Hello - our family is headed to Ireland in July for eight days. My husband and his siblings are taking his mother for her 75th birthday. Half of us have been there, but she has not, and some of the items on our itinerary are specifically for her. I was hoping some of you could take a look at the timelines before we get down to booking accommodations. While we've been there, we haven't been to all of these places, and I know that driving in Ireland can be slow going. Thanks in advance!

Day 1. Arrive in Dublin noon - Guinness Storehouse, Temple Bar area
Day 2. Dublin - Trinity College (Book of Kells); Kilmainham Gaol
Day 3: drive to Glendalough; explore Kilkenny and stay in Kilkenny
Day 4. Rock of Cashel; drive to Waterford for tour (a must for Mom); stay in or near Cobh
Day 5. Blarney Stone; Killarney Nat'l Park; Muckross House; stay in Killarney
Day 6: Ring of Kerry; stay in Killarney
Day 7: drive to Cliffs of Moher; explore the Burren; stay in or near Ennis
Day 8: Bunratty Castle; drive to Dublin and stay
Day 9: Fly out of Dublin

*itinerary (couldn't let that go)

Arriving Dublin Noon. European inbound flight? booked yet or changeable? Shannon perhaps? Waterford a remote possibility?

I generally recommend Dublin at one end rather than both ends and whilst some of the trip could be differently laid out most of it makes sense. Personally I would drop Glendalough and do that on a day trip from Dublin? Or maybe stay Waterford rather than Cobh?

I just have an image of a 75 year old lady getting to Dublin with jetlag and being marched off for a Guiness.

Tony gives great advice

Oh, just a point, a car (a big car?) in Dublin is a right pain, how when to book etc have you discussed that? I'd get it/them only when you want to leave town.

Tony2phones - flights are booked, we're all coming from different parts of the U.S. so we needed to meet somewhere and the prices were just too good. There are 9 of us and we'll be renting 2 cars once we leave Dublin. My MIL is a very in-shape 75 yr. old who could probably outlast us all, and this is her first time out of the country. The sights I listed are just ideas...with so many of us, we expect to have our own agendas at times when we're in the cities. However, she's a huge Waterford fan, so she really wants to do the tour. My sister-in-law would like to visit Glendalough so we figured that could be a stop on the way to Kilkenny. It's days 3-5 that concern me the most. I've never been to these areas and feel like we're probably trying to fit too much in. If we can't drop Waterford, should we skip the Cobh/Kinsale area or skip Killarney Nat'l/Muckross?

Obviously, you don't all need to do the same thing when you are in Dublin. Those more affected by jetlag can take some downtime.

I'd keep Glendalough in. It would be good if you are early risers, because I think you should aim to arrive as much before 10.00 a.m. as possible, and certainly no later. The arrival of tour buses takes something from the enjoyment of the visit.

How important to you is the Rock of Cashel? It makes an easy drive from Kilkenny to Waterford into a more difficult one. If you omit Cashel, you could visit Waterford fairly early in the day, and work along the coast to Cobh, taking in pleasant places like Ardmore, Lismore, and Dungarvan on the way. You can conserve some stamina for your big days immediately after (I don't think that they are excessive, depending on how much of the National Park at Killarney you hope to do; you can adjust that when you are there).

You don't need a car for Dublin, 2 cars would definitely be a hindrance in the city itself. Kilmainham is first come first served so get there early. Possibly combine with the Storehouse as they are both west of the city.

Consider Glendalough~Kilkenny~Waterford (overnight) Leave Cashel for the return run from Ennis to Dublin or skip visiting there as no matter which way you opt, including Waterford makes Cashel a longish detour. But if its your mums only must see.. keep it, you have more time to come back than she does.

Another option could be Glendalough to Kilkenny and overnight Cashel or Cahir? Then do Waterford to Cork area?

Thank you for the very helpful advice. This is what we have so far, but I'm struggling with where we should stay on Day 7 and what we should do on Day 8. We have early flights out on Day 9, so we have to stay near Dublin airport and take that drive into account. Any suggestions?

Day 1 Arrivals Dublin – St. Patrick’s; Christ Church; Temple Bar
Day 2 Kilmainham Gaol; Trinity College/Book of Kells; stay in Dublin
Day 3 Glendalough; stay in Kilkenny
Day 4 Waterford factory tour; Cobh heritage center; stay in Kinsale
Day 5 Blarney Stone; Killarney Nat'l Park; Muckross; stay in Kenmare
Day 6 Ring of Kerry; stay in Kenmare
Day 7 Cliffs of Moher; The Burren; Where to stay?
Day 8 ?
Day 9 Fly out of Dublin