Hi. We just booked last minute trip to Ireland with family of 5 (3 kids 11.12 & 14) leaving next Sunday, April 13 (Easter). We desparately need help with 6-day itineary starting and ending in Dublin. We plan to rent a car, and event though trip is short and starts and ends in Dublin, we really want to get to SW coast for part of the trip. Here's the rough outline:

Day 1 travel to NYC to Dublin
Day 2 arrive Dublin 7 a.m.
Day 3 Dublin to Kilkenny
Day 4 Kilkenny to Rock of Cashel, Dingle Peninsula
Day 5 Dingle Peninsula
Day 6 Dingle to Cliffs of Moher--Doolin
Day 7 Doolin to Dublin
Day 8 Dublin to NYC (7 a..m.)

None of us have ever been to Ireland before. Any ideas or help with itinerary would be greatly appreciated!!! We plan to reserve hotels in Dublin, but is it necessary to reserve B&Bs or hotels in other locations? And will Easter week be a good or bad time for travel?

Thanks for any help!!!!!

Cokaer - Without a good guide book you will miss out on a lot of good information about your route, the towns & villages, and general sightseeing tips.
We leave for Ireland on 8th May and I am relying on 'INSIGHTS GUIDES - IRELAND" by the Discovery Channel.
Here is the website:
www.insightguides.com
The book is in colour, has numerous maps on each area and major city, like Dublin.
There are hotels, B&B's, cottages for rent all listed in the guide.
As it's urgent you may want to email or fax the Irish Tourist Board - do a google search as well.

Have a fab time - do let us know how it went!

You're packing a lot in there. Would it be at all possible to change your tickets to fly home from Shannon? That would save you an extra day that's essentially spent in the car getting back to Dublin.

http://www.aaireland.ie/routes/default.asp
check out site for route planning...add a bit ...cause it will take longer
Day 1 travel to NYC to Dublin
Day 2 arrive Dublin 7 a.m. head to bunratty, park/early banquet (kids sleep...fun day/bed early)
Day 3 cliffs of moher dingle via ferry
Day 4 Dingle Peninsula
Day 5 Dingle...relax, boat to see funghi, shop in town,horse back riding, biking
Day 6 Cashel, Kilkenny
Day 7 Kilkenny to Dublin (hop on hop off tour)
Day 8 Dublin to NYC (7 a.m.)

ttt