15 Day Ireland Itinerary Help!

Have you already booked your flights? If not, look into flying into or out of Dublin and then into or out of Shannon. Would save you some time and you could stay on the west coast at the end of your trip instead of driving back to Dublin.

Rock of Cashel isn't really on the way to Kilkenny. Maybe consider doing that on your way to Kinsale, and stop at Glendalough on your way to Kilkenny? I think you could easily do Rock of Cashel and the distillery on your way to Kinsale.

Driving the Ring of Kerry and heading to Dingle is a lot of driving for one day. It's doable, but maybe consider cutting a day somewhere else (see below re: Londonderry). Also, you are really only giving yourself one day in Dingle. Although it is a small town, you'll want at least a half a day (in my opinion) to drive the Slea Head Road, and ideally more time to relax and enjoy the town and area. It was our favorite part of Ireland.

Galway to Londonderry by Google Maps is 4 hours one way, and Londonderry to Dublin is listed as 3 hours - and I promise you it'll take you longer than that. I don't think it is worth the time it would take you to get there to go.

So if you have to fly into and out of Dublin, maybe do:

5/16- Arrive in Dublin mid morning
5/17- Dublin
5/18- Dublin
5/19-Leave Dublin. Drive to Kilkenny with Glendalough along the way.
5/20- Kilkenny
5/21- Drive to Kinsale with stops at Rock of Cashel and Midleton Distillery along the way.
5/22- Kinsale
5/23- Drive to Kenmare with stop in the Killarney National Park along way.
5/24- Drive Ring of Kerry, stay night at Kenmare
5/25- drive to Dingle
5/26 - Dingle
5/27 - Drive to Galway with stops in Limerick and along Cliffs of Moher (this is a full day - you'll get to Galway around dinner time). Also consider skipping Limerick (a relatively unimpressive town) and taking the Tarbert-Killimer ferry to save time. From the Cliffs, drive through the Burren on your way to Galway).
5/28- Galway (Aran Islands trip)
5/29- drive near Athlone/Tullamore - go to D.E.W. Heritage site (you have expressed an interest in distilleries) and see Clonmacnoise (impressive ancient ruins). Stay around there (this is in between Galway and Dublin).
5/30- Back to Dublin, but stop at Newgrange en route
5/31- Fly out

Your itinerary overall is very good, the above is merely my suggestion. But I would strongly discourage you from trying to squeeze in Londonderry.

This is a doable itinerary, but you will be driving a lot. If it was my trip, (I spent all two weeks on our first trip on the west coast), I would cut out N. Ireland. Then you could fly into Dublin and out of Shannon.
Slow down and you will enjoy your trip more. Plus, you want to allow time for something spontaneous should the occasion arise. Have a wonderful trip!

Thanks! I'm leaning towards no N. Ireland this trip because it adds some long drive times. Southwestern Ireland seems much more driveable and compact. I would definitely like to add a day in Dingle since that seems to be everyone's favorite part of Ireland. We've also considered ditching car in Galway and just taking the train back to Dublin at the end. Our flights are already purchased through Dublin both ways (we have really easy connections both ways so not too worried about that).

We are booking flights out of Charlotte, NC and it was $100 less flying into Shannon and then our return flight out of Dublin. I really thought it would have been cheaper booking round trip! I'm looking forward to one less travel day across the country!