We will be going to Ireland the last week of January and will be there for 6 days, landing in Shannon. Any suggestions? We will have a rental car but must admit that I am a bit leary of trying to drive there.

You might like Galway. It's a wonderful small city with a great variety of restaurants, pubs, hotels, and B&Bs. It's also a good base for day trips.

Dingle is another great town, quite a bit smaller. It's on the Dingle Peninsula which has some of the most fantastic scenery in Ireland and lots of ancient sites.

You won't have the traffic in January that you'd have during the summer, so that will help with your driving worries. Just take your time, with one of you driving and the other navigating. Most of us get used to it pretty quickly.

DO visit Dromoland Castle and Bunratty Folk Park (and maybe book for the Medieval Banquets http://www.shannonheartland.ie/enter.../banquets.html !) Also a link to give you a bit more info....

http://www.shannonheartland.ie/attra.../bunratty.html

And here's the link to Dromoland Castle (might be nice to stay there a while)
http://www.dromoland.ie/

Hope you have a great time here !. Be prepared for it to be wet and windy though !

Don't miss Connor's Pass, Slea Head on Dingle Peninsula, kissing the Blarney Stone, Cobh, Kinsale and the Waterford Factory in Waterford.
Agree with the other poster - don't miss Dromoland Castle..

Also - don't drive around the ring of Kerry - take the bus.. the road is so sososos narrow - we and many others had an accident. Do drive around Dingle..

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions. I am getting excited now that I have gotten your suggestions.

One more question, Is it hard to find what we consider normal american food there and can you tell me where I am more apt to find it? As long as I can find some of the same kinds I think I can deal with it.

You'll have no trouble at all finding familiar food. Breakfast foods include cereal, yogurt, and eggs. The bacon served is more like what we know as Canadian bacon...and very good. You might want to stay away from the 'puddings' they serve with breakfast if you're not adventurous eaters. They may serve plain white toast or their great brown bread.

For lunch and dinner, you'll find lots of things you're used to eating. Chicken, beef, seafood, pasta. Also, if you're in places that are large enough, you'll find pizza places and a variety of ethnic restaurants.

You've got some wonderful ideas here. It will be tough to get it all in in just 6 days. Pick & chose and have a great time. You don't want to be packing and unpacking for 6 days, but with your limited time, I would suggest the first day in Doolin, viewing the Cliffs of Moher, 2 days in Dingle, 2 days in Killarney and the surrounding areas, and the last night in Bunratty.

Food -- You'll have no problem. The seafood is the best.

msham, take the kids to McDonalds. You cannot get much more American food than that.

Woops! Just reread your post & my post. You said kinds not kids. You can still get your food fix at McDonalds.

Oh please don't eat at McDonalds though there is one within a short distance of the Shannon airport.

Other than the "puddings", there is not a great deal of difference between standard Irish fare and that that is served inb the States. Lots of pubs serve burgers and you'll find great fish everywhere. Stews and sandwiches are common. In other words, don't worry about it.

I also agree with Budman that with 6 days, what weddinginitaly suggested is way too much. I would suggest some time in Co Clare and then perhaps, Dingle or Connemara. I also don't find the road on the Ring of Kerry particularly harrowing. It's no worse than lots of other roads in Ireland and much better than Conor Pass.

Be aware that the days are pretty short in January with sunrise at 8:19 and sunset at 5:18 on Jan 31. You won't have as much time for photos and getting around, so plan accordingly. More time for the pubs though.

Congratulations and have fun.

Bill