best sites to see in Ireland with only 5days.

From the few criteria you've cited and with so little time, in addition to the Dingle Peninsula and town I'd recommend most anywhere in the West, the most scenic part in Ireland. Specifically, the Aran Islands, Galway and Connemara to keep things somewhat close to Dingle.

However, since I assume you're flying into Dublin too, driving to the West Coast and back will consume quite a bit of travel time. Fortunately, the flight from Paris is short. Why not fly into and out of Shannon instead?

From what many others here say, going by car takes up much more time than you'd think. An alternative is to take the train: https://www.irishrail.ie/en-ie. Be aware that Dingle has no train service; the closest stations are in Killarney and Tralee.

A wiser choice, albeit with less in the way of scenic coastlines and perhaps music (trad I presume) is to stick to the East Coast.

Does the 5 days include your travel days? I would fly into Shannon, as suggested and then go to Galway to see the coastline and sites such as the Cliffs of Mohr, The Burren, Aran Islands or Connemara Park. It’s hard to recommend much with such a short time frame.

Thanks for the suggestions. i had no idea that you could fly into Shannon. Day 1 would be our travel day from Paris & thankfully a short flight so that we can still enjoy Ireland that afternoon. Then another full 4days from there to explore the country & home to Canada from Dubin on day 13 of our European adventure.

If you can't fly directly from Paris to Shannon and instead arrive in Dublin, you can see if there's a convenient connecting flight in Dublin to Kerry Airport which is about an hour's drive from Dingle town. Another alternative is to take the bus to Galway upon arrival in Dublin. The bus picks you up outside the terminal.

What time of year are you planning for this?

Are you wanting to stay in a single base for the five days or move around?

While it may be possiblke to use public transport, you will have a lot more flexibility if you hire a car. Unless you are really planning to get off the beaten track, there shouldn't be nmajor problems with navigating.

What made you focus on Dingle rather than other parts of Ireland?

Having only 5 days I would stay in Killarney and doing daytours from there by derostours or a private driver

To Dingle ,the Ring of Kerry, Beara Peninsula Valentia Island Portmagee and the Skelligs
and more

More details when you decide to go

I appreciate that your father isn't a big city lover, but having come from Paris, I doubt he would find Dublin to be a big city. Paris itself has a population of around 2 million, while its metro area is over 13 million. The City of Dublin, on the other hand, has a population of about 600k and a metro area of around 1.2 million. Dublin has all of the things he's interested in and no driving needed. The government-run museums have free admission. You can do day trips, either on your own or with a tour company, to the Boyne Valley, a place steeped in history, or Howth on the coast for beautiful walks. You could do the Giant's Causeway and Belfast tour previously mentioned. You would even squeeze in an overnight in Belfast, which would allow you to do the black taxi tour, a GC tour that doesn't take 13 hours, and see the Titanic museum.
If you really don't want to stay in Dublin, take the advice of the other commenter and take the bus or train to Killarney, where they make it very easy for you to see and do all the things.

We really enjoyed the history going north from Dublin (and Dublin itself).
Saint Patrick sights: Downpatrick, Armagh, Hills of Slane & Tara,
Belfast: Ulster museum & the wall
Giants Causeway & Bushmills distillery.

Greetings from Ireland (and Dingle Bay!)

Your clan trip sounds like it will be epic regardless of where you choose to visit in Ireland. I have 3 daughters and hope that one day they'll tell me to pack my bags and organise to take me off on a nice tour :)

Dingle could easily be done in a rental car, I honestly dont think you'd find the driving hard to navigate, or you could take the train from Dublin to Tralee and have a private tour-driver collect you all there and bring you to Dingle, and even tour you around Slea head.
Its definitely a great base for a few days. Ive been based in Dingle for quite a few years, so Im understandably biased, and I guided 200 tour for Rick Steves through Dingle, and I know its Rick's favourite spot in Ireland also, so its a safe bet for enjoying and savouring an Irish experience in a few days. But of course, while in the south-west region you all could also spend a night in Killarney, or Ennis, or Kinsale. Theres so many choices.

