is now to go to Dublin and stay a few days, take a bus or the train to Cork, rent a car and drive around the west Cork penninsulas, the ring of Kerry and the Dingle penninsula just seeing the sites, hikiong etc.then fly from Cork back to Dublin. Figure that will be a managable 8 night trip. I have learned not to pack these trips too full and it seems that bus or train ride west from Dublin would let us see the scenery but cut down on the driving. Seem reasonable?

Seems reasonable to me, but check the bus schedules to make sure they are convenient for you!