We leave a week from Sunday, so I'm about done with the planning. Would appreciate any thoughts on our itinerary. We fly in and out of Shannon.<BR>Day 1&2: Kinvara (Co. Galway)<BR>Day 3&4: Galway City<BR>Day 5: Leenane (Co. Galway)<BR>Day 6: Donegal Town<BR>Day 7&8: Dungloe (Co. Donegal)<BR>Day 9: Arranmore Island (Co. Donegal)<BR>Day 10: Enniscrone (Co. Sligo)<BR>Day 11: Ennis (Co. Clare)<BR>Day 12&13: Dingle (Co. Kerry)<BR>Day 14&15: Kenmare (Co. Kerry)<BR>Day 16&17: Killaloe (Co. Clare)<BR> Thanks for your help.<BR>

mary - you are visiting some really great areas. BUT I think you are moving way too often. You will be packing and unpacking and checking in and out of B&Bs 11 out of 17 days. <BR><BR>It would be a lot more restiful if you base yourselves in one place for a few days at a time and do day trips.<BR><BR>For instance stay somewhere in Galway from day 1 through day 5 and see the whole county. Do the same thing in Donegal and Kerry. <BR><BR>Ennis and Killaloe are only about 20 miles apart so it might be better to stay in that area for two or three consecutive days and see bot from the same base.<BR><BR>On this Itinerary I woulkd only stay 5 or maybe 6 different places (in Galway, Donegal, Arranmore, Kerry, Clare and possibly Sligo)

I agree with Janis - too much moving around. I find Donegal town hugely overated but tourists probably like it for its "Irish" shops. If you can visit Harveys Point Country House at Lough Eske for an evening meal, not too far away - wonderful food for which it's renowned, beautiful setting and good service/atmosphere. Smugglers Creek Inn is at Rossnowlagh, near Ballyshannon in Donegal and is worth a visit for the views and atmosphere. It's known for good food but I have found it a bit disappointing - stick to steak. This place has live entertainment at weekends and is postively jumping.<BR>Pity you don't appear to have time to see Co Cork as it's lovely - especially the people. I love Glandore on a sunny day and Kinsale even if it is touristy. Other popular Cork highlights are Clonakilty, Baltimore and at the tip Bantry Bay & Crookhaven.<BR>Being from the North I strongly recommend visiting Ulster but you obviously don't have time. You could nip into Fermanagh from Donegal and see the lakes which are nice. <BR>Suggested reading before you go or while you're there - Round Ireland with a Fridge by Tony Hawkes (hilarious) and McCarthys Bar by Pete McCarthy (quite funny). Both give you a really good flavour of Ireland and it's people while they travel round. Enjoy!

We just got back from a week in Ireland. We only had a week but if we could do it again we would really cut down on the driving!!! The roads are HELL! The roads on the map that look like major freeways are NOT! The smaller roads are uggggg! Actually, we had a wonderful trip but as you can tell I really wish we had stayed places longer!<BR><BR>Galway was for shopping....not much history. We didn't really like it much but it was the last of our trip. Dingle was great! Do the Slea Head tour in Rick Steeves book. It was so awesome! Kinsale was actually my favorite town! Oh...I don't see Rock of Cashel on your trip! That was incredible! <BR><BR>Its hard planning....but I would really pick places to stay and use as a base for exploring!<BR><BR>Have fun! Dress warmly and with rain gear!

Oh, I forgot to say...we stayed 2 nights at every B and B.