I think I did not put the correct keyword on this message - forgive me if I post it twice...<BR><BR>Message: I hope that you veterans of irish travel can help me with a section of my itinerary.<BR>We (party of 3 or 4 20-somethings) will be staying in Kinsale and from there, would like to go to see the Gap of Dunloe and then the Dingle peninsula and then head further north to see the sights in Clare. Is the following ok?:<BR><BR>day1: leave Kinsale in the morning and do the coastal route, perhaps taking in mizzen head if time, and then up to killarney for the night<BR>day2: head into the park to do the gap of dunloe tour. Overnight in Killarney<BR>day3: drive north and drive the dingle peninsula and then go up to Clare. overnight somewhere in Clare<BR>day4: see bunratty in the morning, then burren and cliffs of moher and perhaps overnight in this area (also, is dungaire castle worth visiting?)<BR>day5: head off to galway<BR><BR>Questions - <BR>question1: is there enough time each day to do the stuff planned without too much rushing?<BR>question2: is it better to stay in kenmare, and if so, should we spend night 2 closer to the dingle peninsula - or should we spend both nights north of killarney?<BR>question3: where best to stay on night 3 so that the dingle peninsula is not rushed but that the next day's sightseeing is also not rushed?<BR><BR>Whew! I Guess I'm not so shy on the questions!<BR><BR>I hope that you can help. Thanks in advance.<BR><BR>Lis

Hi<BR>I'm no veteran! Only been to Ireland once but spent time where you will be.<BR>Try www.irelandexpert.com. Pat Preston will review and advise on your itinerary within 24 hours.<BR>But it does sound doable to me. It might work out better to do one night in Killarney,spend the next day there and then drive the 1-11/2 hour drive to spend two nights on the Dingle Peninsula. What you like could decide for you. Killarney is definitely worth seeing but more on the touristy side. Dingle has breathtaking scenery (Conor Pass and Sleahead Drive)and many ancient ruins. Seaside Dingletown is a fun place to shop and check out the pubs.<BR> Don't know anything about Dungaire Castle. But do try Pat Preston!<BR>Wish I was going ,too!<BR>Have a wonderful trip!

Lisa: Depending upon what you like, you may consider staying in Dingle. It is a drive getting there and well worth staying over. We heard a wonderful Irish band at a pub and there are many nice stores and restaurants. I think your timing is ok.

Hi Lisa,<BR>Sounds great and in fact similar to our plans for Sept. The one thing that you have to remember is Ireland is very small and you can travel quite a distance in a day. The weather will be a big factor. If it's bad weather, the Mizen Head will suck, but it's great with ok weather. You can base in Kenmare, Tahilla Cove or the like, and take day trips. Killarney will take a full day to enjoy, esp. if you want to do the park, gap, and lakes tour. Dingle is a great town to visit, but only takes an hour to tour as with most towns in Ireland. Slea Head is fantastic, but again will depend on the weather. If it's nice the day you drive to Dingle, go via the Connor Pass as the next day could be shot due to weather. I'd suggest day trips from a spot like Killarney or Kenmare or the like. Bunratty is too touristy, but worth a visit if you're in the area, but don't go out of your way to see. Blarney Castle is better, still touristy, but better. If you go to Galway, tour the Connemara and stay in Clifden at Ballynahinch Castle. Wow! Beautiful. Have fun

