Bit, Bob, Marsha et al, you put me to shame posting your trip reports so quickly!  I haven't finished my report from September last year, even though I have been dropping into the forum occasionally to keep up with what's happening.  Last year was our Year of the Big Holiday, '09 is the Year of the House...renovations, which have got in the way of doing so many things that I have unfinished. Now that the new kitchen is in, thought I'd finish off my own report, hate leaving things incomplete.
Will just write a condensed version of our final week in Ireland rather than a full-blown report like my last ones.

Week 4:
Monday- Beautiful weather, Ring of Beara, visited Gleninchaquin Park (but couldn't find the standing stones we were looking for) loved the scenery around the Clunee Lakes.
Further on spotted a sign to stone circles, parked the car and walked for at least half an hour up hill through dark, lush woodland, open grassland, over stiles and along a poorly defined track to find the Cashelkeelty stones.  Lunch in Allihies.

Tuesday-another fine day, had some down time, lots of walking around Kenmare just taking in the sights, saw the stone circle, the lace exhibition. Took the bay cruise in the afternoon, supposed to leave at 2-45, but departure wasn't until 3-15. Apparently happened a lot, the boat leaves when the captain is ready to turn up. The cruise took about 2 1/2 hours out in Kenmare Bay. Nice and relaxing , but we had a double commentary (recorded plus live) which was irritating, made even worse when the captain started singing. Had tea at McCarthy's, great traditional music started at 6-30, a respectable hour! Three musicians became five, no amplifiers, so was very easy to listen to.

Wednesday-Killarney via Moll's Gap, Ladies View. A fine calm day, the water in the lakes was like glass, reflecting the surrounding mountains like a mirror. Wandered around Killarney's shops, bought a few gifts.

Thursday-Left Kenmare, heading for Kilkenny via Cashel. Spent considerable time looking over the Rock of Cashel. Well worth the visit. Onto Kilkenny, nightmare getting through Mallow. The main road we were on was closed, but no detours were posted, went around in circles a few times before we unwittingly made our way out, no thanks to the road crew. Traffic in Kilkenny was horrendous, people everywhere. Found out later it was the last day of the National Ploughing Competition. Stayed at Alcantra B and B.

Friday- decided to have a car free day. Foggy to start off, but sky cleared as the morning wore on. Walked into the town centre and had a good look around: St Canice's Cathedral, Black Abbey, Kilkenny Castle, the Design Centre in the castle's former stables. Kilkenny's winding streets and laneways are very interesting.  Tea at Kyteler's Inn,waited for the music to start but when it finally did at 10pm, it was contemporary, not what we wanted to hear so we left.

Saturday-Kilkenny to Dublin, stuck to the main roads this time, two diversions one to Moone High Cross, which was fascinating, the other to Kilkea Castle which turned out to be a hotel. Got to the airport easily enough, found the car hire section not so easily. Dropped the car off, filled out all the paperwork, luggage onto a trolley and into the terminal to pay the motorway toll at a kiosk, Then caught a taxi into Dublin, took about 20 mins, friendly driver, cost of 26 euro. Stayed at the Brooks Hotel, great hotel, ideal position, walking distance to everything. Wandered through Trinity College/Book of Kells and the shops on Grafton Street.

Sunday- hop on/hop off bus, looked through the Dublinia exhibition and wandered around the area, lunch at a lovely little cafe called  Copper Alley Cafe. Walked back to the hotel down O'Connell Street, through Temple Bar.

Monday- last day in Dublin walked to Dublin Castle and had a look around the area, disappointing after some of the castles we had seen, although the Norman tower was worth a look. Spent time in Grafton St, Powerscourt and St Stephen's Green, in and out of shelter depending on the intensity of the rain.

Tuesday- taxi out to the airport, flight to Heathrow then to Singapore, where we spent a few days before heading home to Australia. Exhausted!

Summing up- an absolutely wonderful time spent in a beautiful country, worth the wait of the 20 or more years we had spent dreaming about getting there one day between the demands of  family, work, and mortgages!

Thankyou Michele for all your recommendations, most of the places we stayed at were listed in your book and we were very happy with all of them. Thankyou Bit for your suggestion of Hamill's in Ballinamore. It was great.

Favourite B and B : Heaton's in Dingle. Fantastic!! Marless House (Galway) and Iorras (Sligo) also excellent.
Favourite destination: Dingle, with Kenmare a close second.
Best pubs: The Poor Scholar (Ballinamore) Lohan's (Galway) Mackormacks (Trim) McCarthy's (Kenmare)
Highlights (difficult, but if I must name a few): our night in Ashford Castle (superb), Newgrange, Dunluce Castle, Ross Errily Friary, Dun Anghasa (Inishmor), Rock of Cashel, Ballycarberry Castle, breathtaking scenery of Conor Pass, Killarney National Park and Slea Head Drive, gorgeous little villages such as Cong and Roundstone, it was all wonderful. People have asked me what I would have cut out if we hadn't had the time. Hard to say....every part of the country we visited had its own distinctive charm, wove its own magic in our hearts.

So much for a condensed report! But it brings back such great memories, as does reading the reports of others, even if they are of places I haven't seen.

Warmest regards to all,
Meredith