Hello fodorites! I'm a little worried that the itinerary I put together for my Ireland trip may be too ambitious, and was hoping to get your thoughts! We're leaving this Saturday, yikes!

Sat night, fly into Dublin, drive straight to Galway
Sunday - explore Galway/Connemara, stay in Galway
Monday - leave for Dingle early am, stop at Cliffs/Burren on the way, stay in Dingle that night
Tuesday - explore Dingle, stay in Dingle
Wed - up early for Ring of Kerry, go to Kinsale (is this too much?)
thurs - Kinsale during day, drive to Kilkenny later in afternoon, stopping at Rock of Cashel
Thurs - am Kilkenny, then drive to Dublin (our friends have to catch an 8PM flight to scotland).

Kinsale and Dingle are a must, as well as galway...another thought is just to wipe kilkenny off completely and do the drive straight from Kinsale to Dublin on Friday...is that too much?

Thanks in advance!!!

Whoops, made a mistake, meant to say Friday am - kilkenny, then drive to Dublin.

Depending where you are flying from, the 1st day is a bit of a drive, especially if you are not used to driving in Ireland. If you are crossing the Atlantic, I would suggest that you are going too far on a first day.

The RoK and then on to Kinsale would be a VERY full day. I wouldn't do it. I think you could maximize your time a bit better by perhaps taking an excursion out on one of the smaller peninsulas, Mizen or Sheepshead.

If Kinsale is a must, don't do Kilkenny and spend more time in Kinsale. You won't have much time to explore Kilkenny anyway. You might consider driving to Cashel on Thursday night and seeing the Rock the next morning and then heading for Dublin. Also, there is a fine castle in Cahir which is about 10 miles south of Cashel. Certainly worth a stop.

Hope this is helpful.

Bill

I'm wondering whether the drive from Dublin to Galway might be a bit much the day you arrive. We drove from Shannon to Galway our first day. But Dublin is considerably farther. Galway to Dingle will be a long day too.

I know it's too late to do anything about this now. But, considering the areas you want to visit, I'm curious as to why you chose to fly into Dublin rather than Shannon.

I see that, as I was typing this, you've gotten some good advice from Bill.

Thanks for your replies, we had to fly into Dublin in order to meet our friends there, otherwise we would have flown into Shannon. :/ I actually live in Geneva, Switzerland, so we'll be fine jetlagwise, but I do agree we'll be stretching it thin with that drive. Hopefully it'll be ok though. Here are my mods then...I think Wed. we'll do ROK and then stay in Kenmare, and then head to Kinsale for Thurs, and Thurs night, scratch Kilkenny, and then drive from Kinsale to Dublin, leaving early, and stopping at cashel and Cahir. I think this give us a little more breathing room...thanks!!!!

Not being jet-lagged will make a real big difference! Since you won't be, I don't think it'll be that bad of a drive.

Have fun!

I justed wanted to say you will love Galway. If the open market is on when you are there a must is going to a wooden wagen cart and buying fresh olives. They are the best! It is a great town to walk through.
Have fun! I am jealous.

Thanks we'll keep an eye open for it! I'm so excited Will definitely post a trip report when we come back, as I've been a slacker on that and I need to pay back my dues

An option for doing the RoK is to do a tour of the Gap of Dunloe. It's an all day trip, starts about 9:30-10:00 and finishes at 4. Usually it's done by catching a bus at one of a couple of locations in Killarney to Kate Kearney's Cottage. From there you have the option of walking or taking a jaunting car over the Gap and then catch a boat back to Ross Castle.

It's really a beautiful trip in good weather.

Bill