my husband and I have decided on hiring a driver to transport my elderly in-laws around Ireland for a ten-day vacation. The cost would be prohibitive, however, for us to pay for a driver every day. Also, my in-laws have conditions that would make moving around each day exhausting. I think they would be most comfortable staying perhaps three places,and doing day-trips from there.

My question: What would you recommend as base-areas that would offer relaxation coupled with the opportunity to walk or tour short distances to interesting spots. Their interests include beautiful scenery, nature, history, pubs, music, meeting people.

I suppose Dublin would be the obvious first and last stop, but for how long, and where else. Any input? Thanks!

Kinsale, Killarney, Galway, Kenamre, Baltimore

Killarney or Kenmare for Kerry and the south west. Ennis for Clare Bunratty,the Burren and Lough Derg. Galway for the Burren and Connamara.

Galway city would be a good base for the west of Ireland; it has regular rail connection from Dublin, which presumably will be your first port of call. There are a number of hotels within walking distance from the station.
The Aran Islands would probably be too strenuous for your seniors but from Galway you have access to both County Clare (the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher) and Connemara.

If you are using the train, returning back (direction Dublin) allows you to link with the Dublin-Cork train at Portarlington.

As a base, Cork city itself offers plenty of attractions itself (city jail, Crawford Art gallery, English Market). The Titanic exhibition in Cobh and Fota House and Wildlife park are easily accessible from the city; I would forget about Blarney Castle given the age of your fellow travellers. A day trip could be worked around Kinsale, Clonakilty and Gougane Barra.

Again you have a regular train service to get you back to Dublin. Leaving County Kerry out of your itinerary is a pity as it probably offers best scenery. Killarney is reachable by train but touring places like the Ring of Kerry might be very tiring for your parents-in-law; getting to Killarney will also add more to your travelling time.

Thank you all for giving me areas to start my research. SeeDee (I like that name!), we won't be going with my in-laws. The trip is a gift for my father-in-law's eightieth birthday. Train or bus travel might be problematic for them, as they tire pretty easily. My thinking is that a driver to and from two or three bases would meet their needs the best.

County Kerry sounds like a must.

What a lovely gift! We loved Dublin (I hadn't expected to, for some reason!) and several days can be happily and easily filled. Got a great rate (Sept, 2007) at the Shelbourne, which is grand and lovely! Don't know if they've got good offers at this point, but given their economy...
For some reason, Kinsale did not do it for us, but DH and I loved Kilkenny. He actually said to me during our one day/night there that this was a town that needed more than one day. So many traces of medieval times, very fun. Still haven't gotten to Galway after my two trips there - circled around it both times. I've read that it's very university, young rowdy adults - verify that the mood there is what they'd enjoy?? And we just love Dingle - spent 3 days there, and my husband wants another week there.
Hope that helps - I know they'll have a wonderful trip wherever you choose.

Thank you! That does help, jo ann. My in-laws really enjoy small, intimate bed and breakfasts or inns where they can meet people, but who wouldn't like grand and lovely!