Kim,

Welcome to my forum. Glad you found your way here. 

What time of year will you be in Ireland? I assume you are departing from Dublin? Will you have a couple of days there too? Or will it just be your departure point?

The Cliffs of Moher are considered a "must see" by most people visiting Ireland. It is indeed a majestic sight looking almost 700 feet straight down at the ocean. I think most would agree it is worth seeing. It can be cold and windy on the cliffs so dress appropriately.

See my day by day comments below:

Day 1:  Arrive at Shannon airport 9:30 am.  Rent a car and visit Cliff of Moher.  Spend a night at Berry Lodge.  Is Loop Head worth the extra drive?  If so, should we spend two nights at Berry Lodge instead of one?  * I consider Loop Head well worth seeing. It is very different from the crowded tourist attraction that the Cliffs of Moher have become. It has a lonely "end of the earth" vibe. You could see it on your way to Dingle on Day 2.

Days 2, 3, 4:  Drive to Dingle and spend three nights Coill an Rois.  Drive Slea Head, hike Mount Brandon.  Any other suggestions?  * You can take Shannon Ferries across the river and proceed south to Dingle. It will save backtracking through Limerick. Day 2 will be Loop Head and driving to Dingle. Then you have a day for Mount Brandon and a day for Slea Head Drive. Be sure to visit the Blasket Island Center, Gallarus Oratory (free if you don't go to the visitor center), and Kilmalkedar. Brandon is nearby Coill and Rois and Jimmy has done the climb so he will advise you about it. In fact he is a great source of local things to see and do. He is a fabulous host.

Days 5, 6, 7:  Drive to Killarney and Kenmare and spend three nights at Kenmare at Virginia's Guest house.  Gap of Dunloe 1 day, Ross Castle, Muckross House and Gardens, drive the Beara Peninsula instead of the Ring of Kerry.  Any other suggestions? * If you are doing the whole Gap of Dunloe tour it starts around 10 am and doesn't finish till around 4 pm. If you plan on doing it on Day 5 you will have an early start from Dingle. Might be better to do it on Day 6 instead. There is lots to see in Killarney: besides Muckross House & Gardens, there is Muckross Traditional Farms, Muckross Abbey, Killarney National Park, Cherry Tree Walk, Ross Castle. All that could be done on Day 5. That would leave Day 7 for Beara. On my Blog I have an article about Josie's Restaurant there. Be sure to do Healy Pass.

Day 8:  Drive to Kinsale for one night at Woodlands House.  Do you recommend Desmond Castle or Charles Fort?  Do we have time for both?  We would like to stop at Ballymaloe Cookery School if time allows for lunch or lunch. * Ballymaloe is actually past Cork and Kinsale. To me it does not make sense on this day. Whether you have time for both Desmond Castle and Charles Fort depends on when you arrive in Kinsale. If you take the longer route through West Cork and have time for only one, choose the fort.

Days 9, 10:  Two nights at Abbey Lodge at Kilkenny.  Visit Rock of Cashel, Cahir Castle.
Pat Tynan's Walking Tours of Medieval Kilkenny.  Any other suggestions? * You could lunch at Ballymaloe on Day 9 instead. To avoid Cork City you can take a ferry across the river (see my ferry page for info). You will probably want to see Kilkenny Castle. I am particularly fond of Kells Priory near Callan. I have exact directions in my book on how to find the best entrance to it.

Day 11: Drive to Dublin. * Fine.

On the whole, your itinerary looks good. Have fun!

Michele