I want to take the boat from Portmagee to the Skelligs at 10:30 am. I am spending two nights in Dingle, then 3 in Kenamre.
I can drive from Dingle to Portmagee (ViaMichelin and AA agree on 2 hours via north side of ROK) on my Dingle-to-Kenmare day and spend the next day in Killarney National Park.
Or I can visit the Park on my Dingle-to-Kenmare day and then do the boat trip the next day (but Via Michelin says Kenmare to Portmagee is 2 hrs 20 min; AA says its only 1.5 hrs).
Any advice on which driving time is correct and what choice makes the most sense?

I would do the Dingle-Killarney National Park-Kenmare leg one day, then Kenmare-Portmagee the next. You will be leaving Kenmare early enough, going clockwise around the ring to Portmagee, to miss all the tour busses. AA gives it 1 hour 23 minutes, but I would tack on 15-20 minutes more to be safe.

Thanks, Budman. The Skellig boat returns to Portmagee at 4 pm. Since we'll probably return to Kenmare by the same south ROK route (but at a more leisurely pace) and sunrise will not be until about 9:45 pm in mid July, do you have any pretty dinner spots to look out for on the way back?

Not really -- you can probably make it back to Kenmare, clean up/change clothes, and have plenty of time for dinner. I've not stayed in Kenmare, but I've read loads of restaurant recommendations from others on the board.

I wanted to do the Skelligs my last trip but ran out of time. I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts. Everyone says to bring your own food & water.

I liked the food at the Smugglers Inn at Cliff Road,Waterville which is between Portmagee and Kenmare.It is near the entrance to the Waterville Golf Club and right beside the sea.
Skellig Rock is a very special place,quite magical in my opinion if you are interested in history.

Hi guys!

We visited the Skelligs this May.

Not sure which boat trip you are going on, bb3520, but with ours (out of Portmagee) we left at 10 and were given 2 hours 15 minutes on Skellig Michael before returning back to port. IIRC, it took about 40 minutes to get out there and more like an hour to get back because they motored around the Little Skellig so we could see all the birds and seals there. We should have brought sandwiches (most people did) but only had some snacks and water with us. Still, I seriously doubt you will be out on the island for that long of a time. Nor would you really want to be. We had the 2 hours and that was plenty of time to climb to the top, rest, check out all the structures there, snap dozens of photos and take it easy on the way back down. I think we were back in Portmagee before 3pm.

Had a great time and would do it again in a heartbeat!

Cheers,

Wendy

Hi Wendy, thanks for the tips. I was planning to go with Lavelles (Des Lavelle), whose boats leave near Portmagee (his recent reply email said that he left from the Skellig Experience Center on Valencia Island near the bridge). I think that his boat is slower (1 hr 15 min each way). He leaves at 11 am and gives 2 hrs 30 min on the island (as birders, we might appreciate a little extra time).
Who did you use? Perhaps they are a little more efficient with their timing -- short boat rides are better than long ones.

I went out there with Des Lavelle a few years ago (2000). His boat (at least back then) was older, and perhaps somewhat slower. Still, we had a fully adequate amount of time on the island, and there's nobody who's more knowledgeable about the Skelligs or who's played a more important role in the modern exploration of the islands than he has.

Thanks Jeffergray. His reputation was behind my choice of Lavelle; glad to be re-assured that I picked well.