I need feedback on west and south coast
 

My wife and I will tour Ireland. We will arrive on June 13 to Shannon, planning to rent a car and drive though Ennis to Cliffs of Moher, then go to kilrush or Kilkee to sleep 1 st night.
The next day will take the ferry to cross the river and tour the Dingle area, sleeping in Killorgin.
The following day we will do all the Ring of Kerry and sleep in Kenmare.
The next one Will drive the southern coast area and sleep in Kinsale.
The next one get to Killarney and sleep there( visiting Blarney).
The last 2 days get to and stay in Dublin.

Do you like my plan? What would you add or take away?
People told me NOT to drive the Ring as it is extremely dangerous ( we drive the other side ) Any comments?
Thank you all.

It's much more manageable than the itineraries many people propose.

The Ring of Kerry is not particularly dangerous. By the time you reach it you will have travelled more difficult roads, especially on the Dingle peninsula. Note I said difficult, not dangerous. They are roads on which you should not drive too fast.

Don't add too much unless you really like driving. Take it easy.

Get rid of the car as soon as you get to Dublin.

Thank you so very much
Your advise in excellent and encourages us a lot !

Blarney is more near Cork/Kinsale than Killarney.

Any reason you are staying in Killorglin? I would recommend staying in Killarney -- more restaurants/pubs. You will have enough time in June to take the Ferry, tour Dingle, and drive to Killarney as it won't get dark until about 10pm. ((b))

Thanks Budman
We will toast a Guiness in your name !

I still am doubtfull about the 2 last nights. I do have a night pre paid (the last one) in the Jury Ballibridge Hotel, my plane leaves from Dublin Airport around 11.20 am.
The previous night I have no accomodation, we planned to visit Dublin or Wicklow and THEN Dublin...
Any thoughts...?

Food for Thought:
If you are approaching Dingle from the Ferry, drive through Camp and Castlegregory and take the Connor Pass into Dingle. If you handle THAT, the ROK will be NO problem.

I'm not quite sure why you would stay in Kilorglin, then Kenmare, then Kinsale and then drive BACK to Killarney before going to Dublin.
It would seem more appropriate to spend however much time as you plan to in the Killarney area all together, and THEN move on.

Agree with Budman that Killarney is only another 20 minutes or so beyond Kilorglin, but if the plan is to drive the ROK next, Kilorglin IS a good starting point and, in June, Killarney will be BUSY and CROWDED.

FYI: Most of the big, slow Tour Buses depart Killarney between 10 and 10:30. Unless you want to follow them the whole way, it would be best to get on the road about 9 or 9:30.

The ROK isn't any more challenging than the Slea Head Drive from Dingle. Having said THAT, I personally think the best part of the ROK is the drive from Killarney to Kenmare. The Beara (and Healy Pass in particular) is much less heavily traveled and in my opinion, every bit as spectacular as (or MORE so than) the ROK.

If you 'finish up' in Kinsale, you could visit Blarney and then drive to Cashel (The Rock) and Cahir (The Castle and the Swiss Cottage)and spend the night in Kilkenny. The nest day you could visit Glenndalough and Powerscourt, enroute to Ballsbridge.

Bob

agree with above...except I would stay in Dingle.

Next day do part of ROK between Killarney and Kenmare (park, ladies' view, moll's gap...could also include stops at Ross Castle and/or Muckross House) stay in Kenmare.

Kinsale (depending on your route and how many stops you make, you may be able to stop at Blarney this day)

Blarney (Rock or Cashel for sure, if time Cahir Castle) and stay in Kilkenny.

Glendalough/Powerscourt on way to Dublin.

Driving tips:
Get the extra insurance coverage (we didn't need...didn't have any problems, but was good piece of mind).
Get an automatic.
Get the smallest car you would be comfortable traveling in.
Pull both your side mirrors in before you take off.
Take your time and enjoy scenic pull-outs along the way to take a break.
Be sure your B&B/hotel is in town, within walking distance to pubs/dining, and has a parking area(get directions to accomodations before you leave)...so after a day of sightseeing you don't have to drive and can walk around and enjoy the wonderful Irish towns.
Get a good map and plan your routes ahead of time...helps to have a good navigator.
Accept ahead of time that you will probalby make a few wrong turns...enjoy the adventure.
Stay Left!

No point in going to Kinsale and then BACK to Killarney, you are travelling in the wrong direction. See Killarney first, ideally doing the Gap Trip (get Deros bus from town or get taxi back to Kate Kearneys for about 10.30am and walk/horse trap 7 miles (2.5hours) to Lord Brandon's cottage before getting the boat down the Lakes to Ross Castle for 3pm - a trip you will remember for the rest of your lives.