I would love some imput into this itinerary.
My husband and I and our 20 year old son are flying from the States to Shannon, arriving early morning, May 19, 2007.
We get our rental car and drive to Headford north of Galway for 4 nights - staying at Lisdonagh House.
Then, we drive back to Sixmilebridge to stay at Mt. Cashel Lodge for 3 nights.
On our last day there, our 23 year old daughter is flying into Shannon, arriving again in the early morning. Mt Cashel is only a 15-20 minute drive, so we will pick her up and then drive down to Kinsale for 3 nights - staying at Castle Quay.
After that, we drive to Killarney for our last 5 nights - staying at Old Killarney Village, flying out of Shannon at 1pm on Sunday, June 3.
While in the Galway area, we hoped to spend one night driving through Connamara. Another day taking the ferry over to the Aran Islands. The final day visiting Cong and Galway City and other places that look interesting.
While in Sixmilebridge, we hope to see the Burren and the Cliffs of Mohr one day and then drive to see the Rock of Cashel on the second.
While in Kinsale, we would like to see Cork and Cobv, possibly Blarney. We will be there 2 days.
While in Killarney, we would like to spend one day driving the Dingle Penisula, one day driving the Ring of Kerry, one day visiting Killarney Nat'l Park and the last day possibly driving one of the other peninsulas farther south of the Ring of Kerry.
Any suggestions for things to do while we are visiting these four areas would be appreciated. We already have our accommodations booked, so we are all set on that.
Excuse my spelling on some of the names, but it is getting very late!!!

This itinerary sounds reasonable to me. On your Galway days, if a clear day is in the forecast...head right for the Aran Island or Connemara - Cong and Galway can be enjoyed through rain.

Sixmilebridge is a nice little village and it is an easy trip to the airport. Quinn Abbey and Knappogue Castle are nearby and worth checking out. The Burren, Cliffs of Moher, Loop Head, Coole Park Ennis, Killaloe/Ballina and Lough Derg are all easy to access as well (of course you can't fit all those in, but they are options). On your Cashel day, I'd suggest a stop in Cahir to see the castle and the Swiss Cottage. Many of the sites of County Clare are noted in the Cliffs episode of the http://www.irishfreside.com podcast.

From Kinsale, I'd suggest Charlesfort. Timoleague has a very large and interesting abbey.

Since you have set up homebases, you have the luxury of being flexible...so arrive with your lists of sites and see as many as time will allow.

Safe travels.

While in Kinsale, personally, I would skip Cork, as I remember driving thru and smelling the stench from the Murphy's brewery. Cobh is worth a 1/2 visit, and if you must kiss that disgusting-looking Blarney stone, you could do both on a day trip.

I do like your plan for a 5-day base in Killarney. If I can recall correctly, you should have daylight until about 9:30-10:00.

Skellig Michael might be worth a visit also while you are in Killarney.

Hello mom83

If you are traveling from Kinsale to Killarney then go on the south Cork route, Through Bandon, Bantry, Beautiful Glengarriff and take the Mountain route on to Kenmare and its a short trip from ther to Killarney.
Make time in Glengarriff and take a boat trip out to Garnish Island (Blue Pool Ferries)not to be missed.

Enjoy

My Ireland visits are event-centered: an Early Music festival in Galway that ends May 20; Fleadh Nua, Ennis' Spring Music and dance festival is May 22-28. I'm not really into the type of music featured at Galway's Early music festival, but I have really enjoyed Fleadh Nua's Irish step dance and Trad Irish Music sessions. If you extend your SixMileBridge stay a night or two, Ennis should be an easy daytrip from there.

In Galway, I recommend the Salthill area for B&B's: much nicer than College Rd. or Father Griffin.

Hi NEDSIRELAND. We will be in Sixmilebridge from May 23 - 26, so as to be there right during the middle of the Ennis Fleadh Nua. We were hoping to see some of it, as I heard that Ennis is not that far from Sixmilebridge.
Thanks to everyone else for their suggestions. I am pasting them onto a Word document to take with us!!!