Hi tony2phones: Thanks for trying to wade through my wordy itinerary! 

We already bought our airline tickets, so we are flying into Shannon and out of Dublin. Our flight doesn't arrive in Shannon until 4:00 pm...and that's after a sleepless night of flying, with jet lag. Our travel time is very long, since we don't actually live by the LAX airport in California...we have to get up early to drive 2 1/2 hours through traffic to get to the LAX airport to begin our journey!

So...we will be tired with major jet lag when we arrive in Shannon at 4:10 pm. By the time we collect our luggage and get our rental car...we won't be able to drive very far. We will have to spend 1 night close to Shannon airport.

Thanks for the tip that the 5-hour drive from Kilkenny to Ardara is on "less than friendly roads." I knew it was a 5-hour drive...according to the aa web-site...but I didn't know what the road conditions were.

The challenge is that...we could reverse the order and drive from Kilkenny to Connemara first...and next drive to Ardara in County Donegal...and then drive from Ardara to the Dublin airport to fly home... Then our longest drive would be 4 hours instead of 5 hours. HOWEVER the only problem with that plan is...it would put us in Ardara on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday...and as far as I can research, there isn't any music in the Ardara area in September on Mondays or Tuesdays...the music in or near Ardara is mainly on the weekends in September.

Or....we could break up the 5-hour drive from Kilkenny to Ardara...by stopping overnight in Sligo...but for me, it's annoying and stressful to have to keep packing up and changing accommodations. I try to avoid 1-night stays if possible.

I have considered dropping Ardara & County Donegal from the itinerary due to these complications...but my husband would really like to see both County Donegal and County Kerry. He does have a talent for falling in love with places that are on the opposite ends of the map.

I appreciate your advice. I want our final itinerary to be pleasant and fun, not stressful. I'm getting excited about Ireland! I feel like I'm getting very close to the final itinerary. I want to start booking b&bs with yummy breakfast!

Melissa,

Have you considered Adare for your first night? That would put you in the right direction for Kenmare. Or, given the late arrival time, you might want to give Mary at Bunratty Lodge a go. She is only 15 minutes from the airport.

I, personally, would probably do 1 night in Adare or Bunratty, 4 nights in Kenmare, 2 nights in Kilkenny, 4 nights in Ardara, 4 nights in Clifden and two nights in Dublin.

That would give you an evening to recouperate from the long drive to Ardara. YOu will break up the driving with may stops so count on a full day between Kilkenny and Ardara.

You can see Rock of Cashel and Cahir castle enroute from Kenmare to Kilkenny. That will leave you a full day to explore Kilkenny itself and sites such as Jerpoint Abbey which is close at hand.

For Kenmare Lodgings, one of the places that Michele recommends is on my short list if I can tweak my itinerary this summer. That is Willow Lodge. I have stayed at O'Donnobhain's before and found it to be a great deal. It is also a Pub and restaurant but I didn't find it noisy at all.

For Kilkenny Lodgings, I usually stay at Lawcus Farms, which is outside of the town. Butler Court is also a good choice for in town. I just prefer Lawcus because of the hosts and the atmosphere.

We are staying at Staunton's on the Green in Dublin in June. I have had friends recommend it. We will make a report when we return.

Only a few long drive days but sometimes you have to drive a while to get to the reward at the end.

Slan Beo,

Bit

-- Edited by CowboyCraic on Friday 8th of April 2011 06:50:33 PM

Michele: Thanks for your reply. I'm sensing the Irish magic already!   I printed out some blank calendars for the month of September. I keep having the impulse to allow 4 nights for Kenmare...but I keep letting my "calculations" overrule my heart. But you have just given me permission to let my heart win... I think there is a lot to see from Kenmare...and besides it sounds like a lovely base. County Kerry is wonderful...we loved Dingle and the Dingle peninsula on our first trip and wished we had an extra night there. (We had either 3 or 4 nights in the Dingle area on the first trip...but it wasn't enough! I know we will fall in love with County Kerry all over again if we spend 4 nights in Kenmare with day-trips. 

I appreciate the advice to delete a night from Clifden and add it to Dublin, so that we can have both. I just may do that. I may wear out a dozen pencil erasers! I love these blank calendars for planning our itinerary.

I think we did stay at Bunratty Lodge on our first trip to Ireland...for 1 night...is that Mary Browne's spotless b&b? With the yummy homemade brown bread & Irish breakfast? It was very convenient and comfortable. Since our flight arrives in Shannon at 4 pm I don't think we will venture too far.

An early bird at JP Clarke's, you say? Now I have to look up JP Clarke's.  

Thanks so much for putting up with me and my obsessive planning! I'm getting excited about Ireland. I love the way that you and your wise advisers on this forum remind me that...when you go to Ireland...magic happens! It's not written down on any itinerary...because it's what happens between the lines.

Melissa,

I did a similar long drive, from Keady in So Armagh to Ardara. The roads were rural, narrow and twisty. That was part of the draw! It is all about enjoying the journey enroute to your destination.I shot some amazing photos along that drive.  Some of the faery-led detours, I may never find again.

You will enjoy discovering those small off-the-beaten treasures between Kilkenny and Ardara. You will have already adjusted to Irish time, Irish driving and Irish roads.

We chose Staunton's because of a literary connection. I am a huge fan of the Jesuit Poet, Gerard Manley Hopkins. He spent his last five years in one of the Georgian homes which now comprise Staunton's. We are booked into his actual room!

