Ok, here goes. This is our basic outline for our May trip my wife & her parents. I do already have airline tickets, hotel and car reservations. Nothing is set in stone (except the airfare), so it can be change slightly if thought to be best:
- 2 nights in Dublin, no car yet, at the Davenport
- 1 night in Belfast @ the Europa
- 2 nights in Derry @ the tower Hotel
- 1 night in Sligo @ the Clarion
- 1 night at the Ballynahinch Castle in
Recess
- 2 nights at the Bunratty Castle Hotel
As mentioned, these have been booked, but not paid for yet. Any input on theses would be appreciated. Here's a rough list for the places I would like to see (in no particular order)if reasonable:
-Kilmainham Gaol
-National Museum of Ireland
-Fishamble street in Temple
Bar/Christchurch Cathedral
-Guinness Brewery
-St. Patrick’s Cathedral
-Powerscourt (I belive there's a bus tour
from Dublin)
-Newgrange
-Carrickfergus Castle
-Giant’s Causeway/Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge
-Donegal Town
-Slieve League Cliffs
-Glencolumbcille
-Cliffs of Mohr
-Rock of Cashel
-Burren
-Kylemore Abbey
-Ring of Kerry
-Horseback riding
-Ring of Kerry
Too agressive maybe? I don't know. I belive most of the Dublin sites can be taken care of with a hop on/off type bus tour.
We are certainly open to suggestions of other areas to visit or discouragement of any of these. I like to believe we are adventurous and enjoy going "off the beaten path", but am not too sure how that'll fly with the in-laws. By default, I've been chosen the unofficial guide of this whole thing. Maybe it has something to do with the "sucker" tatoo on my forehead? At any rate, I now feel a little obligated to keep things moving along and would like to stay as busy as possible with little down time - hey, what are vacations for? Relaxing? Yeah, right!
Thank you in advance to all who can help.

You'll get more responses if you re-post your query with Ireland in the title. "Itinerary help" covers a lot of ground.

I like your accommodations. I highly recommend Ballynahinch. It's an experience I'll always remember. I don't see how you can do the Ring of Kerry with this itinerary. You might save it for another trip. Have a wonderful time.

as a reply to your querry too aggressive maybe..not maybe DEFINITELY. I think 6 different hotels in 9 nights is way too much.

You have picked some wonderful sights...but would need several more days to enjoy.

I am not sure if you have driven in Ireland before...but you are covering a lot of tough miles...especially considering you will have inlaws in tow.

I am speaking from experience...just had a family trip that I planned that included inlaws and various family members from age 12 to 70's. Unless your inlaws are in great shape...this would be a gruelling trip...

we had the advantage of hiring a private driver and a very comfy 16 passenger bus to spread out in...my father-in-law napped thru much of the scenic drive.

Note that most of the sights you included envolve lots of uneven walking, and slippery in rain...can be tough for older folks (and others too)

You cannot rely on them being as active or as excited as you are about the trip/sights...also the pickiest eater was not one of the kids...it was my father-in-law...they also needed lots of breaks. You may want to have discussion about it being OK to spend some time on your own...most stops we toured everything and parents enjoyed slower walk around and coffee/snack break.

while still ambitious...looking at your list of places you would like to see, this makes more sense to me...

2 nights Dublin...the first day you could do hop-on-off bus (not to miss on your list- kilmainham jail). Again...your inlaws may need more rest so I would skip bus to powerscourt and spend the next day enjoying other dublin sights on your list...or take time to do newgrange bus tour to free up the next day a bit.

If you want to see newgrange on your way to belfast you will want an early start...I would also see carrickfergus this day or skip. night in belfast (I would prefer smaller town on antrim coast)

you may want to read up on rope bridge...I think it is a hike there, then the crossing and back...againg..may by too much walking...may want to check out view of bridge then on to giant's causeway...dunluce castle nearby is a quick stop with great views...

the next 3 sights you want to see are in donegal...so I would skip derry for 2 nights in donegal town (or just outside along the coast)

I would also trade sligo night for westport...the drive from westport thru doolough valley, kylmore abbey on to recess is fantastic.

1 night Ballynahinch Castle sounds great

next day thru burren to cliffs,bunratty castle hotel

then next day could drive to/from rock of cashel (spectacular...if you still have energy) or opt for bunratty castle/folk park...also convenient for some shopping at woolen mills

we (including parents)enjoyed banquet...fun last night.

of course Ring of Kerry is not feasible this trip.

check out this site to help with directions and timing (add some time...most plan on 30mph average)
www.aaroadwatch.ie/routes/

Agree with Chip and would also advise that you get out your map and check travel distances using 30 mph as an average. www.aaroadwatch.ie is an excellent guide in planning an itinerary.

I agree with the last two above. Let me say that none of what you are planning is "off the beaten path". The beaten path follows most of the destinations you have posted. Your race around Ireland will soon exhaust everyone, including the driver. Your days will be a tiring view of asphalt. Slow down to enjoy why you came to Ireland.

I have to agree everyone. While your plan to see all of the sights you listed is POSSIBLE, it is not at all practical. I too, convinced that I would only get to Ireland once in my life, did a whirlwind eleven day tour of Ireland on my first trip. By the end, I was worn out, dazed and frazzled. In June, I will lead my sixth trip to Ireland. I try to avoid the larger cities and tourist traps, preferring small, outlying towns and the recommendations of sights from locals I meet. Whenever I build a travel Itinerary for someone to Ireland, I set them up with a minimum of two nights in small towns, three nights in larger towns.

You are showing eight nights to cover Northern Ireland, the Connemaras, Dublin and Co. Clare. Tempers will be short and nerves will be frayed by the end of the trip at the pace you are suggesting. Save some of the things you want to see for your next trip, there will be a next time. Definitely a Hop-on/Hop-off Open top Bus tour in Dublin is the ticket for you to see the main sights in Dublin. If you base out of Donegal, you could easily day trip to Derry or Slieve League Cliffs.

Enjoy Your Adventure and remember Slowing Down is part of the Irish experience!

Slan Agus Beannacht,

Bit Devine
Cowboy Craic

As the Irish say "Slow down. The man who made time made plenty of it."