Ireland Itinerary - Help Please
 

Hi - I am hoping you can help me with planning my (short) trip to southwest ireland. I realize that this may look like I'm over-extending, but please keep in mind that I'm trying to see the most I can in the short period that I have. Here's what I got:

5/14: Arrive at Shannon airport at 2:15pm, get rental car and drive towards Killarney, stopping at the Rock of Cashel on the way. Potentially stop at the Killarney National Park that evening if time/weather permits or the Kissane Sheep Farm in Kenmare. (sleep in Killarney or Kenmare - recommendation?)

5/15: Drive early in the AM to Portmagee and leave for a 10am Shellig Michael tour. Tour brings you back to Portmagee around 3pm. Drive to dingle & sleep in dingle.

5/16: Spend the day in dingle. Arrange a mountain man seakayaking/cycling tour. Drive to Doolin in the evening and spend the night in Doolin.

5/17: Spend the day visiting Doolin area/Aran Islands/Cliffs of Moher. Sleep in Doolin a 2nd night.

5/18: Leave early in the morning for Shannon to catch 11:05am flight back to US.

Also, I was thinking of using a tour company (like tourismireland.com) to help me plan the self-drive tour. Is that a bad idea or should I plan by myself? My concern is knowing the correct routes, timetables, feasibility, etc. I thought maybe a self-drive tour company could help with that but i've heard bad reviews concerning higher prices and vouchers. Please elaborate if you have any details. THANK YOU.

Seashore Farms in Kenmare is a beautiful Bed and Breakfast with fab breakfast. It is within walking distance of town.

Honestly, you are not going to have time to sleep. This is very ambitious. Go to www.aaroadwatch.ie and put in your locations. Then add at least a third more time, even more to get out to Portmagee.

Have you been before? The roads are narrow and slow going much of the time. Map it all out. I would start by leaving out Cashel, way out of the way and you won't have time to savor it.

Good luck!

Ah, nic, I don't think you can do this. For starters, the Rock of Cashel is not on the way from Shannon to Killarney; while you could drive Shannon-->Cashel-->Killarney you don't have time after arriving Shannon at 2:15.

I wouldn't recommend a tour company for a self-drive...and that from someone whose first 3 visits used exactly that.

I have been staring at maps trying to fit in both Skellig Michael and the Dingle tour thingy and I don't see how you can even do those in just 3½ days. Not to mention Rock of Cashel, sheep farm, Cliffs of Moher, Aran Islands, Killarney National Park.

Now you could arrive on the 14th, drive to Tralee to spend the night, and on the 15th either do the Dingle ironman deal OR Skellig Michael, spending the night either in Dingle or Kenmare/Killarney. On the 16th drive north, taking the Tarbert ferry, to Doolin. Spend the night in Doolin. The 17th, ferry out to one of the Aran Islands or see the Cliffs (I recommend the boat ride to view them from seaward). Head for Bunratty, Ennis or Shannon to spend the night as you will need to be at the airport at 8 a.m.

Just a thought.

Sorry but with the best will in the world you cannot achieve this in the time you have. Your average speed alone will stop you. With an average of 35 miles per hour being optimistic in the area's you are covering plus activity time and matching time and tide tables? Have a good think about your priorities use the aa roadwatch site linked above and narrow things down. You could get to Killarney or Dingle from an afternoon flight as a starting point for your 1st night.

OK, nic, I have rethought my advice. After Skellig Michael on the 15th, drive to Dingle for the night and then do your athletic thing on the 16th. Then drive north on the 17th to the Cliffs and then over to Ennis, Bunratty or Shannon for the night.

Snug fit but you can get in at least some of what you want.