I saw that Michele and I posted at almost the same time. We seem to do that a lot lately!

Slan Beo,

Bit

Hi CowboyCraic: Thanks for the encouraging and informative replies. How did you enjoy County Armagh? That's where my favorite Irish grandmother was born...I have never visited there. (She grew up in Belfast, before emigrating...we enjoyed visiting Belfast on our first trip to Ireland.

Unfortunately I have developed a new "itis". You know...tendonitis, Capsulitis...and now Bursitis. Fun fun fun getting old and I'm only in my 50's! So I am now realizing we will need to drive LESS on this trip. Although Bursitis can get better in weeks...each time I get a new "itis"...it tends to re-occur. So I think I'll have a more enjoyable trip if I change the itinerary a bit to reduce the driving time.

Looking at my itinerary...how should I change it to reduce the driving? I know that's subjective but I'd like to know your opinion. We do need to keep our flights...fly into Shannon and out of Dublin.

Thanks!

One possible option would be to drive into Galway, return the car and take the train to Dublin.  Not quite as scenic, but you can stand, walk around or sit, as suits you.

Don't need the car IN Dublin anyway ...   

And, NO -- you REALLY should NOT skip Dublin, THIS trip, in my opinion.

This might remind you WHY.     

Bob

Itallian Chauffeur: I love you! You are hilarious. I think I just talked me into Dublin!  

Now why didn't I realize there was a train from Galway to Dublin? Bob that's the perfect solution!  Yes that will solve the problem...with this bursitis of the hip, I need to be able to get up and walk around as often as necessary, and a train is perfect. Plus I won't need a car in Dublin. (Although without a car I will probably see only Dublin the city, and skip the nearby sites...as Michele points out, I don't want to be stuck on a bus tour, unable to get off and exercise my hip when necessary.)

Right now I'm on the "Bursitis" diet. I'm losing weight because I can't sit down comfortably, gotta keep moving...burning up calories! It's exhausting. 

Does anybody have the web-site with info for the train schedule from Galway to Dublin? I have never seen it.

Ok, Bob, now I gotta know...where is your favorite place to stay in Dublin? Do you like to stay in the city or in the suburbs nearby?

Oh what fun to post a new Dublin question! But first I gotta re-read all that great info in my Dublin question from 2006! (click on the link provided by Bob above.)  

Monty: Thanks for your thoughts. I agree..Kilmainham Gaol is at the top of my sites to see in Dublin. I am interested in the history of all people who had to struggle bravely and fight for their freedom. When they win...I find it inspiring. Especially the Irish...since my favorite grandmother is Irish, plus my grandfather was Irish...although nothing is known about my grandfather's exact ancestry. We know more about my grandmother's ancestry.

Well the hop on hop off bus might work for me since I need to hop off and walk whenever my bursitis of the hip is acting up. I can't be stuck sitting too long.

Melissa



Having looked at your narrowed down list I have come up with a possible Itinerary.


Arrive  Shannon and drive 28miles to Killaloe/Balina at the foot of Lough Derg in the Shaddows of the Slieve Bloom and Slieve Aughty hills. Two days in this area of East Clare will not only let you shake the jet lag and give access to not only the high ground and Lough but also places like Birr and Portumna Castles. This is my part of Ireland and mainly undiscovered by foreign visitors.


From this area you can drive across to Kilkenny via Cahir and Cashel covering the 100miles in three stages. I would consider three days here to explore the area and have a go at the Trad pub tour on the 3rd night (Friday)


I am not a big fan of Kinsale myself but there are many who are so on this basis you could consider heading for Two nights here which driving via a visit toWaterford would be about 120miles. Sights from Kinsale are Blarney Castle whos grounds are well worth the visit with some rare and exotic fauna. Fota Park and Gardens follow the same category whilst Cobh was the last port of call for the Titanic and has many historical features along with an absolutely amazing Cathedral.


Kinsale is only 60 miles or so from Kenmare which is an excellent base for a Three night visit to the South West corner of Ireland with beautiful spots like Beara and the Sheeps Head peninsular to the South and Killarney National park with Muckross House and parkland between the town and Ring of Kerry.


Ennis would be my next stop on the way North over the Shannon Ferry for a two night stay to explore not only the Burren and Cliffs but lower parts of South Clare like Bunratty folk park and Loop Head.  On the way up you could take time to drive around the Dingle Peninsular with Slea Head and a drive over the Connor Pass on the way.


Arriving in Clifden on Saturday for Three nights of Arts week and an good look around the Connamara visiting Kykemore Abbey, Roundstone and a day trip to Westport to complement the entertainment.


I would keep the car for the journey across to Dublin to facilitate a stop off at Clonmacnoise along the way,

Drop Tulla, Clifden Arts week is in the top 3 of my annual events.

Dont know if this map works for my earlier Itinerary sugestion

http://maps.google.ie/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=215571892271980732006.0004a0f149f3bace2357a&z=7

tony2phones: Thanks for the advice and the fancy map! Wish I knew how to do all of that neat stuff. Maybe my son can teach me. Anyway...it helps a lot to hear from you, since you are in Ireland and have attended various festivals. I will drop Tulla, as it is tangling my itinerary, and keep Clifden.

I do the research and my husband just gets to enjoy the ride. He is looking forward to Clifden Arts Week.