Hi All! I will be travelling in Ireland with my mom and her cousin for two weeks. We will be stopping in Lisowel mid trip to inroduce my mom to my in laws to be. Please give me any feedback you can as to our itenerary. My fiance helped and since he was raised in Kerry I think I am off to a good start. Also if there are any festivals, pubs or B&B's you can recommend it would be great.
ok here is the itenerary:Aug 17th-30th

17th Tues. Arrive in Shannon 2:15pm pick up rental car
drive to Bunratty Castle as only 15min away-
Drive to Galway-2hrs.
stay night in Galway

18thWeds. Drive coast to Conemara, Keynmore Abbey, drive to Lake Corrib, Aughnure Castle
stay night in Galway

19th Thurs. Ferry to Aran Islands
stay night in Galway

20th Fri. Drive south- The Burren, Cliffs of Moher
stay night in Kilrush-Mrs. Crotty Traditional Music Festival

21st Sat. Take Ferry from Kilrush to Tarbert and drive to Listowel
afternoon with Patrick's family and night in Pub. Poss. Ballybunion?
stay night in Listowel

22nd Sun. Lunch with P's fam. Ballybunion if didn't go on Sat.
could leave and drive through Tralee as Rose of Tralee Fest going on or stay night in Listowel. May be good idea for 2 nights in Listowel

23rd Mon. Drive to Dingle -Conors Pass Route.
Could stop in Tralee for Fest if didn't go on Sun? Be in Dingle afternoon or early eve.

24th Tues. Ventry(Paudi Oshea's Pub)-Slea Head- Beehive Huts-Gallorous Oratory
stay night in Dingle

25th Weds. Blasket Islands
stay night in Killarney

26th Thurs. Killarney National Park, Muckross House
stay night in Killarney

27th Fri. Drive Ring of Kerry
Cahirciveen and other villages along the way to Kenmare
not sure where to stay yet? Kenmare?

28th Sat To Cork
not sure if should stay in Blarney or Cork City?

29th Sun Blarney Castle
Drive back to Shannon by eve. drive takes @ 3hrs?
return car, stay in Shannon

30th Mon Flight 8am

may try to fit Bantry in, but not sure if it's too far??

Please give me your input! It would be much appreciated.

Thank you

You are doing wat too much. I feel you will spend our holiday in the car. Start to pick major places that you must see and squeeze a small few others in. I would not consider it a holiday if you did not stop moving!

Just one comment: stay in Cork city. It would be good to spend the Saturday night in the city after the towns and smaller places that you will have visited on the way. I'd recommend D'arcys Guesthouse which is a lovely georgian town house with great owners and views over the city. Their fantastic irish breakfast will set you up for the trip back up to Shannon too!!

What a great itinerary. You will have a fantastic time.

My only comment is the Blasket Islands. Plan on an all-day affair. The boats to & from do not run on schedule, and the trip is about 1/2 hour each way. If you take the boat out of Dingle, it will be longer.

Because of the tides, you had to transfer to a small zodiac rubber boat to get into the pier.

There's not much on the Blaskets, and I certainly would not do it again.

We did enjoy the Aran Islands 100% more than the Blasket.

I like your itinerary. You can always scratch things as you go if it's feeling like too much time in the car.

An alternative to going out to the Blaskets is the Blasket Heritage Center, an excellent museum devoted to the culture and history of those islands. It's a wonderful way to spend a few hours.

I don't find Cork City especially charming, so I'd choose to stay elsewhere overnight.

I agree with Budman. If you get a bad day as well weather wise it may not be that enjoyable. The Arran islands are really lovely and interesting as well.

I would also stay in Cork city as opposed to Blarney. I've mentioned it before but I feel it's really cheesy touristy and I ate the worst meal I have ever eaten in Ireland in Blarney. I am still surprised at how bad it was for the prices charged.

Also Tralee will be crazy during the Rose of Tralee so I would visit but don't expect to find accommodation in tralee at that time. I am not really a big fan of Tralee I think there are better places to visit. It will be lively though with the festival.

Have fun!

skip cork and blarney and spend time in kinsale- a much lovlier town with great food.

I second that - skip Blarney .. Kinsale is a lovely town ... great food too.