Ireland in 10 days - itinerary overloaded & needs editing down

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aliucus
aliucus

I am planning my first Ireland trip for the first week in September of 2012 and tjis is my first rental car sight-seeing trip anywhere. When planning the itinerary reviews for everything show up as a 'must-see.' This makes planning a SW driving trip for 10 days very difficult.

I'm well aware of the driving difficulty, and I know my route has a LOT - I just don't know what to cut and I would really appreciate some recommendations!

- Are some of these similar enough to skip one?
- We wanted to spend a little more time in Galway than I currently have worked out.

- I also have 2 empty days! I was considering Saltee for one, but I also think with both Dingle and Beara peninsula on my route (and perhaps other sites) that I just need to spread things out - where though?
- Should we see Burren? and if so - where is it exactly? I've found at least 5 different addresses online - do we just go to the national park? If so, it seems like the visitors center is on the west side, is that right?
- I also saw another post about an itinerary saying to avoid Cork as the stopover (b/c it's busy, that's all), any recommendations on a nearby town to stay in instead?

Any advice and tips would be wonderful. We aren't history buffs, but appreciate a good story. We like nature, animals, cute towns, a good pub and beer.

Sat: Arrive and tour Dublin
Sun: Tour Dublin
Mon: Dunmore cave, Kilkenny sights and overnight
Tue:
• Rock of Cashel
• Cahir Castle
• Ardmore cliff walk
• Blarney Castle
• Cork overnight
Wed: SALTEE? but head for Kilmore Quay (Saltee) from Cahir castle instead
Wed
• Kinsale
• Mizen Head
• Beara peninsula
• Killarney overnight

*** THU/FRI open depending on Saltee

Saturday
• Dingle Peninsula
• Conor’s Pass on way to Cliffs of Moher (via Ferry at Tarbert)
• Cliffs of Moher
• Cliffs of Moher area overnight OR **fit Burren in and go directly to Galway this night?
Sunday
• Burren (if stay near cliffs of moher)
• Connemara Natl Park
• Connemara to Bunratty Castle
• Shannon hotel overnight
Monday: Depart Shannon airport very early

Thank you again!!

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yofletch
yofletch

Forget Blarney and go to Cobh (say cove) instead
and visit the heritage centre.
You will be in Killarney so drive the Ring of Kerry.
Connemara, check this out , Youtube the following
"AT YOUR SERVICE PART 1"
followed by PART 2 and then PART 3
In county Clare go to Gus O'Connors public house, Doolin
in the evening for some traditional music.
and finally use Google MAPS using the features
STREET-VIEW and SEARCH-NEARBY
Enjoy your trip.

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yofletch
yofletch

the Burren national park is east of Doolin town.

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markfawkner
markfawkner

It seems a shame not to do Dingle Penninsula or the more popular (but IMO not as good) Ring of Kerry. You could stay in Galway and visit the Aran Islands unless there is a particular reason to visit Saltee.

Your plan looks fine but busy; you'll get an idea if you are personally up to the challenge as you kick into (and get an idea of what driving in Ireland is like) and can modify what you see as you go along but you seem to have done some pretty good planning.

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cdffirefly
cdffirefly

We are in Ireland now and have been driving for 3 weeks......with two weeks to go. If you rent a car, allow more time for travel then you think as the roads are often narrow and most of the driving for us has been 2nd and third gear on the "R" roads.

Firefly

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made_in_ireland
made_in_ireland

Kerry Is amazing make sure you do the ring of kerry Im from Ireland and i go to killarney every year for 3 nights and its amazing. stay in killarney for a night or 2! And definitely take a trip out to dingle! views are amazing! the rest of Ireland is blahhhh , ohh and the Aaran islands are amazing too. Drive safe

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cdffirefly
cdffirefly

In our opinon, none of the views in Ireland has been blahhhh. We do agree that Dingle and the "loop" are great!

Take Conner pass back to Killarney from Dingle for fantastic scenic driving....just be ready for a VERY narrow road.

Killarney is a great party town....live music in the pubs and fantastic restaurants....we came for one day and stayed three.

We are off to the ring of Kerry loop tomorrow.

Firefly

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aliucus
aliucus

Thanks for the responses! We are definitely doing Dingle (Saturday day above). We are also doing Beara. It sounds like I really need to work some extra time in for Killarney. I spread things out a bit by removing the caves, and moving the Cahir castle to another day. Still deciding between Aran islands or Saltee. Not sure how the birds/plants are on Saltee at that time of year.
Thanks again!

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cdffirefly
cdffirefly

A quick post on the weather.....June was the wettest month in recorded history. We arrived on July 17th and with the exception of two days, it has been wet ever since. It has not always been raining hard, but a constant light rain/mist.

Firefly

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made_in_ireland
made_in_ireland

I dont mean blahh in a bad way the best place to visit is kerry. I live in Ireland and when Im going on holiday in Ireland I always go to kerry same with most other people I know! because kerry is very different from the rest of Ireland. But yes do try get some extra time in killarney its very nice. I would definitely choose Aran Islands! you'll miss out if you dont! Yeah the weather here is miserable but thats Ireland for you most tourists come here for the rain because Ireland is famous for its rainy climate! They would be disappointed if it didnt rain. But for Irish people we hate it haha Thats why I went to dubai then Beijing for 2 weeks at the start of june :)

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