Michelle,  After much reading, including your new book, this site and lots of other books and sites, this is what I have planned for our group of four arriving mid-May at 6:00 am at Shannon and self-catering at Adare Manor Villas:

Day 1    Arrive, pick up car and drive to Oakwood Arms Hotel for good breakfast.  If we're feeling awake enough, go to Bunratty Castle, then to Skycourt shopping center to pick up provisions before driving to Adare.  I have already asked for early check-in, so we'll just check to see if that is possible. If so, we'll get settled, rest a bit, then walk around the estate and check out the village.  Stay in Adare for dinner that night.  If we cannot check in, we'll visit the village, etc., then get settled in after we check in and go into Adare for a pub dinner.

Day 2    Drive to the Burren Center in Kilfenora for the beginning of our visit to that area and the Cliffs of Mohr.  Thinking of a start of around 9:00 am and go the Limerick way, and just take the day to drive around the area stopping at Ballyvaughan - go to caves if our visitors want to - and decide sometime during the day whether we want to drive back through Limerick or take the ferry.  If we take the ferry we could work in a visit to Foynes Flying Boat museum.

Day 3    Get an 8:00 am start and drive south to ROK, stopping at Muckross and driving clockwise around the ring and going back to Adare for the night.  We at first thought of spending the night and doing Dingle the next day, but it seems to be a waste to spend $200 for two rooms instead of using our already paid-for Adare villa. 

Day 4    Go north again, driving to Doolin  and take the ferry to Aran Islands.  This is a day that we could also hit the Foynes Boat Museum if we didn't do it the prior trip north. 

Day 5    Go south again to Dingle peninsula, beginning 8:00 am, and enjoying the drive, including Connor Pass if the weather permits.  Back to Adare

Day 6    This is the day before we leave, and I'm thinking we'll do "whatever" but on my personal list is to go into Limerick and see the Hunt Museum, St. John's Castle and other sites, just walking around town.  I'm thinking we'll need to slow down this day and get ready to leave.

A few questions for you and others who may want to weigh in:

Does this sound like a good plan?

Am I missing something fabulous that we should try to work in?

Are there small towns near Adare where we could hear some traditional music without being too far away (driving at night is a concern)?  If we decide to go into Limerick at night, is there a favorite music venue?  I know there are lots of pubs, but I understand music usually begins around 9 pm.

We've been to this area before, but were the guests, so we didn't make out the itinerary.  This time, we're bringing friends who have never been to Ireland.  Any and all suggestions are welcomed!  Cherry