Need help tweaking an itinerary

Hi, my husband and I are taking our adult son on a trip to Ireland in late July/early August. We've pretty much settled on an itinerary, but I need help ... I don't have any idea about distances and driving times, and I wonder if we're spending too much time in Dublin. We plan to rent a car and drive the south route clockwise. Hopefully we can tie in a visit to distant relatives in Clifden, which is why it's on the itinerary.

Day 1: Dublin - We arrive in Dublin @ 8:45. Hop on-Hop off tour, Guinness Storehouse (his only request)
Day 2: Dublin - HOHO tour incl. Trinity College & Book of Kells, Kilmainham Gaol
Day 3: to Kinsale - Plain of Tipperary/ Rock of Cashel/ Hore Abbey, Sleep in Kinsale (1 night)
Day 4: to Dingle? - Mizen Head, Dromberg Stone Circle, Blarney Castle/House/gardens. Not sure where to stay; Dingle, or too far?
Day 5: Dingle - Killarney National Park, Muckross House & Abbey, Sleep in Dingle (2 nights)
Day 6: Dingle - Slea Head Drive, An Dunbeag, Great Blasket Centre
Day 7: Galway - Cliffs of Moher, the Burren. Visit Clifden. Sleep in Galway (2 nights)
Day 8: Galway - Aran Islands, Sky Road, and visit family
Day 9: to Dublin - Need to find things to do/see on the way
Day 10: Dublin - Free time, heading out early tomorrow.

I read a suggestion to rent a car at the airport, but am wondering if it would be better to spend a day in Dublin first? Also, Bunratty Castle is often mentioned; is it worth the money and time? Thanks for any advice you can offer.

use Google MAPS / MY MAPS ...see Youtube video
in Cork visit Cobh say Cove
and visit the town's heritage centre
and see the " Queenstown Story "
also see.....SHANNONFERRIES.COM / MAP
detour to Foynes County Limerick
see FLYINGBOATMUSEUM.COM /
on route to Galway stop by town of Doolin, Clare.
Connemara, make sure you visit the town of Leenane
Youtube the following :

AT YOUR SERVICE PART 1 followed by part 2 and part 3.
enjoy.

Getting from Cork to Dingle, via Blarney, is perfectly feasible, but adding Mizen Head would make that a rather long day I think. Driving time from Cork to Mizen Head to Dingle is 6:30 hours according to this website which you may find useful: http://www2.aaireland.ie/routes_beta/ That's without Blarney or Dromberg (which I'm afraid I've never heard of myself) and without time to stop for meals, rests, sightseeing etc.

Day 7. Dingle to Galway via the Cliffs of Moher is 5 hours just driving, it doesn't seem to make sense to go to Clifden that day as Clifden is on the far side of Galway - and you have 'Sky Road' listed for Day 8 - this is just outside Clifden. (maybe this was a mistake?)

Day 8. You should have a think about how long you want to spend on Aran and check out ferry times. I imagine you will want a couple of hours there at least.

Day 9: Clonmacnoise is worth a visit on the way back from Galway to Dublin, and not too far out of your way.

Overall my comment would be that you have a lot of driving planned. Remember that road conditions in Ireland, although a lot better than some years ago, may not be what you're used to in Panama (or maybe yes!) and it may take a lot more time to cover distances than you expect - particularly given that your route will take you along a lot of minor roads in out-of-the-way parts of the country. You're basically planning to visit Dublin and three fairly spaced-out regions- Cork, Kerry and Galway. You might want to consider maybe skipping Cork and heading straight from Dublin to Dingle to have a more relaxed time. But you're the only one that can decide if that suits you!

I agree with #2's points about travel times. Once you are off the motorway and onto smaller roads (even some of the N roads are strange single lane things) your travel time goes through the roof. I think skipping cork is a good idea. Dingle is a nice place to stay but Killarney may be more convenient for Day 4-6.

Don't rent your car until you are ready to leave Dublin. Getting from airport to Dublin use the 16a Dublin bus which is about EUR2.30 per person (I think prices are about to go up) and they will want correct money for the fares although you may want to take a taxi (which will cost about EUR30.

Think carefully about getting a HOHO tkt for two days, they are quite expensive and you could spend an afternoon doing the storehouse, modern art gallery and Kilmainham jail and they are easily within walking distance for reasonably fit people.

I am of the opinion that Dublin needs a good solid two days (one centring around the west end and sights like the modern art museum, St Michan's Church (check for tour times as a tour of the vault is a key part of the visit), the Guinness Storehouse, Kilmanhaim jail, Phoenix Park/zoo, modern art gallery and Collin's Barracks (more likely a selection of) and a second day centrally to include the national gallery, Merrion Square (and Oscar Wilde statue), the Kildare St archaeology museum, Chester Beatty Library, Trinity College/Book of Kells, Temple Bar, Grafton St and St Stephen's Green. IMO, the Guinness factory and the Book of Kells are not worth it (particularly price wise) but visitors seem to come away satisfied from visits to both. St Patricks and Christ Church can fit it into either day. I've highlighted the places I think are the best lesser known highlights of Dublin.

In terms of good places for a few Guinness in Dublin Dawson Lounge in Kildare St, Kehoe's in Sth Anne St off Grafton St, and The International Bar in Wicklow St are all good with a bit of traditional atmosphere. For live music try Donohoes near St Stephen's Green (particularly Sunday afternoon session), McNeill's in Capel St (Saturday night's from 9.30-midnight's great) and Temple Bar pub in Temple Bar (Saturday afternoon can be great but it depends on who is playing and you are paying EUR4.95 a pint).

I always ask people why they are going to Blarney Castle. There are a million better castles to visit where you won't have to waste time queue and are not Disneyland.

Edited by: markfawkner

FREE SPIRIT TIME
PLEASE give an update ?

With regard to my post at #3. Linking means highlighting is not apparent, the other two I had highlighted were Chester Beatty Library and St Michan's Church.