First I'd like to thank everyone on this forum who offered so many helpful suggestions before our trip. Thanks to you we were much better prepared (though who could expect a hurricane)?
Next I'd like to say that the Rick Steves' "Heart of Ireland" tour was a GREAT experience and surpassed my expectations. Although the tours seem a bit pricey compared to individual travel, about halfway through the tour I realized it was a bargain! We had so many excellent experiences, more than were listed on the itinerary. In addition, the guides were all wonderful and very personable. We also made friends with our tour companions.
We booked B&Bs through Airbnb (another helpful forum suggestion) before and after the tour. These lodgings and the people offering them added to the overall quality of the trip. As chance would have it, we were in Dublin for the hurricane. All the museums, parks, banks and schools closed that day. It was windy and otherwise quiet (much safer than the south and western coasts).
Garrison