Please help with Ireland Itinerary
 

My brother,sister and I are going to Ireland for 9 nights. We were there with our father 40 years ago but have little memory of it except for the sheep and the rain. We are in our 50s and are looking forward to seeing the landscape, history and pubs! This is what we have planned so far. I've read a lot of the comments but I'm still unsure about what to do from Kenmare on. We will rent a car as we leave Dublin.

2 nights Dublin
1 night Kilkenny
2 nights Kinsale
2 nights Kenmare
1 night Tralee
1 night Ennis (Shannon airport)

Should we choose Dingle over Tralee? We are trying to avoid changing hotels every night. Thank you for your help.

Most people would choose Dingle in preference to Tralee.

I'd also deduct a night from either Kinsale or Kenmare and add it to Dingle.

I second Padraig's suggestion to stay in Dingle over Tralee. I'd also deduct a night from Kinsale and add it to Dingle.

Hope your trip wis wonderful for you and siblings!

Thank you. We will change from Tralee to Dingle since all the forums seem to rave about that area. Is there not enough to do around Kinsale to merit that second night?

Another (half) second for Padraig's suggestion: Yes, to Dingle over Tralee; but I would add another night in Ennis & subtract it from Kinsale (unless you will be golfing at Old Head Golf Links).

That way, you can visit West Clare and maybe Galway during that extra day (Doolin, the Burren, the Cliffs of Moher). In Ennis, Cruise's Restaurant & Pub has 'Trad' Irish music every night beginning around 10PM. Other times we have been lucky enough to see impromptu sessions Sat or Sun afternoon. If you're really interested in Golfing, there's a nice 9-hole links layout at Spanish Point.

gaelle asked: "Is there not enough to do around Kinsale to merit that second night?"

There is, especially if you like good food, because Kinsale is the culinary capital of south-west Ireland. But you can't exhaust all the possibilities in a nine-day trip, and compromises have to be made.

[Dingle is also pretty good for food, but I have never had a memorable meal in Kenmare -- nor, to be fair, a memorably bad one.]

Thanks for your advice.