BeachMiles,

Welcome to my forum. It is about 4 hours to Galway or Adare. Different routes of course to each place. Your friend's advice about going to Galway first makes sense because then you have no backtracking. There are actually some interesting sightseeing venues along the way that would break up the journey. Clonmacnoise and Belvedere House & Gardens, being two.

Before deciding to take the train check on whether that might entail a large drop-off fee for your car. There will be more automatics available at a large place like Dublin than Galway.

Another option is to skip Galway and add those days to the SW in Killarney or Kenmare. Lots to see and do there.

Michele

Beachmiles,

Given the fact that Galway will be inundated before and after whatever Festival or Sports event, I would choose Killarney. Galway, always congested and sometimes dificult to navigate through, will be even more so when adding in spectators and competitors.

As to taking the train to Killarney, I wouldn't recommend it, simply because you are looking at renting a car at somepoint. It is less expensive to rent/return a vehicle to a major airport location. Also, you would miss some of the scenic pleasure by taking a train.

Slan Beo, Bit

Thank you for all the suggestions.
We've decided to skip Galway.  After our first three nights in Dublin, we have a reservation on friday night in Adare, at Dunraven Arms Hotel.
Then we'll heat west for 1 night in  Doolin followed by 2 nights in Dingle.  No reservations made yet for these two stops, so they can be changed , or switch to Dingle first.
Then on to Kenmare,  Kilarney or somewhere in the area for 2 nights. Kinsake looks nice but might be too far.  We don't want to spend every day driving. Or how about Ballyseede Castle near Tralee?