My friend and I are planning on flying from London to the West Coast of Ireland. We have 7 days to travel down the coast and fly out of Cork. Where shall we start? Where shall we fly into? We don't want to drive to far from the airport to our first start the first day as we are nervous about driving. Where would be a great starting point. We also would like to stay in a city along the way where we could walk to shops and pubs and see the city life. We do not plan on seeing Dublin on this trip. Is Galway the best city to stay in on the West Coast which will offer us night life and things to see? We would like the names of 3-4 places that we could stay in on our way down the coast. I know there are a lot of questions, so any input is appreciated. Thanks! We love authentic music, Irish people and culture, and beautiful scenery, but don't want to spend all our time driving from sight to sight, we'd like to walk around a city, too.

Ryanair service Knock Airport which delivers you to the heart of the west of Ireland. I would limit your choice of first stopover to either Westport or Galway city; Westport can be reached from the airport in less than an hour, Galway is a little further away.
Westport is quite a bit smaller than Galway but still has a buzz about it. Galway offers you the choice of a few nights stopover, using it as a base to explore both the Aran Islands and the attractions of north County Clare (Cliffs of Moher,the Burren)
County Kerry is the usual next destination on the west coast road trip. Choice usually falls between the towns of Dingle, Killarney or Kenmare (the furthest from Galway and a demanding drive).
West Cork has any number of small attractive towns and villages; roads are perhaps a little challenging in the more remote and scenic areas. If you run out of time and decide to bypass this area, don't miss Gougane Barra on your journey back to Cork.
And if you have a day to spare, Cork city itself won't disappoint.......

Galway certainly has major nightlife and fun but if you fly into Shannon you are minutes from Limerick. Limerick gets a fairly bad rep but I spent a semester there and loved it! It is right on the river and while yes there are some seedier spots there are loads of clubs and fun and tons of shopping streets. If you want to avoid driving far this could certainly be a good first stop, even if just for a night.

However, if you did go up to Galway you could then work your way around the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher on your way South. Stop in Lisdoonvarna or Doolin for a night. Both fantastic little villages, Doolin being more tourist trafficked with more live music pubs and little shops but Lisdoon just as wonderful with The Roadside Tavern!

Travelling stil South Dingle is NOT to be missed! What time of year are you gong? Spring and summer Dingle has a surprisingly lively nigh scene! Rainbow Hostel is a great spot here if you are budgeting travelling.

Personally I would skip the Ring of Kerry if you don't have the time for it as I think the Dingle Peninsula is more spectacular and less full of coach buses!

Killarney, Kenmare and Kinsale are all nice spots and the Beara Peninsula is a great drive! Cork is also full of nightlife and a fun city all together!

Enjoy, Ireland is amazing!!

Bookmarking

Any suggestions where to stay when in the Kerry area, visiting the Ring of Kerry and Dingle and that general area...will be there from Wednesday until Sunday so have a lot of time to spend in that area...is that too much time for that area, we're flying out of Cork, flying into Knock and working our way down where we will meet up with friends for five days in that area. Any input greatly appreciated. Also, does anyone know a fun real castle hotel to stay in, or that just a tourist hype! I am obsessed with castles!