I'd stay in Dingle for the two days and then go to the cliffs and stay in ennis -- it's only about 25 minutes from the airport and convenient! nice folk park right next to the Bunratty castle (not really a castle - just called that) and a shopping plaza to get that last minute bag to put all those gifts in! lol

I am learning so much from the advice provided through this forum! Thanks to all! We are definitely staying in Kilkenny for 2 nights and then will head to Dingle (stopping to tour Rock of Cashel). Is the drive too far from Kilkenny to Dingle? Should we plan on an overnight somewhere in between? If it is drive-able in a day, does anyone have a recommended route?

Thanks!

"(not really a castle - just called that)"

http://www.guide-to-castles-of-europ...ty-castle.html

We will be staying in the Bunratty area before departing from Shannon at the end of our trip. right now our plans for a 7 night trip include:

dublin - 1 night
Kilkenny - 2 nights
Dingle - 2 nights
Outside of Shannon - 1 night

That gives us an extra night, so we were thinking maybe a place to stay en route from Kilkenny to Dingle...

It's not too bad to drive from Kilkenny to Dingle in a day. About 5 hours driving, I'd say - rolling countryside to enjoy on the way. Rock of Cashel, Cahir Castle, Swiss Cottage, those are the sites I'd recommend on the way...

Kayfos...my only concern - if you're spending any time at sites -- your going to have a long day with driving and touring -- dingle can get 'lost' if you're trying to find it in the dark!

The sign for Dingle is NOT in English -- make sure you find the 'gaelic' name for it -- I can't remember at this point) but I remember having to find it thru that name!

Jeri

My husband and I are planning a similar trip the end of April. May have a couple more days. If we follow this itinerary, can anybody recommend some hiking? We would like to do some nature hiking, along with walking in cities etc. Were also thinking of flying into Dublin and out of Shannon or the other way around, whichever makes sense. Would you do a different itinerary to allow for hiking? Still like a nice place for the night after hiking during the day.

Thanks

So...if it's a long day driving from Kilkenny to Dingle, would staying overnight in Killarney be a recommended option??? Or should we push through and plan on an extra night in Dingle?

Best short hike in Ireland is through the Gap of Dunloe, outside of Killarney.

http://www.gapofdunloetours.com/

http://www.derostours.com/

Deros also offers bus tours of the Ring of Kerry and Dingle / Slea Head.

Pix of Gap of Dunloe:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/itallia...7621258008128/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/itallia...7600735982440/

Bob

Sorry, previous was in reply to szeitlin.

KayFos:

Killarney would be an hour or so shorter than Dingle. Determining factor would be how long you spend touring Cahir and Cashel. PLENTY of daylight in May. I would stay in Ennis over Doolin, but that's MY opinion. They will be 'Gearing Up' for Fleahd Nua, so Cruise's Pub will probably be JUMPIN'! :)

Bob

Thanks, Bob!
So, we still have an extra night in our itinerary...which of the 4 options below would you recommend?

Option 1: Stay 2 nights in Dublin vs. 1 night
Option 2: Rather than drive straight through from Kilkenny to Dingle, stop in Killarney for a night
Option 3: Stay 2 nights in Ennis area before our before dawn departure from Shannon (we had planned on staying at Bunratty)

I would stay another night in Ennis, since there is SO much you can do in that area. Cliffs of Moher, Aran Islands, the Burren, Bunratty folk park, Galway - all are easily doable from Ennis as a base.

Yar -- I am rather fond of Ennis, as well. :)

The drive from Kilkenny to Dingle ( according to http://www.aaireland.ie/routes_beta/Search.aspx )totals 172.7 miles, via the N8 to Mitchelstown, the N73 to Mallow and then the N22 to Killarney and then on, to Dingle. AA says that takes 4 1/2 hours -- EXCLUDING STOPS -- but in the Real World of US Visiters, ACTUAL driving time will be closer to 6 hours, but it is all nicely 'broken up' into digestable bits.

Kilkenny to Cashel is 41 miles - a little over an hour. From there, it's only about 11.5 hours to Cahir. The N8 / M8 is a really good, fast road, all the way from Cashel to Mitchelstown, but from there, the N73 and the N72 are basically two-lane roads. Still, it's only 78 miles from Cahir to Killarney. From there, it's 43 more miles to Dingle (about 1.5 hours). You'll want to stop and stretch around Inch Strand -- about 1/2 hour out of Killarney and an hour short of Dingle -- you'll also find the drive from Inch to Dingle to be VERY picturesque ....and therefor rather SLOW GOING. :)

You might consider dropping the stop at Cahir, just to shorten your travel day, or 'Pencil It In' and decide, "On The Day" based on what time it is as you approach the N8 exit ...

Bob

Ooops!!!!

"from there, it's only about 11.5 MILES to Cahir" ...

My Bad! :(

Bob

Yup, I agree - Cashel over Cahir, any day. Though the Swiss Cottage is a nice stop, too - not nearly as dramatic and impressive as Cashel.

And if you decide to do Conor Pass (probably not the day you get to Dingle), get to it via the side closest to Dingle town, and go down the same way. The other side, the road is much narrower, windier, and very scary in the fog :)

I have pictures. This was taken at a layover - as you can see, the road narrows again. Well, not see very well, due to the fog.
http://www.greendragonartist.com/Gal...6/Dingle16.jpg