Everyone was so very helpful in my other post! thank you so much. we have definitely been convinced to rent a car. (my sister and i are planning a 2 week trip to ireland in july) I was hoping you might all be willing to offer suggestions about hotels at our stops. we would be hoping for something more cozy and less fancy (i guess we would like to feel like we are in ireland and not here in nyc). but still safe, clean and lovely!
our plan right now i think is this:

2 nights in ennis or bunratty
2 nights in galway
2 nights somewhere in between galway and derry
2 nights in derry
2 nights in dublin
2 nights in kilkenny
2 nights somewhere near dingle.

this can absolutely be changed if anyone thinks it should be. so far i have looked at either temple gate in ennis or bunratty villa for our first 2 nights.
all suggestions and any criticism would be greatly appreciated.
thanks so much,
Joanna

Consider the equally central Queens Hotel in Ennis -- cheaper by about $75 per night AND attatched to Cruise's Pub, which by all accounts (I have no personal experience, but NEDSIRELAND speaks of the place often, and reverently) has nightly Trad sessions.

The Jurys Inn in Galway gets mixed reviews, but I've stayed there a few times. The rooms are unremarkable, but the location, the price AND the views of the Corrib roaring by alongside beneath the Wolfe Tone Bridge, into Galway Bay can be awe inspiring on a rainy day.

In Dingle, the Lighthouse B&B, on the High Road, is a VERY short drive, or a modest walk into the Center, but the views at breakfast are to die for. The Shores B&B in Castlegregory gets RAVES, but it is over the Connor Pass from Dingle Town ( a late night drive you REALLY don't want to make!)and pretty removed from the nightlife and pubs in Dingle.

Bob

do you think we should throw in an extra night in kinsale? or do a night in kinsale and only one night in dingle? looking at the driving time, i feel like the drive from kilkenny to dingle might be a little too long. thanks!

This is from the route planner function at:

http://www.aaroadwatch.ie

From Dingle,Kerry
To Kilkenny,Kilkenny
Distance 164.0 miles
Time 5 hr 12 min

Travel
(miles) and
then to
take total
(miles)
0.00 Start out at Dingle,Kerry R559 0.00
0.17 At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the N86 N86 0.17
10.40 Turn right onto the R561 (signposted Inch) R561 10.57
0.21 Bear right R561 10.78
16.22 Continue forward onto the R561. Entering Castlemaine R561 27.00
0.23 Turn right onto the N70 (signposted Killarney) N70 27.23
0.36 Turn left onto the R561 (signposted Limerick) R561 27.60
6.89 At crossroads turn right onto the N22 (signposted Killarney) N22 34.48
8.24 Continue forward onto the N22. Entering Killarney N22 42.73
0.10 At Cleeny Roundabout take the 1st exit onto the N22 (signposted Cork, Mallow) N22 42.83
1.65 At Park Road Roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the N22 (signposted Cork, Mallow) N22 44.48
1.36 Branch left onto the N72 (signposted Mallow) N72 45.83
5.06 Continue forward onto the N72. Entering Barraduff N72 50.89
5.80 Continue forward onto the N72. Entering Rathmore N72 56.70
15.37 At Banteer Crossroads continue forward onto the N72 (signposted Mallow) N72 72.06
11.44 Continue forward onto Navigation Road - N72. Entering Mallow N72 83.50
0.23 At roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the N72 (signposted Waterford, Mallow) N72 83.73
2.54 Turn left onto the N73 (signposted Dublin) N73 86.27
10.99 Continue forward onto the N73. Entering Kildorrery N73 97.26
0.58 At crossroads continue forward onto Main Street - N73 (signposted Dublin) N73 97.83
6.35 Continue forward onto the N73. Entering Mitchelstown N73 104.19
0.57 Turn left onto Upper Cork Street - N8 (signposted Dublin) N8 104.76
16.35 Turn right onto Mitchelstown Road (signposted Dublin) Mitchelstown Road 121.11
0.40 Continue forward onto Mitchelstown Road. Entering Cahir Mitchelstown Road 121.50
0.40 Bear right onto Bridge Street Bridge Street 121.90
0.14 Continue forward onto Castle Street - N24 N24 122.05
0.11 Bear left onto the N24 (signposted Waterford, Clonmel) N24 122.15
0.04 Bear right onto Old Church Street - N24 N24 122.20
8.34 At Cahir Road Roundabout take the 1st exit onto the N24 (signposted Waterford) N24 130.54
1.40 Continue forward onto the N24. Entering Clonmel N24 131.94
0.16 At Cashill Road Roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the N24 (signposted Waterford) N24 132.10
0.42 At Fethard Road Roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the N24 (signposted Waterford) N24 132.51
0.51 At Carrigeen Roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the N24 N24 133.03
1.13 At Moangarrif Roundabout take the 2nd exit onto Waterford Road - N24 (signposted Waterford) N24 134.15
2.34 At Killheffernan Roundabout take the 1st exit onto the N76 (signposted Kilkenny, Dublin N9) N76 136.50
1.14 At crossroads continue forward onto the N76 (signposted Kilkenny) N76 137.64
8.40 Continue forward onto the N76. Entering Grangemockler N76 146.03
0.97 Bear left onto the N76. Entering Ninemilehouse N76 147.00
3.04 Continue forward onto the N76. Entering Poulacapple N76 150.05
9.54 Continue forward onto the N76. Entering Grangecuffe N76 159.58
3.34 Continue forward onto the N76. Entering Kilkenny N76 162.92
0.07 At roundabout take the 1st exit onto Callan Road (signposted City Centre) Callan Road 163.00
0.15 At College Road Roundabout take the 2nd exit onto Callan Road Callan Road 163.15
0.05 Continue forward onto College Road College Road 163.19
0.39 Bear left onto Ormonde Road Ormonde Road 163.58
0.12 Turn left onto Patrick Street Patrick Street 163.71
0.11 Turn left onto High Street High Street 163.82
0.18 Arrive at Kilkenny,Kilkenny Unclassified 164.00
- Section time 5:12, Total time 5:12 - -
It is a long-ish day, but good roads, Cahir is picturesque and holds Cahir Castle (used in filming of John Boorman's EXCALIBER ). Not including time to tour the Rock of Cashel, a detour to Cashel would only add about 40 minutes to your drive time.

When did Kinsale enter into the mix? It would be a BIG detour, going from Dingle to Kilkenny.

Bob

looking through some books, and paying closer attention to the mileage and time i think we have decided to stay away from northern ireland.
our new possible itinerary is:
2 nights in ennis or bunratty
3 nights in galway
2 nights in dublin
2 nights in kilkenny
2 nights in kinsale
2 nights in dingle

i feel like this might allow us to take more time in each place. what do you all think? we even have one night left over, any suggestions about where to spend it?
:0) joanna

i realize i should have probably just stuck with my old post, as i forgot to put ireland in the title of this one. so if you wouldnt mind looking on there for our new itinerary, that would be great.
thanks so so much.
joanna