Revampled Ireland itinerary: your input is needed!
 

Hi All,

Based on your input and a bit more focus on what we think we would most want to see, I've revamped our itinerary. We're arriving in Dublin in the AM (won't be jet lagged because we're coming from Scotland). I greatly appreciate your comments:

Day 1. Rent car @ Dublin, drive to Kilkenny

Day 2: Drive to Kenmare. See Rock of Chashel, Cahir Castle and Swiss cottage on the way.

Day 3. Ring of Beara. Return to Kenmare

Day 4. Drive to Dingle.Overnight?

Day 5. Drive to Ballyvaughan. See Cliffs of Moher and The Burren

Day 6. Drive to Clifden

Day 7. Explore Cong and area. Return to Clifden

Day 8. Explore...Stay overnight @ Shannon

Day 9. Home again, home again

We prefer to stay at least a couple of night in one spot, rather than moving every day, but we realize that's not possible to see all we'd like to see. Having read all the love/don't love comments about staying overnight in Dingle, we're torn as to whether we should stay one night or not. If we didn't, is the drive to Ballyvaughn too long?

Thank you to all again for your insight!

The drive from Dingle to Ballyvaughn is not exactly long in kilometers (around 180km), but will take a while as the roads are not exactly fit for higher speeds if you take the route via Kilrush/Talbert (ferry).

As you can see when you check Google Maps, the route via Newcastlewest, Limerick, and Ennis is appr. 50kms longer but takes the same time to drive because the roads are much better/wider.
The N21 between Castleisland and Adare is more like an US-style wide 2-lane highway with extra breakdown lanes and few curves. No sheep ;-)
From Adare to Ennis, it's 4-lane motorways only.

I'd suggest that you decide on the spot on day 5 if you feel like driving some 4hrs on somewhat narrow and bumpy 2-lane highways and take the ferry. Or use the more relaxed drive via N21/N18.

I fall into the not keen on Dingle brigade but have a suggestion.

Drive to Dingle on the 4th day for an overnight. Use day 5 have a look around,Drive Slea Head and Connor Pass with an overnight in Adare. Day 6 take the Shannon Tunnel and drive to Clifden via Galway on the M/N18. You can use day 8 to drive back down to Shannon/Bunratty/Ennis via the Burren and Cliffs. If you are going to go out of your way to see somewhere you have read wonderful things about or seen on the big screen then spend enough time there to decide yourself whether or not it lives up to all its made out to be.

I like Tony's suggestion - and I'm a huge fan of Dingle, finding it the most beautiful place I've yet seen in Ireland :)

Thank you Cowboy, Tony and GreenDragon. I think (finally) we're set on our itinerary with your help. Much obliged!

GD try driving down the coast from Donegal to Galway taking every opportunity to branch down narrow lanes onto cliff tops and tiny beached coves. Have total strangers ask if you're lost before inviting you in for tea and bread. Then having seen wonderful and unexplored parts consider Dingle through enlightened eyes.

That is a lovely and wonderful thought, Tony!

Tony,

I love your reply; 'twill be too late for us to double back to Dingle at that point, though. While everyone's opinions and advice here are incredibly helpful, t's tough trying to decide what to see and what to miss, because we all have different priorities. At the end of the day, we just have to make a decision and head out!

I was just suggesting if you went to Dingle for the Day 4 overnight, Use Adare instead of Ballyvaghan for night 5 express up to Clifden on Day 6, day 7 as yours, day 8 take the coastal route past Ballyvaghan,Doolin,Cliffs to your final stay near the airport. no doubling back involved or have I misinterpreted somewhere?