I would like to throw in my 2 cents and agree with Bit about cutting out Galway. It is quite far out of your way if you're at the Cliffs and/or Bunratty. What's more, my father and I weren't particularly impressed with Galway City when we spent an afternoon there this past September. It's become very commercial.

Thanks all for your replies.  Yes, Michele - I misspoke.  Or mistyped, as it were.  We're flying out on Tuesday morning. So we do have all day Monday to get to/see Dublin.  We aren't interested in sightseeing around Dublin so much on this trip, we'd rather concentrate on the countryside.  We figured flying out of Dublin would be the easiest way to see the Guinness Storehouse without wasting a lot of time driving.

We're kind of torn at this point about Galway.  The reason we were planning to go there in the first place was that my nephew recently spent a semester studying there at the University and loved it, and while he was there, my sisters visited and loved it as well.  We've purchased a laminated map of Ireland and have drawn & erased our route about a hundred times in the last two days! 

I told my sisters we were planning to drive the Cliffs & Ring of Kerry (rather than do the bus tour) and they both looked at me like I was nuts.  Do you really get that much more out of the tour?  I just figured doing it on our own schedule would give us a little more time.  Otherwise, that's two days completely taken up - plus it kind of dictates where we stay at night since the tours start early.

I guess the real decision we need to make is whether we should cut out Galway.  I see the logic in that, so we'll have to think it all through.

Thank you for your thoughts on the castle as well - you're right, there's no sense in spending the money this time around when we'll literally be at each place long enough to sleep and not much longer than that.

Karen,

If you are arriving in Shannon at 10 am, you should be able to be clear of there by noon.  You could possibly fit in the Cliffs but that will depend on your jet lag. At any rate, with prior arrangement,  you can stop into your lodgings and drop off your luggage. That will help you get your bearings. The Park is open until half past five, with the last entry being allowed at 4 o'clock. Use that as your reference.

If you've not made your lodging reservations in Bunratty yet, I would highly recommend Bunratty Lodge. A lot of us here will vouch for MAry, her hospitality and her Brown bread.

In Killarney, I would like to suggest that you consider the Gap of Dunloe tour in place of the Ring of Kerry. The Gap of Dunloe tour is a magically memorable experience.

I would rather drive myself than be on a tour. The main reason for that is that my time is my own. If I want to linger, I can linger. If I want to stop for a photo, I can stop. There are advantages to taking a tour, to be sure. The main advantage being that the driver has the benefit of being able to see everything.

Whilst in Killarney, celebrate your anniversary with the treat of staying at Loch Lein Country House. You will feel well pampered, to be sure.

As for Blarney Castle, I am a huge advocate for their Gardens, especially at the time when you are going. However, you couldn't pay me enough to stand in line to kiss the stone. I am Irish after all there is no need for more blarney than that with which I was blessed at birth. That being said, my main complaints is the steep & narrow stairwell to get to the stone itself, along with the long lines. Instead, I enjoy meandering through the gardens which is usually fairly uncrowded.

I would rather see you spend your morning at the Rock of Cashel and then wind your way to Kilkenny. Kilkenny deserves the afternoon to herself. She is a charming town and one of my favorites. Lawcus Farms Guesthouse is my choice when I am in the Kilkenny area.

Look into turning in the rental at the airport on Monday before going into Dublin. As I said in my earlier post, it is best to avoid the madness of Dublin traffic & the high cost & sparse availability of parking. 

Slan Beo,

Bit

-- Edited by CowboyCraic at 14:37, 2009-01-07