Safe journey through our beloved Ireland and back to equally beautiful Canada, and if you do end up renting a car remember the old Irish proverb - "keep it between the ditches" ;)

Is mise le meas/from me with respect
Stephen McPhilemy
Blissfuly retired Rick Steves lead Ireland tour-guide

May is a lovely time to visit as everywhere will be green and there should be plenty of wild flowers. The west is definitely the most scenic. Don’t be too ambitious with those five days as driving in Ireland is slow. Distances may not look far on the map but it will take a lot longer to cover the ground than you might expect.

For what you want, Dingle would make a good base for the five days, as you can do Cliffs of Moher and the Burren from there as well as Killarney, Ring of Kerry etc. There are plenty of pubs for beer and music - have a read here for some ideas.

While you can book day tours from each place, you will have a lot more flexibility if you hire a car. You can book a one way hire, picking up at Shannon and dropping off at Dublin Airport.

For day tours from Dingle, have a look at
• Begley’s Tours
or
• Dingle Slea Head tours if you want to book a private tour which it may be possible to tweek to include a visit to a sheep farm. Check out comparative costs for four of you.

There is a sheep and petting farm on the Slea head drive. Alternatively you could also consider [Kissane Farm,][5] which is a traditional hill farm between Killarney and Kenmare - about two hours drive from Dingle. Make this the focus of a day trip to include Killarney National Park etc.

When you say castles, do you mean ruined ones of better preserved ones? There are a some of ruined ones near Dingle, but you only view the outside.
• Minard
• [Rahinnane][7]
• Gallarus

For a ‘proper’ castle, the best one is probably Bunratty Castle which is about 15 minute drive from Shannon Airport. Depending on what time you land at Shannon, you could visit this on the first day. The Folk Park is also fun to visit. Depending on time either spend the night in that area (you could even attend the Medieval Banquet!) or drive onto Dingle if there is time - allow three hours for this.

In Killarney there is Muckross House which isn’t strictly a castle but is furnished. The Traditional Farms are also interesting to visit.
There is also the ruined Ross Castle which you can visit.

You will need to allow 5 -6 hours to drive back to Dublin, so will probably need to do this on Day 4 and fly out on Day 5. Depending on what time your flight is, there may be time for a visit to Malahide Castle which is about 15 minutes drive from the airport.

Enjoy the trip!

Given your extremely limited time, your stated interests, and your reluctance to rent a car my suggestion would be to hop on the Express Bus from Dublin airport upon arrival and base yourselves in Galway for a few nights before returning to Dublin city for your return flight, allowing at least a full day to explore the city.
From Galway there are a number of day trip and tour providers that will take you over to the Cliffs and the Burren, as well as doing a circuit of beautiful Connemara. The village of Cong is particularly endearing. It was the location for the old John Wayne/Maureen O'hara film "The Quiet Man" back in the 50's and it still looks like the film set it was back in the day - it's a very pleasant place to just wander around.
There's also the option of taking the ferry (or flying), over to Inishmore for a day trip or an overnighter that would certainly cover all of the items on your father's "to do" list, while not having to rely on a car for any of it.

I recently recommended Stephen McPhilemy’s tour company for a private tour for some friends, and would suggest you look into this possibility for your group. I see he already posted here. Stephen was our tour guide on our Heart of Ireland tour a few years back, and he was fabulous! Perhaps fly into Dublin, take the train to Galway or another west coast city, enjoying the countryside across Ireland. Or fly into Shannon or Galway. Maybe he could pick up your group in the west coast city/town, tour the west coast sites, go to Dingle and the peninsula, then take you up to Cork or Killarney where you can get the train back to Dublin. This gives you a big loop with lots of countryside, opportunities for beer and music, and a variety of scenery. Plus if he drives the south west portion for you, that will be easier and much more informative than you driving or figuring out buses. And it would be efficient in seeing and experiencing as much as you can in your limited time there. I’m sure he would find wonderful and authentic accommodations for you as well. He is a wealth of knowledge and a great baritone as well! I’m sure he could recommend an itinerary for you. Your dad and sisters are worth it, and it would be a trip of a lifetime for all!
https://www.essentialirelandtours.com/