My daughter and I will be spending a week in Ireland 31/5 - 7/6. She lives in England and I live in South Africa so this will be quality time together as well as my first trip to Ireland. I had planned to visit some of the most popular sights in the South starting with a night in Dublin. I have now discovered that there is going to be a huge motor bike rally (Bikefest Killarney) from 3 - 6 June. I am now very nervous to proceed with my arrangements. If anyone knows anything about this Bikfest and how many bikers we can expect to find down on the Ring of Kerry and Dingle Peninsula I really would appreciate it. If there are going to be many thousands then I think that we should rather go from Dublin to Galway and the Connemara region and then head North and visit the Antrim coast maybe and the Giants Causeway. Thought of staying in Bangor for a couple of nights and visiting Belfast and then back to Dublin. . I have not seen any of Ireland so it is not serious if I have to miss the South this time round. If we do go to N Ireland any advice of where to stay near the Giants Causeway. I thought that Portrush would be perfect but I have red that people say its not so great. I have just joined Fodors Forum so am looking forward to some helpful replies.

Bikefest takes over a small part of Killarney and have more or less got the riding the ring and ding set to avoid the tour bus runs in both locations Killarney is a little busier than a normal May/June weekend but on a par with peak season so the town has enough options to cope with the festivities.

Nothing wrong with Portrush its a great base for the North Antrim coast. Not sure where you read that it wasn't great?
Galway and Connemara are also great but you only have 7 days so you need to narrow things down, Ireland is bigger on the ground than it looks on a map and this break is about quality time as much as sight seeing?

http://www.thecausewayhotel.com/ was very nice
but rather stay in Portrush along the coast.
Some here have stayed in Bushmill at the Bushmill Inn also and liked it.

The bikefest looks great, Seems to be a fair amount of people going since it is their tenth year but they are a good group, we live very close to Daytona and you have to be careful not to run them over with your car as we get thousands into our area for the week.

https://www.facebook.com/IrelandsBikeFest/?fref=ts

Thank you Tony2phones and flpab for your input. Have decided to concentrate more on Northern Ireland and leave the South for another time. I never travel in peak season so mixing it up with peak season crowds is not an option.

http://avarest.com/ This looks great, seaview and not kitschy.

We loved Belfast, do see City Hall.

Ohy, stop pinching my Guest house rec's. Averest is a great guest house set on a one way street up above the Harbour in the quieter Side of Portrush.

You might get some links from the northern portion of this 10 day plan https://goo.gl/xrDQtD just cut it short somewhere.

I am not a B&B fan but this looked much better than the ramada. I like being in walking distance of a couple of pubs so this fit the bill. You have stayed here Tony? I am keeping on my list for NI. Great lunch though at the Causeway Hotel.

Stayed there quite a few times over the years, try and get a room at the front overlooking the bay. No problem finding a pub and there's a couple of good restaurant choices within an easy walk.

Wow this is amazing. Wish I had joined years ago. I tried the Averest but they are full on 27th May. How about the Harbour view? They get very good reviews on Booking.com.

This is my sort of proposed itinerary so far:
Arrive in Belfast by early Ferry from Liverpool and drive to Cushendall (Glendale b & b). Next day take slow drive up to Portrush stopping at sights on the way. From Portrush head west for Donegal or Ballyshannon. Next day into the lake district and a lovely country b & b near Eniskillen. From there east again to Belfast for over night and full day before catching the overnight ferry back to Liverpool. Want to get back to the UK before the hoards of schools kids arrive for the mid term break.
Never been to Ireland so I am very open to advice. Many thanks so far.

Try Ashley house next door but few to Avarest, Harbour View is down towards Portstuart end of town, used to get some less favourable comments (the area not the accommodation, I know nothing about that)

Cushendall fair GAA record, nice location but only ever driven through

Donegal gets my vote over Ballyshannon.

If you zoom into the area on this map there are a few points of interest https://goo.gl/xrDQtD

I saw the caves in Cushendall. I would just pick a place that is walking distance to dining and pubs in Portstuart. Must be a busy time there.

"I am now very nervous to proceed with my arrangements. If anyone knows anything about this Bikfest and how many bikers we can expect to find down on the Ring of Kerry and Dingle Peninsula "

No sig impact in relation to the Dingle Peninsula ... Killarney is a hour's drive from Dingle ...

I booked at the Harbour House - its in the road in front of the Avarest and the Ashleigh which were both fully booked. After Portfush we are going to travel down to the Connemara area for two nights and visit Galway while we are there. Any advice about somewhere to stay on our way down. It is quite a long drive and would be nice to break it half way. Problem is its a Saturday night and lots of places are booked up already. Thought maybe we should just take a chance and find something when we have driven enough. Any thoughts? Thanks Tony2phones and flpab for help so far.

If you are aiming for Clifden consider Dun Ri at the bottom (east)end of town by the showgrounds. for a hotel then the Alcock and Browne is central.

If you look on the map I linked above there is a link to another map for the Connemara area.

From Portrush I would go via Donegal and the Slieve League to an overnight in Sligo or Ballina. Then via Westport round under Croagh Patrick and down the Doolough Valley to Leenane and rejoin the N59

Thanks again Tony. There is not much available in Sligo but I found a couple of nice places in Ballina. One in town and the other just outside. Also quiet like the look of Swinford. The Gateway Hotel has live music on a Saturday night. Could be fun! Decisions decisions!