Hello!  Just got back from a weekend bluegrass festival and I’m checking out all your suggestions.

Glad to see others like Oughterard.  I’ve never been there but I’ve read it’s an interesting little place.  I’m hoping it will be an adequate base perhaps for at least three days. We don’t need to spend any great time at The Cliff’s of Moher, or the Burren so I think hitting those places on the way to Oughterard will work okay.  My experience is that it can be difficult checking in to a B&B early so we may as well head north.  Any B&B recommendations for Oughterard (and any place else we’re staying) will be appreciated.

I’m thinking now that perhaps we should stay in Oughterard 3 days.  Part of my reasoning for heading across to Kilkenny was quite simply that I’d never seen the part of the country in which we’d be traversing.  I’d quite like to see The Rock of Cashel (when the gates aren’t locked – although it is very lovely at night) and Cahir Castle (if we forego Kilkenny Castle).  So maybe instead of cutting across via Roscommon to Kilkenny we just drop down through Limerick and spend a couple days near Tipperary before heading to Kenmare.  Am I getting closer? 

I fully understand what Melissa is saying about getting swept up and lost in the country and not worrying about what you don’t get to see.  My “problem” is that I drive great distances for my job and although I know from experience that driving times are much slower in Ireland, driving is not at all unenjoyable or taxing to me.  It’s the journey, not the destination.    

(I’m also considering 2 days in Kenmare and 2 days on the Dingle peninsula.  I’m just afraid driving from Dingle to Shannon would be a long trip on the last morning.)

Days 1,2 and 3: Arrive in Shannon.  Stay in Oughterard.  Must see: Cliffs of Moher, The Burren (hopefully blossomed).  Drive through Galway, not likely to stop.  Explore the Connemara region.  Kylemore Abbey, Roundstone, Skyline drive in Clifden.  More to the coast than inland but maybe go to Cong.    

Day 4 and 5:   Head to Tipperary (other basing suggestions welcome).  Visit the

             Rock of Cashel, Cahir Castle and the general area.  Off-the-beaten-path

             suggestions welcome.

Day 6, 7, and 8:  To Kenmare via Blarney (might skip Blarney).  See what we can

            of Beara Peninsula, and/or Ring of Kerry, take in Killarney if it’s rainy.  

Day 9:   Leave Kenmare and do the Dingle Peninsula.  Stay last night at

  Ballybunion (Bill has visited the Marconi radio site in CA and I think  

  would appreciate this, plus we’re a little closer to the airport).

Day 10: Head to airport – maybe cruise through Adare on the way.  Flight likely

             to leave around 12:45.

Suggestions?