After MUCH dithering and discussion, my wife and I decided to return to Ireland this year on an abbreviated visit.  I found acceptable tickets into and out of SNN (pricier than last year, unfortunately) that take us from SRQ (Sarasota) to SNN via JFK and return us to RSW (Fort Meyers), via BOS.  BOTH trans-Atlantic flights are via ASL (Aer Lingus) on 757 -- but, SHANNON, rather than Dublin!!!!

Irma played havoc with the planning stage and Jose and Maria are still generating a certain, 'apprehension', but I was determined NOT to miss out on my annual, Ireland 'Fix'!     

We arrive in SNN at 5:00 AM, on 26 September and I've booked a Compact, Manual with Dan Dooley (via Fox)  for $123.07.  That's by waiving the Insurances, using my MasterCard coverage, so there will be the requisite Initial Fuel Cost (est: 80 - 100 Euro) and the inevitable Fee / paperwork charge of 25 Euro -- and a Deposit / Hold of 3,000 Euro in the event of damage.  I am also still covered through 28 Oct by my Annual Excess policy that I purchased last year from Worldwide Insure for about $58 that covers tires, glass, wrong fuel and lost key (which MC does NOT).

We are booked into An Cruiscin Lan Hotel in Spiddal for the night of 27 September in a Twin Room at 110 Euro, B&B.  The next morning we have seats reserved on the 10 AM flight to Inishmore, via Aer Arann, at 49 Euro, per person, Return.  We plan to overnight at Tigh Fitz B&B, where our twin room is priced at 95 Euro.  I chose Tigh Fitz as we intend to spend MOST of our time exploring the vicinity at the East end of the Island .  We return the following morning (28 Sept) on the 10:15 AM flight.

From the airport, we'll drive down to Kilkee (route determined by weather), where we'll spend the night at The Strand Guesthouse -- Twin Room, B&B, 90 Euro.  

On the morning of 29 September, we'll drive to Kilrush and take one of the last ferries of the season out to Scattery Island -- after which, we'll take the Shannon Ferry (17.1 Euro Pre-paid or 19 Euro, Cash) one-way from Killimer to Tarbert  -- and then, drive to Banna Beach Resort, where we have a reservation for a two bedroom holiday home for three nights (249 Euro, plus 10 Euro per night for electric -- or 279 Euro, total) which gives us a base to revisit Dingle and Killarney, as well as attend a family event in Tralee.  The washer and drier also affords us the option of packing along fewer clothes!   

On the morning of 2 October, we'll make our way down to Drimoleague (near Bantry), where we'll spend two nights at my wife's cousin's country weekend home and perform a bit of genealogy research.  On 4 October, we'll move on to East Cork for a single night (Wednesday, 4 Oct) -- before setting off to visit Holycross Abbey and a few, previously missed other sites.  Nothing booked yet, but I'm leaning towards a night at Abbey Court, in Nenagh.

We plan to follow that up with two nights in either Bunratty (at the incomparable,  Headley Cort B&B,or possibly a bit further afield, as our return flight departs SNN at Noon, on 8 October.

Still a fair bit 'Up In The Air' ( and a tad of 'Ball Juggling' still needing to be done!     )  but that's the BONES of our plans.