drive car over Gap of Dunloe?

We drove this road in early June a few years ago. We started at the top end and really didn't find much traffic until closer to the end. It was a beautiful drive. Have fun.

Drove over in November. One horse cart, 4 hikers, 2 rock climbers, 6 cars, 1 lorry, many sheep. Easy peasy, but it was November not May. Killarney National Park is gorgeous. Be sure to walk through some of it!!

My B&B owner in Kenmare had told me that your not suppose to drive it, it is illegal but that no one will stop you if your driving on it. I would just play it by ear. I saw only one cop the whole time I was in that area. They didn't pull me over. The other road up there N71 also has a great view going on.

Thanks to all for the replies.

We have now completed our trip. For those interested in Gap of Dunloe, here I answer my own question. Short Answer: yes you can drive a car through the Gap as long as you don't mind the sneers from the cart drivers, the looks from walkers, and the constant need to back up and let other vehicles go by.
More info: We drove the Gap from Kate's Cottage to the top and then down the back side through Black Valley on 8 May at approx 3 pm. Despite the sign I referred to in my initial question, no one stopped us and in fact an Irish Post driver was a great help to us in getting through a narrow area. The caution I would provide is that the road is VERY narrow in places with lots of rock jutting into the road and there are several 90 degree turns so don't expect to move quickly. And it's a VERY scenic area so you shouldn't plan to. The traffic we encountered was thicker than I expected. We passed dozens of walkers, five or six horse carts and more than a dozen motorized vehicles. I was surprised to see what were apparently several private homes several miles into the Gap, which explains the Post vehicle. Walkers and other vehicles were thickest the first few miles in from Kate's not surprisingly. Traffic fell off greatly about 2/3s of the way in to the top of the pass. We passed only 2 vehicles on the way down the back side into Black Valley. BTW, if I had a car with manual transmission I would not want to come in to the Gap the back way from Black Valley, the road is very steep and very winding. We saw a woman desperately struggling with her clutch on that side.

Bottom line: yes take a car in if you need to as we did. Just plan on taking it slowly.

Glad you made it. Was the favorite part of my last visit to the West coast of Ireland. Thanks for the follow up.