Dingle/Kerry April Traffic?

April is early enough in the season that you'll avoid most of crowds, which don't really arrive until the school break begins in June. That said, your best bet is always to get an early start. Most of the buses don't seem to depart the Killarney area until around 10 AM or so. Kenmare is a much quieter alternative to staying in Killarney town, and from there you can easily drive out the Beara peninsula one day - a very pretty drive itself.
Dingle is much less affected by traffic than the ROK. Have never found the Slea Head Drive to be a problem.
A very nice side trip off the ROK is the spur that goes out to Valentia Island and the Skellig Center. Worth a trip on its own merit, and tour buses don't go there (as of the summer of '14).

Hi Jack, Robert is absolutely right, April is early in the season and the hordes wont have hit the Ring of Kerry much by then, and the Dingle Peninsula is rarely a problem. Ive taken tours around it over 500 times so I speak from experience!
Enjoy!
Le meas/with respect
Stephen McPhilemy
Rick Steves Tour-Guide

Thank you, Robert and Stephen, for the VERY helpful information. That will put our minds to rest as we plan our April adventures in Southwest Ireland.

P.S.
Rick Steves and others recommend/specify driving counter-clockwise on the Dingle peninsula and the Ring of Kerry. Is that because the buses are going clockwise (not a problem in April), or are there other reasons as well?

Yep, it's to go opposite the bus traffic.

I was in Dingle during the last week of April. There was little traffic. I drove clockwise with no problems. I don't recall seeing any tour buses.

Jack the bus situation and following vs meeting vs clockwise vs counterclockwise was interesting. Being a USA driver and recently driving on the Isle of Skye I actually found it easier to follow busses and trucks. Meeting trucks and busses on the narrow roads was more difficult for me than following them. I guess if you are in a hurry then bus/truck may slow you down but if you are out touring Dingle and not trying to reach a hiking location or dinner reserv. I found having the larger vehicle in front of me a nice frame of reference for the roadway. Just my experience. I hope to do Dingle in a year so I will try to see a post from you with an April traffic report for Dingle, looks like the month for me as well!

The RS caution (and recommendation) refers to getting stuck behind an entire caravan of buses... as can be the case during the high traffic months along the ROK.