Please tell me if we're pushing ourselves too much, but this is what we are considering as a tentative route. We are getting into London 2 days prior to arriving to Dublin, so our jet lag should be over with by time we arrive.
May 8-- Arrive in Dublin at 8:30am. Pick up rental car and get on the road approx. 10 or 10:30am. Drive straight to Bunratty *IF* we can get reservations for the Traditional Night. Stay the night there.
May 9-- Leave Bunratty early, head to the Cliffs of Moher, spend a couple of hours there, then head to Tralee and find a place for the night.
May 10- Go to Dingle, then to Killarney--find a place for the night and relax.
May 11- From Killarney, go to Cork--find a place to stay and find a pub with live music?.
May 12- Head north to Kilkenny---find a place to stay.
May 13- From Kilkenny???, go back to Dublin and explore.
That will give you a very quick glimpse of Ireland. May I suggest that you may want to skip the overnight in Bunratty and Traditional Irish Night? That way you could drive to the Cliffs of Moher and spend the night in Doolin. It is well-known for its music pubs.
Don't stay in Tralee. Not the most attractive town. Instead stay in Dingle.
Try for two days in Killarney. If you skip Bunratty or Cork you can do that. It really is a lovely area. And if you are set on Cork, consider Kinsale.
Melissa, we did the Doolin to Dingle run as per Michele's suggestion and it was a comfortable day's drive. By avoiding Limerick and catching the Killimer/Tarbert ferry you cut out a lot of miles and it gives the driver a break. I agree with Michele about Tralee, we couldn't get out of there quickly enough. Stopped on the outskirts just long enough to pick up a bite to eat and strech our legs. The trip through Connor Pass to Dingle is slow, but if you are lucky and the weather is good, the views are breathtaking. Dingle is wonderful. We wouldn't have missed it for anything.
Thank you so much for your imput Meredith and Michele. Do you know approximately how many hours it will take to get from Dublin to Doolin our first day? Do you know how many hours it may take from Kinsale to Dublin?