My husband and I are traveling to Ireland for the first time in July. We don't mind driving, seeing the scenery/sights by car, but want to spend some time outside of the car as well. And he would like to play golf at least once. After much deliberation, I have narrowed down a potential itinerary as follows. (Note: As we booked our flight using miles, flying in/out of Dublin was our only option. Not ideal, I know.)

Day 1 - Arrive Dublin, day and overnight in Dublin.
Day 2 - Spend day and overnight in Dublin.
Day 3 - Take our time driving down to and overnight in Kinsale.
Day 4 - Explore Kinsale/Cork area; overnight in Kinsale.
Day 5 - Drive up to Killarney/Kenmare, explore that area (do not necessarily need to do the entire ROK). Overnight in Killarney.
Day 6 - Explore Dingle Peninsuala; overnight in Tralee.
Day 7 - Early start to drive to Ballybunnion, golf day. Overnight in Ballybunnion.
Day 8 - Drive to Galway area via Cliffs of Moher. Overnight in Galway area - Galway City or where?
Day 9 - Explore Galway area - what? Galway Arts Festival will be going on - worth spending the day in Galway for?
Day 10 - Take our time driving back to Dublin. Overnight in Dublin.
Day 11 - Flight home.

Input and ideas are welcome and appreciated! Thank you!

Hi JessRabbit70,

Just a few remarks:

Day 3
You probably know already that you can easily visit the Rock of Cashel on your way to Cork/Kinsale. It's right off motorway M8.
So are Cahir castle and Swiss Cottage near Cahir town.

Day 5/6
That part looks maybe a bit too packed. I'd probably prefer to have 2 nights in either area.

Day 8
Overnight in Doolin (small village on the sea), Ennis ("quaint" town with lively music/pub scene), or Galway city. It's more a matter of preferences than doing right or wrong.

Day 10
Possible stops on your way to Dublin: Clonmacnoise monastery, Kilbeggan (historic) distillery.

I have not been to the Galway Arts Festival so can't speak for whether to stay or go, but would highly recomend drive around the Connemara area. Aughnanure Castle near Moycullen is a short but interesting visit. Also near Moycullen is a shop specializing in Connemara marble. I don't know if it is still there, but nearly across the street from the marble place is a shop called the Luckpenny shop which has nice souvenirs and a great collection of Irish knit sweaters (more colors, patterns, styles than you will find elsewhere). I have two cardigan style sweaters from there. One is fifteen years old and still in good shape. The other is much newer, but love them both. In the in between seasons I wear them as jackets.

oops-hit submit too soon!

there is wonderful scenery on the drive. You might see some Connemara ponies in the bogs, sheep on the road, fellows digging turf and setting it to dry, bog cotton, heather, etc in bloom.

Drive to Lenaun (sp?) at the head of Ireland's only fiord. Great craft shops and demonstrations, good choice of places for lunch.

Clonmacnoise, mentioned above, is well worth a stop on the way back to Dublin.

Have a great trip!

Agree Days 5/6 are too packed.

When you start adding one night stays, you really lose time to explore the area. Your time is spent getting to the destination and them packing up the next day to get to another destination. Plus, if staying at a B&B, you really don't get on the road until 10am, unless you skip the breakfast. The good thing is you will have lots of daylight in July. But even though it is light at night, historical sights and shops still close at 5 or 6.

I know how much everyone loves Dingle, but I would probably cut it out of the schedule and spend some time in Kenmare. Alternatively, you could skip Galway and save it for another trip. There is so much to do in that area. That way you could spend two nights in Dingle.

Just a few tweaks and I think you will have a nice pace.