Ireland is certainly not a place you can explore by rail. So if you don't want to drive, you need to plan (bus routes/schedules) carefully so as not to waste a lot of time.

Please look at my extensive trip reports on Lonely Planet's ThornTree forum "Three Weeks in Ireland" which I posted in three parts in September '11. I address this issue, but will say I don't see how you can spend three days in Doolin or any of the small towns without going crazy from boredom. Move around and see things. And please do the Slea Head drive/Dingle instead of Ring of Kerry! Have fun!

I am beginning to wonder if this isn't the best idea for my trip, because it sounds like more moving around than I want to do. Don't want to spend three days in a small town and be bored, obviously.

My alternate idea is on the other end of the spectrum: Paris. Here, I would just want to get a studio apartment and park myself for a week. Day-trip to Versailles, maybe wine country. I have been to Paris with my family for three nights, but I want to go back ALONE so I can do whatever I please!

Each to their own, but from what you mentioned on a previous thread, I thought you want to get a glimpse of local lifestyle and a feel of the countryside and local nature. I do not think it is necessary to sight seen non-stop during one's trip or having to fill in everyday with taking day trips or something. I always spare some time for the unexpected while traveling.
First of all nature in Doolin is great, there is hiking, quite possibly there is horseriding and you can take your time to walk inside the village, enjoy local architecture and small conversations with locals and many visitors too. Pubs in Doolin are great for socialising, I almost always travel solo and find people in Ireland very friendly and chatty, they have a keen interest to learn about you and your country and share their own stories without getting rude or be too intrusive. This is true for the whole country, but on my experience a place like Doolin is ideal for this kind of communication. People are used to welcome visitors as there is some low key tourism but on a smaller, more human scale than on busy destinations such as Digle where locals are usually more taken away on their own worries and of course in Doolin or other small places people have a more friendly attitude comparing to larger cities too.
Now if you want to go on the other end, why not to go on Dublin, enjoy its many attractions and sites and day trip to various places from there? If you decide Dublin is not your cup of tea, you can always jump on a train to Galway or Cork or Belfast or whatever for a few days, not a big deal.

Don't want to spend three days in a small town and be bored, obviously.>

And yes most small Irish towns are church mouse quiet IME - especially those along the rural West Coast in the Gaellic speaking area - places that are rather de-populated with an aging populace not kicking up their heel much.

Try putting your question on another forum, Trip Advisor or Ireland Yes.

I have suggested 4 towns/cities which you can use as hubs with good transport links and multiple day tour operators. As I have also said no point being off the transport track. It seems though that on this forum I am the only one thinking that way,

http://www.tripadvisor.ie/ShowForum-...8-Ireland.html

http://ireland.activeboard.com/f1760...-travel-forum/

I am an American woman who has lived and travelled around Ireland for 15 years. After reading the above itineraries a Paris apartment does sounds good!

I am not a "tour person" myself and have never used this firm but try logging on to "Paddywagontours"; plus Google "Irish Hostels: the latter in my opinion far more worthwhile for a single person than B&B's which I personally loath.

Hopefully Paddywagon can put you in mind of a relaxing Itinerary and get you back on track.
10 days is VERY little time to enjoy Ireland. It takes a while to get from one place to another.

Thanks again, all, for helping me think this through. I need a relaxing solo get-away, and am wondering if this might be too much moving around for me. Should I instead consider flying in and out of the same city, staying there a week or more, and making day-trips? What is Dublin like, or Shannon, as home bases?

Ireland is pretty laid back so you may find it too relaxing. If it were me I'd try and find a little port with a pub (with rooms) and settle in for three days of walking, drinking and talking.

You could get to http://www.kingsitric.ie/ from central Dublin by train and just let the tide come in and out

Shannon is an hour down the road. Basically an airport and industrial estate. Limerick is 1/2 hour south but Galway 1 hour north would be my choice for a base due to the tours available and general feel. The city is small and compact more of a town rather than city, Salthill joins the west side and looks across Galway bay to the Arans.

Dublin is of course the main city and has everything a tourist would need but can be over expensive.

How would you describe Dublin?