Alihope

We are planning 9 full days Ireland. We will fly into Cork from Germany. This will be our first visit to Ireland. My husband and I are renting a car in Cork. We don't have an ambitious checklist of sights to see. Our trip will end in Dublin.
Interested mostly in seeing beautiful scenery, hearing great music and taking in some history (especially ancient to Medieval). we will have had a fair dose of cathedral/castle/history intense stops before coming to Ireland so we will opt for more relaxed touring rather than darting around the country for all the 'must sees'.
So we are thinking of something like this:
Arrive in Cork around 5:30. Hence, first night will be in Cork
Day 1. Kilarney National Park sleep in Kenmare
Day 2 Ring of Kerry sleep in Kilarney
Day 3 Dingle Pennisula sleep in Dingle (possibly Portmagee if we decide to got Skellig Michael)
Day4 Dingle
Day 5 Clifts of Moore, Burren. Sleep in Ennis
Day 6 Galway
Day 7 Aran Is. (possibly overnight
Day 8 Connemara Galway
Day 9 travel. sleep in Dublin (route suggestions?)
Day 10 Dublin stuff (book of Kells, St. patrick's, the literary pub crawl, sleep in Dublin
We have not booked anything yet, and would love feedback and suggestions. I am a bit concerned about it packing too much in as it is, and would appreciate comments regarding that. Right now I am fan of keeping it simple, yet we still want to experience the beauty and culture of western Ireland.
Thanks!

Alihope

OK, I made an error. There are not 10 full days so I would need delete or combine two. Maybe like this:
Day 1. Kilarney National Park sleep in Kenmare
Day 2 Ring of Kerry sleep in Kilarney
Day 3 Dingle Pennisula sleep in Dingle (possibly Portmagee if we decide to got Skellig Michael)
Day4 Dingle
Day 5 Clifts of Moore, Burren. Sleep in Ennis
Day 6 Galway Aran Is. (possibly overnight
Day 7 Connemara Galway
Day 8 travel. sleep in Dublin (route suggestions?)
Day 9 Dublin stuff

Tony2phones

Spend 2 nights in Kenmare or Killarney no point in moving as they are only 20 minutes drive apart. Big fan of Ennis but if you are doing the Cliffs before Ennis you would be back tracking. I would stay in Ennis and see the cliffs on the way to Galway. Easy route Clifden to Dublin is back via Galway.

Alihope

Tony, thank you for your input! Do you have a recommendation of Kenmare vs. Killarney? Also I was wondering long of drive is it from Dingle to Ennis?
Thanks for help!

annettafly

Tony knows what he's talking about---and not just because I agree with him. I fly 6 hours to arrive at Shannon, so Ennis is usually my first stop. But from the Cliffs and the Burren I will continue to move north. If you've had a long day, stay in Doolin----a nothing-to-do little village known for music in all the pubs. Otherwise, go on into Galway.

Tony2phones

Personally I like Killarney but Kenmare is smaller and a little less touristy. Ether are good bases although if you plan on doing the ring you should be leaving from the Killarney end about 9.45 and going anticlockwise. That keeps you ahead of the tour bus's.

Dingle to Ennis via Adare the Shannon tunnel and Bunratty is about 3 hours plus stops,

Alihope

Thank you both for the suggestions. Very helpful! We are discussing now dropping ROK in favor more flexibility in Dingle, Galway and possibly Westport-- or an extra day in Dublin. We're not real keen on Killarney from what we've read ( & as Tony mentioned/very touristy). Are there any towns anyone would suggest between Killarney and Cork Airport?
Again, many thanks!

annettafly

If you haven't selected lodging yet in Cork, I suggest the Garnish House----my favorite B&B with an incomparable breakfast. It's on the west side of town with easy access to head out through West Cork on the N71. That route will take you through a number of quaint towns---you'll have your pick for convenient stops. And the scenery in West Cork is some of the best in the country.

REVRMM

We truly enjoyed Kenmare, It is a small town with interesting things to see that are out of the ordinary (Stone Circle, The small park/statues by the bay etc.) We would suggest Whispering Pines Bed and Breakfast. Easy walk to town center but quiet.

indy_dad

Well, we enjoyed Killarney but perhaps we are more "touristy".

We did quite a few of your desired sites. Photos and commentary:

http://ukfrey.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/ireland.html

Tony2phones

You want touristy go to Dingle..Killarney is touristy, sickeningly so in some places but fortunately some of us know where to go and mix with the locals or at least less tourist centred places.

Alihope

Thank you all for your input. My husband is in favor of making a short drive the first night to the west, so we're opting for Ballyvourney. Then will head to Dingle the next day.
Indy_Dad, I looked at your blog and it is very similar to our plans, very helpful!

Thanks to all for the suggestions!

travelingbadger

Seriously consider visiting or staying in Clifden. Great town - and beautiful area! Breaks up the "Connemara loop"...nice B&B on 341 I think it is, called Anglers Return - very nice place and great base for exploring Connemara. We stayed there and really loved it. Also stayed in a great town along the coast road, Glengariff. It was off season - so not touristy, very quiet - BUT I have a feeling it might be very touristee during the summer months. We were fly fishing, so we usually stayed close to rivers. Hope that helps.

Tony2phones

Anglers Return is above Roundstone. Nice place but not suited to having a night in town (Roundstone or Clifden) without the extra expense of a taxi back. We use Dún Rí just 2 minutes walk into Clifden town centre.

travelingbadger

Not sure what Tony2phones means - unless you are a big drinker and CAN'T drive - we enjoyed a wonderful drive cutting through Ballynahinch estate - and/or on the "bog road" - which is well worth the drive in itself - to and from both towns and the drive was easy from the B&B. Roundstone is minutes away.

Either way - be sure to visit Clifden - it is a treat.

Padraig

travelingbadger wrote: "Not sure what Tony2phones means - unless you are a big drinker and CAN'T drive ..."

Delete "big". More than one glass of wine with a meal, and you are over the limit. Herself and I make a point of staying near eateries that are within walking distance, or we budget for taxis.

Tony2phones

There have been quite a few tourists pulled on the Roundstone rim. Were I a cynical type I might think the Garda target hire cars late evening.

More than a couple of pints and you wouldn't want to be cutting the short way over the Bog road in the dark anyway. Bad news in the rain and Sheep sleep in the road when its been a warm dry day.