Booking lodging ahead

Even if you follow your whims, there is nothing to keep you from doing research ahead of your trip. You could print maps online from Google or viaMichellin of the area, then go to the usual booking sites and check out some of the towns you expect to visit or be near during your trip. If any places strike your fancy, print off the information and keep it in a file that you can pull out on those days when late afternoon rolls around and desirable pickings seem slim. Organize the file to your heart's content. You can collect a lot of pages and still not have a lot to carry around. If you stumble upon better places, you only have a dozen or so pieces of paper to throw away.

Thanks, Roy. I am compiling folders full of lodging info. What I'm really wondering if it's hard to book a good room at the last minute, at this time of year.

My observations are general as I have had no direct experience in Ireland, and those who do may not have seen your question. If you have not already done so, you might want to post your question on the Ireland board of TripAdvisor.

But I do have some thoughts on this:
You are traveling just before peak tourist season. There will be some tourism hotspots, of course, but Ireland does not attract the international crowd like Italy does. So it is not likely you will have a lot of problems finding lodging on the road. However, with the availability of detailed maps, country and city websites and hotel/b&b/apartment search engines online these days, there's no reason not to book places ahead. You would still have plenty of time for day trips or simply wandering from two or three comfortable home bases.

When you get to town you want to stay in, go to the Tourist Information office and they will find a room for you. Tell them your price range and general needs and they can do it for you. They can look ahead to your next stop as well.

In numerous trips, have not found a problem finding a good B&B except for once and it was our own fault for not researching ahead. We went to Kinsale and did not know they were having a major jazz festival. First B&B in town did not have room but she called around for us and found something very good in town. if you know what towns you will be visiting, you can post here or on TA for suggestions. If you are not sure where you will be stopping, the TI in most towns have good information and as said they will call ahead for you. Also the B&B where you are staying may have a contact at your next stop and will usually call ahead for you. Just so you know, when you get to a B&B, you can ask to see the room before you agree to stay. My first trip, I did not realize you could do that and we stayed at a place that was not really that good. Have a wonderful time. You won't be sleeping in your car!

A car definitely helps you to be flexible, since you can reach B&Bs that are further out of town or move on to the next town, if necessary. Contacting places the evening before or the morning of your arrival also works, since they should have a good idea of whether any other guests have extended or cancelled their plans.

@Gail: Interesting to hear we could look at a B&B room before agreeing to stay. Does this apply to B&B rooms booked in advance?