Thank you, Padraig. Not yet convinced. Spent yesterday watching YouTube videos of Connemara and it looks a lot like a lot we have seen before. We might just drive up to see Augnanure, then Clifden, do the Sky Drive and then circle around by R336 to see some of the coast.

Tony: oh my oh my. Did you say "forget the south west?" Isn't that some kind of touristic heresy? Something like "don't bother with Niagara Falls or the Rockies." Thank you for the map with all the temptations on it. You just gave advice to use my head and not my heart. You are making it harder on both. I am determined not to make this trip "Ireland through the Windshield," as someone on these forums so aptly named it. Our interest in history and prehistory is another pull besides scenery. North America has lots of scenery, not as much history.

Erb: yes, the southwest is still winning, but itinerary and hotels yet to be determined and time is flying by.

How about Lough Gur?