Lisa:<BR><BR>Good advice from Dan! Tahilla Cove has a great guest house, but it's more pricey than a B&B, about E55 pp. Oh, but it's very nice!! Kenmare is my favorite Irish town, so definitely stay there or just up the road at Tahilla. The Harbour View B&B on the beginning of the Ring of Beara just outside of Kenmare is beautiful and has spectacular views. Definitely opt for Kenmare over the much more touristy Killarney.<BR><BR>I really love the Mizen Peninsula and esp. the town of Crookhaven has my favorite pub in all the world...O'Sullivan's. Rose is the regular bartender and Billy O'Sullivan, the owner, was born upstairs in 1937. We sat and chatted with Billy just a few weeks ago and he ended up taking us over to his new home. Rose has got the biggest, most honest smile on the planet. Tell them Bill and Felicity sent you.<BR><BR>The road through Bantry and Glengariff into Kenmare is beautiful. I agree with Dan about Bunratty being very touristy. I have to admit, I really enjoyed the Banquet though, but only because the music was great. The food was pretty average.<BR><BR>There is a B&B on the North Dingle Coast at Castlegregory called "The Shores" that is really nice. If you decide you want to stay around Dingle, but still make a fast escape, definitely stay there. <BR><BR>The advantage of being in Clare would be to get to the Cliffs of Moher early before the tour busses arrive. It makes a huge difference. The other time to visit is in the evening after they have gone. It doesn't matter when you get to Bunratty, the busses will be waiting for them to open. Visit Dunguaire on the way to Galway. It's another a picturesque castle, more so when the tide is in and surrounded by water on three sides. They have a castle banquet too, but I've never done it. <BR><BR>As 20 somethings, you'll really like Galway. It's a young town and there is some fine people watching to do. Probably helps to be single.<BR><BR>have fun!!!<BR><BR>Bill

Thanks guys.<BR>Unfortunately, i still am at a bit of a loss. Basically I want to spend 2 consecutive nights at a B&B for a bit of a break. So I need to choose between 3 options.<BR>(Option1) We stay at Kenmare after "day 1", which by all accounts is far better than Killarney. This means that on day3 we have to first drive from kenmare to dingle area, before doing the dingle peninsula, and getting up to co. clare for a good spot to begin clare sightseeing on day4.<BR>(Option2)after coastal drive, go to killarney for 2 nights. But is it possible to drive from killarney, do the peninsula and still get up to kerry to start from a good spot for the next day's sightseeing?<BR>(Option3) drive the coastal route and try get up north of killarney to spend the 2 nights, so that on day3, there is at least a little less drivetime before the dingle peninsula drive.<BR><BR>I am still not sure where to stay on night 3 so that we are best placed for our sightseeing in clare the next day.<BR><BR>Hope I have been somewhat coherent in the above ramblings...and hope you can help.<BR><BR>Thanks again<BR><BR>Lis<BR>

Lis:<BR><BR>Perfectly coherent by the way. My choice would be to spend nights 1 & 2 in Kenmare. Don't worry about the extra time it takes to ket to Dingle from Kenmare. It's worth it just to make that beautiful drive again into the lakes and staying in Kenmare is so nice. Many a person has used Kenmare as a base to tour the Rings of Beara and Kerry and visit Dingle. <BR><BR>Based on your schedule, I would probably spend night 3 on the north Dingle Coast and night 4 in Bunratty. Your other option, and maybe as good, would be to get up to Doolin at the end of day 3. I think that would be less relaxed though.<BR>A third option would be to spend 2 nights in Bunratty and tour Clare from there. <BR><BR>If you stay in Bunratty, try thr Bunratty Lodge. Highly recommended by lots of people including myself. There are though, lots of beautiful B&B's on the road that runs between Bunratty and Durty Nellie's.<BR><BR>This may not have helped at all, but that's sort of where I am. You have to decide where you are most comfortable putting some travel pressure on. If you drive to Doolin, you'll get a chance to listen to some music at O'Connor's pub that night. Probably starts about 9:30.<BR><BR>Bill

Hi Lisa,<BR>I'd suggest doing the drive from Kinsale to Kenmare, stay in Kenmare for the first night(not too big to explore after driving from Kinsale), next morning drive to Killarney, do the sites and that evening drive to Dingle and spend night two there. Explore Dingle that evening, and upon departure of Dingle take the Slea Head and Connor Pass way up to Kerry. I'd recommend staying in Dingle a night. You can get anywhere in a day.<BR><BR>Have a blast, and save some Guinness for September.<BR><BR>Dan