Ireland 8 day Itinerary help
 

I wanted to reach out to the lovely people on this board for some help with my Ireland itinerary. You all have been so helpful on past trips, thanks in advance!!

I am traveling with a good friend. We are both in our early 30s, gals that want to have fun at the pubs, enjoy good music, meet locals, and see some beautiful scenery. We will be renting a car for the trip. Planning to stay at B&Bs and more budget accommodations around 70 euros. I tend to be overly ambitious with my itineraries and need help being realistic, especially since this is my first driving trip, usually take trains in Europe. We are leaving from Chicago on Fri May 2nd, arriving Dublin Sat May 3rd early am. Departing Dublin Sun May 11th noon.

Sat: Dublin
Sun: Leave Dublin, travel to Galway, stopping along the way (suggestions?). Stay Galway city.
Mon: Explore Connemara. Stay Galway. (or NW Clare?).
Tues: Explore Clare Country (possible to get all the way to Loophead & back in one day?). Stay NW Clare or Kilkee or Newmarket/Fergus?
Wed: Dingle Peninsula. Stay Dingle or go out to Kilkenny?
Thurs: Was originally thinking Ring of Kerry, but now considering Kilkenny Nat'l Park and/or Ring of Beara. Stay Kilkenny or Kenmare.
Fri: Travel to Cork. Stay in Cork city (required, must see friend's band)
Sat: Travel back to Dublin, stop in Kilkenny. Stay near airport, open for suggestions, thinking B&B in Swords?

Part of me would like to leave the mid-week nights open, but I hate spending time finding accommodations while on vacation. Also, I was originally trying to have more 2-night stays but I don't want to back-track on what is essentially a "Loop" vacation that we're doing, but would love to hear your thoughts. I have the feeling we need to cut something out, but not sure how/what makes sense. Nervous I am underestimating drive times, please let me know if anything seems a bit "off."

E,ery81- suggestions I have been given for between Dublin and Galway include Trim Castle, belvedere House, Clonmacnoise, a river cruise from Athlone. It will be our first trip as well ,so I can't comment on over scheduling as we are a bit over booked ourselves.

UPS might do a deal dropping parcels?
You have a lot packed in there and I would suggest some trimming.
Dublin 1 day, jetlag could be an issue?
Dublin to Galway http://goo.gl/maps/FDZCV
Connemara huge area to cover in a day http://goo.gl/maps/L5ihu
West Clare down to Loop Head http://goo.gl/maps/xMOHV stay around Kilkee?
Dingle, Drive round and end the night in Kenmare for Beara (the best of the peninsula's)
Cork if this is a must it's a must
Cork to Dublin Taking the detour via Kilkenny is too much stick to the M8 and call into Cashel end the night at an airport hotel that offers a Shuttle (Premier inn?)

On Tuesday, I would stay in Kilkee, or there-abouts. Visit Loop Head that afternoon, or first thing in the AM, on Weds.

Weds: Take the Shannon Ferry, visit Dingle and do the Slea Head Drive. Overnight in Killarney or Kenmare. (I think you mean Killarney and Killarney National Park -- NOT Kilkenny.) :-)

Thursday: Stay in Bantry or Skibbereen, driving the Beara along the way.

Fri: Follow the N71 along the Coastal Route to Cork. Along the way, Drombeg Stone Circle, Clonakilty, Timoleague and Kinsale.

Sat: I would forget Kilkenny as you won't have time to explore it. Instead drive via the M8 and visit Cahir Castle, the Rock of Cashel and MAYBE the Rock of Dunamase along the way to Dublin.

This is still rather hectic, but it IS do-able and 'Ticks' most of your boxes.

Thank you, thank you for the advice! Love the google maps, not sure how you did that but very cool. We will definitely skip Kilkenny on the way back to Ireland (and yes, I meant Killarney when I kept typing Kilkenny :) Also, I had forgotten about the Shannon Ferry, will look into that.

Regarding Mon, know we cannot see "all" of Connemara in one day, advice on a loop drive that might be doable & enjoyable? Coastal drive from Galway to Mace Head recommended by Lonely Planet, perhaps make it to Clifden?

Or would a visit to the Aran islands from Galaway be a better was to spend Mon? Wasn't planning on it as it seemed from some's trip reports they might be something to skip if time is short.

With only the one day, it would be Inis More OR Connemara. While the 45 minute (each way) boat ride might be relaxing, given the pace of the rest of your trip, I would lean toward driving a loop of Connemara, personally.
Tony's Google map lists LOTS of options that you could choose from, to make the trip enjoyable for YOU. Were it ME, I would drive up to Westport, via Doo Lough (on the R336 and R335) and then take the N59 to Kylemore, before returning to Galway along the R344.
It would be a long day (5-6 hours drive time), but it offers LOTS of worthwhile stops/sights, which I find interesting:
Aasleagh Falls, Killary Fjord, Doo Lough Valley, Famine memorial at the base of Croagh Patrick, Westport (for a late lunch), Kylemore Abbey and the Lough Inagh Valley -- as well as Oughterard and Moycullen.

Hopefully, others will 'weigh in' with suggestions more suitable to YOUR tastes . . .

That is a god awful drive to Mace Head in comparison to many others and the road is a little miniature roller coasterish, driving over the bogs a fair way..

For a days loop then The N59 to Clifden options from http://goo.gl/Ek8bpw , quick coat of the Sky Rd and follow the N59 past the National Park, Kylemore Abbey and Killary Harbour to Leenane, Not sure you would have time for the Doonlough valley up to Westport by Louisburgh and back down thats at least 1/2 a day.. From Leenane across the valley and back to Galway via Cong and the Headford Rd.

Thanks again guys for the advice on driving in Connemara!

I think I am going to have reserved lodging for Sat (Dublin) and Sun & Mon in Galaway, especially because of the Bank holiday, then keep Tues-Thurs open (seems to me that there are endless quality B&Bs in Clare & Kerry) and just have options pre-researched and handy, and then reserve Cork Fri and Dublin airport hotel Sat.

I know it might seem crazy, but I often pack a lot into abroad trips and still fine the whole experience to be relaxing and super enjoyable. My typical 60 hr work week, now that's a bit much sometimes :)

wouldn't book anywhere in Galaway it's not in Ireland.. ;)

Oh my, another town name falls prey to my late night posting- I need a vacation!

Hi Emery81. How did your trip go?
I'm currently looking for a trip outline such as this. Do you still have your daily agenda? Where did you end up seeing and staying?

Any info appreciated as I am just starting to plan. Same age, same interests. Thanks!!!