Here is a possible 8 day itinerary for our August trip. We will be arriving from the UK and will be traveling with our kids ages 9 and 11. It seems flying into Dublin is our only option as there are no flights from Newcastle (where we will be before Ireland) to other airports in Ireland. We prefer to not drive more than 3 hours on any given day.

Day 1 arrive Dublin and drive to Cashel/overnight in Cashel

Day 2 early drive to Ciffs of Moher, possibly stop in Bunratty before or after as I think the kids would enjoy it. Spend the night in Adare if that is convenient.

Day 3-5 drive to Kenmare where we will spend 3 nights as I want to explore ROK and/or Dingle, Killarney National Park/Gap of Dunloe.

Day 6 drive to Killkenny and spend the night

Day 7 drive to Dublin

Day 8 Dublin

Day 9 fly home to NYC

All ideas appreciated!!

Sounds like a fun trip. Driving distances should be okay as you are not travelling too far each day. Time in Dublin might be limited, there is a lot to see there so might be worth planning exactly what you would like to see there. 3 days exploring the Ring of Kerry will be well spent, the scenery is amazing.

there are good bus links into central Dublin from the airport, check costs but it might be cheaper and easier to dump the car for Dublin.

Plot that on the map and you get a bit of a mix up https://goo.gl/maps/TBVwGLDuaVn

Consider
Dublin airport to Galway.
Galway to Adare via the Cliffs/Burren/Bunratty
Adare to Kenmare via the Dingle peninsula
Kenmare to Kilkenny via Cashel
Kilkenny to Dublin.
https://goo.gl/maps/FE6pN6qebRP2

You could always reverse that and start in Kilkenny
Distance wise my option is no different to yours but logistically it covers more scenery and possibly has more options.

I think OP's original idea is fine. My one concern is that it might not have a lot for the kids. They might like the folk park at Bunratty (and could see a schoolroom such as their grandparents might have known). They might also like to take a boat trip in Dingle for an encounter with the resident dolphin.

Kids often like castles. They might like Cahir Castle more than the Rock of Cashel, so the smallish detour might be worth it. If that puts a bit of pressure on the schedule for Day 2, find accommodation at Bunratty instead of Adare (Adare is pretty, and has some historic/archaeological interest, but I don't think it has great appeal for children).


Tony2phones wrote: "... Adare to Kenmare via the Dingle peninsula ..."

... reducing one of the better tourist experiences to a drive-by. Tony has his own agenda in relation to Dingle.

Padraig. Please explain why Kenmare up to and round round the Dingle peninsula then back over the same roads back to Kenmare is better than Adare to Kenmare via Dingle, or Kenmare round the Dingle peninsula to Adare.

My Agenda is to help folk make the best of a tight schedule.

Some photos from Bunratty last month https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...1&l=b78b6e0ce5

Thank you all, this is incredibly helpful. I am going to take it all in and continue to read up as much as I can. We are dropping the car off before Dublin, so we are car free while we are there. I know there is a lot to see in Dublin but we will also be spending time in London and we live in NYC, so I really want to experience as much of the areas outside of Dublin as possible.

If you are flying over from a London visit Jet lag will not be an issue so you could explore a little on the way from Dublin Airport to your first overnight. Also consider the options for point of entry. London to Shannon or Cork could work just as well or possibly better than coming in via Dublin.

We are actually coming from Newcastle and it seems the only flights are to Dublin. I was hoping to fly to Shannon or Cork but at least as of now, that doesn't seem to be an option.

How long is the drive from Dublin airport to Ballyvaughn? Maybe that can be our first night and then we will continue to Adare/Bunratty, Kenmare, Killkenny Dublin.

Prefer Kinvara to Ballyvaughan and Ballyvaughan to Doolin. That said, Dublin Airport to Galway is about 3 hours taking it steady. From Galway end of the M6 onto the N18 turn right for Kinavra then on to Ballyvaughan adds another hour.

Stops along the route could be Belvadere House, couple of Distilleries, popular choice would be Clonmacnoise, Athlone, Athenry.

Alternative route would be to go via the M7 towards Limerick, doing that I would suggest Ennis as an overnight base (being the best base for Clare as a whole)

There are other alternatives but as a direct line would go through Lough Derg you either have to go over or under the Portumna or Kinvara crossings.

Should read ~~ the Portumna or Killaloe crossings~~

Tony, thanks for your feedback. Why do you prefer Kinvara? If we choose Ennis, would it make sense to spend our first 2 nights there and then head own to Kenmare on the 3rd day?

I have been suggesting Kinvara for a lot more years than its recent increase in popularity. Basically the key tourist base for Clare and the Burren/Cliffs is Doolin which despite only having 3 bars has been marketed as the only place for music. Ballyvaughan was always 2nd choice. Nothing wrong with that if you want to sit and chat with the folk who sat next to you on the flight over. Kinvara has always been a local's area and has a good number of bars/eateries to chose from along with a long history of good music.

Ennis is a local town with a few tourists mainly with Shannon as a factor. It is a good base within an hours drive of most points around the Clare border. The Cliffs are an hour north west, Loop Head peninsula an hour south west. Bunratty, Quin and SNN within half an hour, here in East Clare and Lough Derg an unusual option but many good points well under an hour. Feakle Trad fest runs from the 3~8th August next year.

The other option, again west Clare might be Lahinch which has a good beach, surf/adventure school for the youngsters along with an aquarium and swimming pool.

I could easily say yes spend the first 2 nights in Ennis and you wouldn't be disappointed but its not my trip. If you don't mind moving every night then 2 bases with The Cliffs/Burren in between if you want a 2 night base then Ennis works.

The youngsters might like the option of seeing the Cliffs from the sea, we do the Inis Oirr and Cliffs mini cruise but have a little more time than you do, Ailwee caves and the Birds of Prey centre or Caherconnell ring fort across from the Dolmen above Ballyvaughan has sheep dog demonstrations. lots of options.