Sat. Sept.2 - arrive in Shannon, 1:15pm, pick up rental car, check in the Bunratty Lodge.  Maybe tour over to Knappogue Castle and quin Abbey, find somewhere to eat, have a couple of guinesses, head to bed. * Fine.

Sun. Sept.3 - get up early, head to the Cliffs and the Burren, come back to Bunratty Folk Park, do the banquet at 8:45, go back to Bunratty Lodge. * You could do this on Monday and end the day in Spiddal. Maybe Loop Head instead?

Mon. Sept.4 - early start, hit either Ballyvaughan, Kinvarra or Galway, make our way to b&b in Spiddal, check out village and crash in ocean view room (yay!) * See comments for Sunday.

Tues. Sept.5 - tour through a bit of Connemara before heading to Cong for castle stay at Ashford.  Check out Cong and castle grounds. * Fine.

Wed. Sept. 6 - head off Killarney way, maybe stopping for a photo session at Adare on the way to our b&b just outside of Killarney.  Maybe after we get settled, checking out some trad music at a pub. * Fine.

Thurs. Sept. 7 - stay at same b&b where we hope to fit in ROK and Gap of Dunloe, Ladies View,  Torc Waterfall.  Too much do you think(we're in our early 40's...still lots of pep)? * If you do Kenmare as part of your ROK tour you will see Ladies' View on the way. If you had planned on doing the Gap of Dunloe Tour where you either walk or take horses through the gap and then return by boat to Killarney on the lakes, that is a whole day trip in itself. You can't do both tours in one day. If you just want to drive out to Kate Kearney's Cottage and take a look at the gap from there, fine. But you really don't experience the gap from there. 

Fri. Sept. 8 - Stay at same b&b, investigate Kenmare (or should we do that on ROK day?), Muckross Abbey and Muckross House, if time allows Blarney Castle. * It makes more sense to see Blarney Castle on Saturday rather than drive there and back to Killarney. Or you could put this day aside for Blarney Castle & Woolen Mills and stay in Blarney instead.

Sat. Sept. 9 - Early start, if we didn't get to see Blarney, we have to now!!! Then on to Cahir (as you recommended) and Cashel before hitting our b&b in Kilkenny. * Very long day of sightseeing. Get an early start indeed!

Sun. Sept. 10 - Corey's walking tour of Kilkenny.  Stay in same b&b, maybe catch some more trad music in evening. * Fine.

Mon. Sept.11 - Stay at same b&b, do what you suggested...Kell's Priory, Jerpoint Abbey, Inistioge, Dunbrody Famine Ship, back to home base. * You might want to save Kells for last if time permits. The other attractions close in the late afternoon.

Tues. Sept. 12 - Make our way to Glendalough, at this point our vouchers run out so in the order of some spontaneity we decided we'd just find a place that suited our tastes and stay there for the night.  Hopefully not hard to find!!! * You might want to spend Tuesday and Wednesday in the same spot and explore everything from there. Keep in mind that there will be more than the usual amount of tourists visiting Ireland in September because of Ryder Cup.

Wed. Sept. 13 -  Another spontaneous night, but will probably see the Wicklow mountains and Powerscourt and Dalkey. * Fine. See comments above.

Thurs. Sept. 14 - return car to airport and take bus into Dublin to our hotel.  Investigate whatever we can before bedtime!!! * Fine.

Fri. Sept. 15 - Tour the city!!!  Same hotel overnight. * Fine. Don't forget the hop-on hop-off bus.

Sat. Sept. 16 - Sadly, have to leave airport at 12:25. * Give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport and also for going through security, which has been slow lately.

Michele