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So my question is - can the above be done in 6-7 weeks (arrive in Santiago around 10 July).

Granada to Córdoba plus Mérida to Santiago de Compostela make a total of 37 stages (according to my sources; the number of stages can vary depending on how fit you are, your travel style...) if you go from Mérida to Astorga and from Astorga to Santiago de Compostela (BTW, are you going to take that route or are you going to take the route through Sanabria; i.e.: from Granja de Moreruela to Santiago de Compostela). That's a bit more than 5 weeks and you have to add the time you plan to spend in Andalucía exploring the cities you quoted and, if you plan to include rest stages, the number of rest stages you plan to make. Some stages in the leg from Mérida to Astorga are long and you could consider to break them in two which would made those 37 stages closer to 40 stages or even more... It's all quite subjective. As you can see in this recent thread about another camino route (a route with 31 stages), there's who makes that other route in a month, who makes it in 40 days...

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Anillos - not sure what you are realy driving at. The exploring will take around a week (maybe 8-9 days in total) - the walk from Granada to Cordoba can be adjusted if needed. As for walking from Merida - my route is via Salamanca & Tabara. Walking 25km per day is not a task - last week, on less preparation, I walked 95 km in less than 5 days. (I saw the earlier thread and have been in contact with the OP via PM). Thanks for your input. Regards O_Mike

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my route is via Salamanca & Tabara.

Ok, that's the route through Sanabria. The number of stages is more or less the same.

Anillos - not sure what you are realy driving at.

37 stages + 8-9 days exploring = 45-46 days at best (i.e.: 6 weeks and a half); i.e.: without including rest days along the walk from Mérida to Santiago (roughly 28 stages)...
In other words, I'm trying to point out that some people could be able to make it in your time frame (those who make the route quoted in the other thread in a month) but other people (e.g.: all those who made/make the route quoted in the other thread in 40 days) won't be able to make or wouldn't like to make it as they would find it too rushed and prefer to make it in a more relaxed way.

Walking 25km per day is not a task

Some days you'll have to walk more than 30 kms. Other days you'll have to walk less than 25 (and even than 20) though. Also, be aware it isn't all plain... You said you have read books so I didn't provide links with info about the stages on this thread but look carefully the number of kms of each stage as well as the route of each stage (i.e.: if the route is plain, if there are mountains along that stage...).

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OK - thanks - now understand. Yes it will be a tough 6+ weeks and if necessary I will have to cut a few corners (100 km on a bus!). But I will try to walk 500 km and especially the last 100 km to satisfy the requirements of a pilgrim (even a poor lapsed catholic). If I have specific questions I will send you a PM (is this ok??) Rgs O_Mike

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Wow, great plan Mike. Make sure to come back and tell us about this wonderful pilgrimage you will attempt ... y suerte!!!

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If I have specific questions I will send you a PM (is this ok??)

Yes, no problem.