I'm working on planning the route for our June trip to Ireland. We'll have a rental car and want to see Dingle, Connemara, Westport up to Sligo, Aran Islands or other islands, Cliffs of Moher, etc. - the areas southwest and north of Shannon. We arrive in Shannon on Thursday, June 3 at 9:00 a.m. That is a bank holiday weekend so I'm debating whether it would be better to go north or south first. We'll have 9 nights, leaving from Shannon at 1:00 on the 12th. Here's what I'm tentatively thinking:
1st night: Lisdoonvarna, after seeing Cliffs of Moher and the Burren. Won't have to drive too much that day, hopefully.
2nd and 3rd nights - Galway, seeing the Aran Islands and Connemara
4th and 5th nights - Westport, going up to Sligo on a day trip?
6th night - somewhere between Westport and Dingle, any suggestions?
7th and 8th nights - Dingle
9th night - Bunratty
We had intented to stay in three places for three nights each, but I can't quite figure how to do that without having a long drive one day between north and south.
Your suggestions would be very welcome. My group includes four women in our 50's; we plan to stay in b & b's or guesthouses. I would also welcome lodging recommendations as we have not yet made any reservations, but plan to do so this weekend. And eating is always a highlight of our trips, so your recommendations would be very welcome. Thanks so much for your help.

You might want to add a night in Doolin. The amateur musicians who play Irish fold music in the Doolin pubs are a great joy to listen to as you down a few Guinnesses.

So, Shane, you are saying that the music gets better with a few more Guinnesses? Probably right, altho I favor the trad music anyway. BevK, your schedule looks fine with an emphasis on nature and sightseeing. Pub music in Dingle town fine. You'll find good suggestions about places to stay and eat in guidebooks and on Fodors as others respond. There are so many.
Ozarks Bill

My fav restaurants in Westport:

The Lemon Peel - http://www.lemonpeel.ie/pages/where.html - town centre

Quay Cottage - there is a website, but I cant seem to get into it, tel: 003539826412.

The Linenmill (my top fav), 5 mins walk from centre - no website, but tel. no. is: 00353 9824508.

THese are all very good restaurants.

Cosy Joes pub is also great for bar snacks.

Hope this helps a little.

Angela

Hi Bev,
We are going to Ireland the middle of May. We found a B & B that looks just wonderful on Inish Mor. http://www.manofarancottage.com/
If your not going to stay over night, I have heard that it's a wonderful place to have a meal. Look at the photos, the bedroom looks lovely. Have a great trip, I bet you are as excited as we are.

Robbyn

If you are traveling from Westport to Dingle, check out the San Esteban B&B in Doonbeg. We stayed there last year, and it was great. And there is a pub (really the only one) in Doonbeg with good food. On the food question, if you are anticipating great meals, don't. Really. You don't go to Ireland for the food.

Please dont listen to Ruff about the food in Ireland - that is simply not true.

Angela

BevK: I think Sligo is too far for a daytrip from Westport. You might want to consider Ballina as a convenient overnight for daytrips to Sligo and/or Knock Shrine. Knock Shrine is also on the route back south toward Gort or Galway (or coastal Clare) heading toward the Killimer (Clare) Tarbert (Kerry) ferry on the way to Dingle.

Ruff couldn't be more wrong. Listen to Angela. One of the best meals I've had anywhere was in Ireland--near Sligo, but I can't think of the name! It's Something Lodge.

We have never had a bad meal in Ireland. The Carrigan House in Lisdoonvarna was a great place to stay. We had dinner there and found their restaurant to be very good also. If you choose to hike in The Burren CH is convenient.

Thanks for your replies. Angela, the restaurant recommendations for Westport are really appreciated. What do you suggest we try to see in that are? Also, would Doonbeg or Doolin be better places to stay than Lisdoonvara? I'm thinking maybe we should go directly to Galway when we arrive, then spend a couple of nights in the Doolin/Lisdoonvara area on our way from Westport to Dingle. I;m checking the websites for the other B & B's mentioned. I like to have a personal recommendation for the places we stay.

An update on our just completed trip to Ireland: We drove the first day to Galway and stayed three nights at the Marless House in Salthill - a lovely place to stay. We drove around Lough Corrib, stopping at Ashford Castle and Cong Monastery, spent a day on the Inishmore and some time in Galway City. We continued along the coast to Clifden where we spent two nights at Ben View B & B, which I would not particularly recommend - old linens and not especially fresh smelling. While in that area we saw the Connemara Heritage Center and Kylemore Abbey. From there we drove to Doolin, through the Burren and saw the Cliffs of Moher. One of our best meals was at HolyHill, near Ballyvaughn. Wonderful Italian food! We spent one night at Harbour View B & B near Doolin - a purpose-built B & B with a beautiful view and plentiful breakfast. The next two nights were in Ventry, just west of Dingle at the Ceann Tra B & B. Another very nice B & B above the Dingle Bay. We drove the Slea Head Drive and took the ferry to the Great Blasket Island. Our last night was in Bunratty at the Dunaree B & B, which also more than met our needs. As it turned out we stayed in 5 places instead of three, and still didn't see a lot of Ireland, but what we did see we loved. And we thought the food was delicious - we tended to have a big breakfast, snack a little during the day, and have a nice evening dinner. We had a couple of pub meals, but really like the restaurants, epecially the delicious seafood, better. Thanks to everyone for the advice I received here. It always makes for a much more fulfilling trip.