Any assistance you could give our family would be greatly appreciated as we plan to tour southwest Ireland the end of May of this year (2009). A draft itinerary is as follows and are open to any suggestions:
Fly to Shannon from London
Spend 1 night in Ennis
Next night in Kilkee
Take ferry across Shannon and travel to Dingle for next night
Then on to Kenmare for next night
Last 2 nights in Kinsale.
Then drive back to Shannon Airport.
Total of 6 nights and most interested in the villages and peninsulas scenery.
Is this feasible with a family of 4-6 members? Or should we consolidate the trip into 3-2night stays in the towns and how would we narrow down which ones?
Thank you.

Hi there councilman!
Glad you are coming to Ireland. You'll love the west coast. I don't know why you are staying in Kilkee for a night (don't think there is a huge amount to recommend it, it's just a little seaside town although it's supposed to be good for surfing) - why not stay another night in Ennis and save changing hotels? You must see the Cliffs of Moher and take in a traditional Irish music session in Ennis or in Doolin, Co. Clare. The rest of your itinerary seems fine to me. Allow time to drive the Ring of Kerry and to see the Lakes of Killarney. The distances don't seem far on the map but the roads can be quite narrow so you can't rush it. Lots of nice restaurants in Kenmare and Kinsale and from Kinsale you could easily do a side trip into Cork city. Enjoy your planning!

Thank you for your advice. We need to consolidate our trip to 3-2night stays. Besides 2 nights in Ennis, would you recommend 2 nights in Dingle and then which city for 2 nights as a base to see more of the southwest - Kenmare or Kinsale?

IMO, Dingle merits a MINIMUM of two nights. Even though in your last post you said you wanted to stay two nights in three places, I'll throw out the suggestion of staying one night in Ennis, two in Dingle, two in Kenmare, and one in Kinsale.

Many thanks for your quick response.

councilman,

I agree with TimS. His suggestions would make a very nice trip.

Good Luck, Joan

You could rent a cottage for the entire time, see everything you have listed and not have to be moving around so much.

Check out Hazel Cottage, I highly recommend it...

http://hazelcottageireland.com/

We stayed there last July and it was fantastic.

dave