Laura,

Welcome to the forum. Have you already run your route through the AA Route planner? If so you will find you have a lot of time in your car on this trip. You say you are okay with that but Irish roads are not quite like American highways. Just a FYI as you are covering a lot of territory in a relatively short time. 

August 29th:

Arrive - Dublin Airport @ 3:35pm

-Spend the night at Hilton Dublin Airport hotel (free with points) * Fine. 

August 30th:

-Pick up rental car, hopefully stay parked at hotel. Take bus into town to attend game at Croke Park at 1:30pm. Take bus back to hotel then drive toward Belfast. Hopefully make it in time to visit Brú na Bóinne. * Newgrange and Knowth at Brú na Bóinne takes a minimum of 3 hours to visit. Tough decision but skip either Croke Park or Newgrange. No time for both. 

-Spend the night at Lisnacurran Country House (if we aren't too tired...drive into Belfast for some traditional music at pub)

August 31st:

-Stop at Belfast Castle on our way out. Drive Causeway Coastal route to Giant's Causeway (taking in Glenariff Forest Park, Carrick-a-rede). Also visit Dunluce Castle.

-Spend the night at Causeway Hotel * A jam-packed day with a long scenic drive. I think some of your sightseeing will probably be deleted as your day progresses. Remember, every sightseeing stop and photo op will add time to your day.  

September 1st:

-Drive to Glenveagh via a stop in Derry, then end in Donegal. * You could easily spend most of the day at Glenveagh seeing the castle and walking around the gardens and estate. Another long drive. 

-Spend the night at Rossmore Manor

September 2nd:

-Visit the Slieve League cliffs, then drive to Ballina with a stop in Sligo (Possible stops: Climb Knocknarea then seaweed bath, Lissadell House, Rosses Point, Glencar Waterfall & Parke's Castle, Lough Gill, Innisfree) * You will never see everything on your list in one day.

-Spend the night at Belleek Castle

September 3rd & 4th:

-Drive to and stay in Clifden

-Possible activities: Visit Ashford Castle, Kylemore Abbey, sheep farm (which one?), hike Diamond Hill at sunset, kayak Killary Fjord, horse riding with Cleggan Beach Riding Centre, hike some of the Twelve Bens, Sky Road, Clifden Castle. Great! A 2-night stay. Hike Diamond Hill at sunset? Take a flashlight for hiking down in the dark.

-Spend the nights at Mallmore Country House

September 5th:

-Drive toward Doolin. Visit Ballynahnich Castle and take a walk along the property. Quick stop in Galway, then explore the Burren.

-Visit the Cliffs of Moher

-Spend the night at Blackberry Lodge * You should be able to accomplish this day's activities.

September 6th:

-Ferry to Inis Mor. Rent bikes then ride to Dun Aengus and back.

-Drive to Ennis, then spend the night at Newpark House. * Sometimes the ferries from Doolin can be canceled because of weather. Have alternate plans. 

September 7th:

-Drive to Tralee (along the way, visit Quin Abbey, Adare, Bunratty Park, Limerick Castle?) * Skip King John's Castle, take the toll tunnel under the Shannon River and save yourself time and traffic in Limerick City. That way you will have a tiny bit more time to enjoy the castle itself. 

-Spend the night at Ballyseede Castle

September 8th:

-Drive the Dingle Peninsula, then end in Killarney

-Spend the night at Friars Glen

September 9th:

-Drive the Ring of Kerry. Hopefully ferry out to Skellig Michael. * Skellig Michael would be good to book ahead of time. You can leave your phone number with them and if the trip is canceled (which often happens) they can let you know before you waste time driving all the way out there. 

-Spend the night again at Friars Glen

September 10th:

-Killarney Day Tour - Gap of Dunloe jaunting and boat ride through lake, Ross Castle

-Drive to Blarney to spend the night at Blarney Vale * A full day trip to Gap of Dunloe. You may not get to Ross Castle.

September 11th:

-Visit Blarney Castle before the tour buses arrive.

-Drive to Kilkenny, stopping at Jerpoint Abbey and Rock of Cashel * Rock of Cashel would come first, then Jerpoint Abbey.

-Spend the night at Butler House

September 12th & 13th:

-Drive to Wicklow Mountains. (Any interesting stops along the way? Duckett's Grove? Clonegal? Huntington Castle?) * Depends on your route. Others to consider: Dunbrody Famine Ship in New Ross, Russborough House in Blessington, Glendalough. You had better check opening times for Huntington Castle if you are interested in seeing the castle itself. 

-Visit Powerscourt Estate

-Spend the next two nights at Riversdale House. 

-Spend the 13th hiking around the area.

September 14th:

-Unfortunately, the only flights we could use our points with leave at 6:40am. We plan to leave the B&B at 4am in the morning to make it to the Dublin airport around 5:15am. Do you think that will be a problem on a Sunday morning? * Big problem! You need to be at the airport THREE HOURS in advance of an international flight. You will be departing in the dark. Very easy to get lost and take much longer finding your way. What if you get a flat? That would take time to fix. You need time to return your car. If it were me I would spend the night at an airport hotel, turn the car in the evening before my flight and take the shuttle to the airport in the morning. 

Like one forum member says, the first attempt at an itinerary rarely succeeds. You might want to have another go at it, adding more multiple night stays in certain areas to give yourself a little breathing room. Packing, finding the next B&B, unpacking, etc. gets old fast. But if you are happy with the quick pace hopefully you have a day or two to recover when you return home before returning to work.

Let us know if we can offer any other suggestions. 

Michele