I've been driver / organizer for groups of six on three occassions ( '99, '02, '05 ), 4, three times  ( 2000, '04, 2011 ) ,and 3, one time ( Apr, '04 ).  Fewer is definitely easier -- but it really DOES depend upon the individuals.

SOME times, two is ONE too many!!     

Since you've been down this road before, I'm sure that you'll work out the planning kinks -- and the inevitable, mid-trip 'tweaks' needed to keep things running smoothly.

Carlingford is a good choice -- just stayed there in Oct.  LOTS to see / do in the area AND along the way up, from Dublin.  Really enjoyed Beaufort House (Michele's Pick) ... but, then again Smarmore IS, too ...

Choices, choices ... 

We spent four nights, self-catering, at the Harbour Mill , on Westport Quay, back in '07 or '08.  NOT close to town center and Matt Malloy's, but there were several shops and pubs around and terrific views.

Haven't stayed in Dingle for some time, but we really enjoyed Tower View and while the DISTANCE from town center is NOT that far -- having to walk back UP that hill MIGHT be a deal breaker. 

Having NEVER over-nighted in Kenmare, I have no recs there -- though we DO enjoy the area.  We have family ties near Bantry, so have always leaned toward Killarney or Kilorglin as our next stop-over to the North ...

Happy Planning!!!

Bob

So many good places to choose from. Tower View is great but as Bob indicated it is up a hill, as is Pax House. Emlagh Lodge is a flat walk to town on sidewalks and is a lovely place. I love Emlagh House but it is pricey. The Shores is on the north shore of the peninsula and not near Dingle town - great B&B though. And if personality is high on the list I will throw Coill an Rois into the mix, although about 8 miles from Dingle town in the countryside. Jimmy consistently gets high praise on Trip Advisor reviews and they are true! Greenmount is very nice too.

I don't think Dublin will be a huge loss to your itinerary. I do love Dublin and I visit the city at least once every time I visit Ireland, I prefer to make it a "day trip". This is much easier for me as my family in Ireland (cousins) live in Monaghan and there is a bus (Collins Coach) which runs from Monaghan into Dublin several times a day. It is very affordable and the trip is about an hour. It drops me off and picks me up at Abbey and O'Connell and I have found that to be a truly wonderful starting point for walking to many of Dublin's great destinations..some of the ones I have done are Trinity College and all it offers, the GPO (special significance for me as my Grandfather was IN there on that fateful day in 1916 so I always make a stop there just because I know he would be proud that his grandson is there!), Jameson Distillery, Ha'Penny Bridge, Temple Bar (I personally love Gogarty's!), St. Michan's (which is within easy walking distance of Jameson and a must see if you love mummies and are a ghoul like me! haha - you also get to pay your respects at the actual, REAL casket of Wolfe Tone! and I did rub the finger of the Crusader which you are not "allowed" to do but the guide turns his back and says "Just so you know, I have NO way of knowing what you're doing at the moment"), Four Points and way too much more to type!

On a side note the town of Carrickmacross (my Grandma's town where my Irish family lives) is a beautiful little place. The lace for Kate Middleton's wedding dress was made there (it is actually very well known lace and VERY pricey), this didn't do much for me but my mother loved it haha. If you did stay in Carrick, the Shirley Arms is a great, recently completely renovated, hotel which is literally within staggering distance of several pubs - I know because I have staggered from them haha (the closest is John Joe's directly across the street and is as authentic a pub as I have ever seen in all my trips to Ireland, a younger more "fun" pub is just up the block called the Fiddlers Elbow). The seaside town of Blackrock, in neighboring Louth is also very nice (this is the town where my Grandmother and many people from this area vacationed back in the day). The tide recedes VERY far out and reveals a river that runs UNDER the tide ...at one point each day BOTH the sea and the river recede and you can walk out "into" the sea very far (alongside the Cooley Mountains), but you do have to be careful if you choose to walk out there because the river flows back BEFORE the sea does and children have been caught trapped on the other side of the river when the sea starts rushing back in...so I don't advise walking out past the river unless you REALLY know the tides (I myself have never done more than cross the river and come right back over because I am way to respectful/wary of the sea to risk it haha!)

My other FAVORITE place to stay in Ireland is in Connemara, in the town of Clifden. Clifden is really one of the most beautiful towns I have seen in Ireland...very quaint and picturesque. The hotel we have always stayed in is the Abbeyglen Castle Hotel. Now this is NOT a true "castle" it is a genuine 1830's manor house with castle "features" (a tower...crenelation etc). The Abbeyglen is a bit pricey (compared to a B & B) but the service you receive is worth every single penny. I would HIGHLY recommend this place even for only a night or two. It is family owned and operated and you can tell ....you have SUCH personal service. And the craic in the bar at night is unrivaled....there have been more than one occasion when I witnessed the piano being carried from the bar out into the parking lot and then a huge, loud, rousing sing along began and continued well into the night (I finally staggered back to my room at 3am). The Abbeyglen is also perfectly placed for one of Michele's recomendations as it is directly ON the Skye Road ....which is a walk (or drive) that you will never ever forget. You can literally turn left out of the castle's drive and you're on the road and within 5 minutes you're already seeing why Michele recommends this "drive". The Abbeyglen is also perfectly situated to walk through the town (just make a right out of the drive and in 2 minutes you're in the town center). Clifden is an excellent place from which to do a "Quiet Man" tour so to speak (if you happen to be a fan of the movie). We used the Abbeyglen as our "home base" for trips to the Cliffs of Moher and some family history excursions to Roscommon. The only thing I would recommend is that the Cliffs really need to be visited enroute to/from somewhere else if you are not staying nearby as it was a 3-4 hour drive to the Cliffs from Clifden. I know you said you like horses and the world famous Connemara Pony Show is held in Clifden every year, in 2013 it is scheduled for Thursday & Friday ...August 15 & 16.

I have not yet done much of the North although I will be changing that on my next trip (June 2014 for a family wedding!). The Cliffs of Moher are not to be missed (although I agree very crowded and "touristy", but once you get past all the vendors and musicians and reach the edge of the cliff (O'Brien's Tower) you forget all the people. When I stayed in Tipperary I chose the Hotel Minella in Clonmel ...beautiful hotel but definitely a HOTEL ...not a castle or anything close to it but still a very nice place to stay if you're not looking for the "old world" feel (which I personally like!). We ate one night at Knocklofty House right over the border in Kilkenny and it was a beautiful place and a great meal. I have also done Blarney, Kinsale, Bunratty and more that I won't bore everyone with (my response has already become too long!!) ...but if you are in the Northwest of Ireland and have not "done" Connemara...I highly advise it!! And I also feel Carrickmacross and its neighboring areas are a wonderful "home base" in the east to experience Dublin but then "retreat" to countryside and what some would call the "real" Irish experience. (this is only if you are treating Dublin as a day trip and prefer the smaller town pub for nightlife)

Enjoy your trip ...I am already excited planing my next one..this time I have two family members coming who have never been to Ireland so I feel like a proud parent showing off their child hahaha

-- Edited by IrelandSean on Tuesday 19th of February 2013 03:30:50 AM

I was in Cape Breton last year and really enjoyed it.  Just spectacular and a good location for tremendous Celtic music.  Being there for the Festival would be even better!