Hello! My DH and I are planning a 30th anniversary trip to beautiful Ireland. We have our tickets to arrive in Dublin Sept 6 at noon and leave Dublin late afternoon of Sept 13.We love to enjoy scenery, and want to enjoy as much of Ireland as possible without it being too rushed. I dont mind a little rush, as I know I will have major FOMO (fear of missing out) on all of Ireland I wont be seeing (LOL). We like to see small and midsize towns, so walking around to get a feel for the place and eating in the restaurants and pubs is great, but we are not big shoppers. After a little time in a town we like getting on the road to see natural views and Irish history. When the weather is cooperative we will take short hikes ( hour or so). I had the Ring of Kerry on our list but after reading many of your post, realized I had to cut something. Dingle is our number one goal and because we are doing Slea Head, we decided Kenmare to Killarney would give us a taste of ROK. Please review our plan so far and let us know if it is doable. If something else needs to be cut, what do you suggest? We are most uncertain about how long it takes to get from place to place and how much time is needed at each place. As well as, if we are proceeding in a practical order, geographically. Here is our idea list so far:

DAY 1 (Friday) Arrive Dublin, rent car, drive to Kilkenny.
DAY 2 (Saturday) Breakfast and stroll through Kilkenny and drive to ROC and then Kinsale for night.
DAY 3 (Sunday) Kinsale stroll, possibly tour Fort(if open on Sunday am) or walk around Harbor (my husband loves boats), drive to Kenmare for afternoon and Killarney for the night
DAY 4 (Mon) Killarney Natl Park, Muckross Estate, Ladie's View, Moll's Gap and any other suggestions you might have that would fit time wise. Head to Dingle for the night? or stay in Killarney overnight?
DAY 5 (Tues) Dingle- Inch Beach, Slea Head Loop, Dingle town, Mt. Brandon ( whatever we have time for). Over night in Dingle
DAY 6 (Wed) Dingle-morning doing what we didnt get to yesterday, Connor's Pass, Tarbert Ferry, COM, (if late, stay in Doolin or onto Galway for night?)
DAY 7 (Thurs) Breakfast where we wake up (Doolin or Galway) and then day trip to Connemara, Sky Road, Clifden, back to Galway by 8:00 for Trad on the Prom Show. Sleep Galway
DAY 8 (Fri) Galway to Dublin for flight home.

I can't wait to hear your input and I am most appreciative of your time.

Thank You!

The drive to Kinsale has small winding roads. Try staying more than one night somewhere like Killarney. Are you staying in Salt Hill? If seeing Trad on the prom there is a regular bus there from Galway. I would stay in Galway though that is a slow coastal trip from Killarney to Galway. It says 3 hours but add on another hour. Give yourself 3 hours to check-in at Dublin airport, four if you have to turn in car. The Connemara day with the concert at night is overload but some of the best scenery in Ireland. I would give yourself another night there. Drop something to make it work.

Thank you so much Macross. Will continue to tweak the itinerary. I am feeling it is rushed.

Do you get Netflix? I watched the Dublin episode last night of Somebody Feed Phil and it was great. My favorite place is Ballymaloe Cookery school and gardens but he also went to Kinsale, ate at Fishy Fish. He ate at the Boxty House in Dublin where we always eat at on our stays. What time is your flight out of Dublin?

After reading suggestions, I have tried to simplify the itinerary. I hate to say it but I had to remove Kinsale. Here is our latest idea list. Please let me know it if is still too ambitious.

DAY 1 (Friday) Arrive Dublin, rent car, drive to Kilkenny.
DAY 2 (Saturday) Breakfast and stroll through Kilkenny and drive to ROC and then Killarney for night.
DAY 3 (Sunday) Killarney (KNP, Muckross House,etc) Drive-Moll's Gap, Ladies View, Torc Waterfall, Kenmare, back to Killarney for the night.
DAY 4 (Mon) Morning in Killarney, Head to Dingle, Inch Beach, Slea Head Loop, Dingle town, Mt. Brandon, over night in Dingle.
DAY 5 (Tues) Dingle-, continue yesterday's list, overnight Dingle
DAY 6 (Wed) Dingle-, Connor's Pass, Tarbert Ferry, COM, overnight Galway
DAY 7 (Thurs) Day trip to Connemara, Sky Road, Clifden, back to Galway
DAY 8 (Fri) Morning in Galway, drive to Dublin for evening flight.

So to summarize:
1 Night Kilkenny
2 Nights Killarney
2 Nights Dingle
2 Nights Galway

Also, I have us very busy on Sunday, Are these places open on Sunday or just shorter hours?

Thanks so much for your help!

https://www.jurysinns.com/hotels/galway There is a public car park close by and the hotel location will make it easy to get to Salthill. I am glad you are spending two nights in most places. You burn up so much time checking in and out. Connemara is beautiful.
John Keogh's pub has the best food, cross over the river, The Pie maker is also very good.

If it is foggy when you leave Dingle for Connor's pass don't do it. Scary enough when clear.
Stay in Dingle town so you can pub crawl at night.

Great tip regarding Connor's Pass! I will check into jurys inns and the restaurants you recommended. I was already excited about the drive across Ireland but now when I think about eating my way across Ireland...pack my bags, I'm ready to go!