5 Day Ireland Trip by car

Since your flight will most likely get in around 9:30, you might want to do what we did on our first trip. We drove the six or so miles to Bunratty Castle after leaving the airport. We toured the castle, then had lunch at the little shopping center across the road before setting off toward the Cliffs of Moher. We spent our first night at Moher Lodge in Liscannor, five minutes or so from the cliffs. We had dinner in Doolin that night, and by the next day we were comfortable with driving on the "other" side of the road, and were ready to set off further afield.

Follow Rs outline loop going south to west and back to Shannon.

Thanks, good advice.
Am using it as a guideline.
This is what I have so far:
Shannon to Dingle
2 nights in Dingle (Emlagh Lodge?)
Dingle to Doolin or Galway for 1 night (suggestions for lodging?)
Galway to Cong (1 night in the Castle for my daughter)
Cong to Ennis 1 night (suggestions for lodging?)
Ennis to Shannon.
And all of the sights along the way.
Thoughts anybody? Would love the feedback.

Are you planning Ennis for your last night? You might consider staying in the Bunratty area instead. As I mentioned before, it's only six miles from the airport, and there are numerous B&Bs along the Bunratty road behind the castle. We stayed at one called Dunedin Lodge.

Thank you so much! You all have been very helpful. Our flight gets into Shannon at 5:30 AM so I think Dingle is doable even with a stop at Bunratty. It does seem a lot of driving to Galway and Cong but my daughter is very excited to stay at Ashford Castle for her Birthday. Maybe we will not go to Galway at all but break the drive up earlier and make it more leisurely to Cong. Again, thanks for all of your feedback and lookk forward to any further offerings/opinions.

What airline are you taking? My flights from Chicago, whether to Dublin or Shannon, have always gotten in around 9:00 AM.

I have seen arrivals into Shannon and Dublin at earlier times on "Continental" usually thru Philly.
Dan

Ah, OK, that explains it. I always take a nonstop direct from Chicago.

It is Continental through Newark. Got a heckuva rate. Also my daughter is flying Continentatl from Houston and we will hook up in Newark and fly together the rest of the trip. I am a non-stop person as well but this was too good to pass up for both of us.

Yes....it was Continental thru Newark. I believe it was US Airways that has fairly early arrivals in Dublin or Shannon, thru Philly...Dan

Forget about the mileage you would cover in Western US