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Help with planning 12 Day Trip

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My wife and I decided a bit late in the game to visit Ireland this mid-September for the first time. My main goal is to finalize our plans so we can get lodging. I was hoping for some feedback about our itinerary. We also have some questions. We read Rick Steves Ireland and are not too interested in Dublin, museums, or shopping. What intrigued us most in our readings is the natural beauty and natural history of the country. There is a lot to see! Right now we plan:

1 Night in Dublin: No itinerary here yet. Pick up our rental car and visit Powerscourt and perhaps Glendalough on our way to Kilkenny.

2 Nights in Kilkenny: 1 Day Rock of Cashel and explore Kilkenny. 1 Day drive south through Waterford and along the Copper Coast on our way to Killarney.

4 Nights in Killarney: 1 day for Ring of Kerry. 1 day for Killarney National Park. 1 day for Dingle Peninsula and Slea Head. 1 Day drive to Galway stopping at Cliffs of Moher and the Burren.

3 Nights in Gallway: 1 Day Ishnimore, 1 day in Connemara area, 1 Day drive back to Dublin.

1 Night Dublin: Fly Home

Is 2 days in Kilkenny too long? We are wondering whether we should take some nights from Kilkenny and Killarney and spend 2 nights in Dingle since it is highly recommended by Rick Steves. If we don't do Dingle we thought of taking a night and spending it in Clifden to not rush our experience of Connemara before driving back to Dublin. Also please let us know if we are planning too much. This has been one of the most difficult trips to plan! Thank You. Robert

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1870 posts

The itinerary works. Don't over think or worry about it. Don't try and include anything else one of teh dangers on a forum is that everyone starts listing all their favourite places and saying you really m ust try and include them. The danger is you then end up with a crammed and unworkable itinerary.

I wouldn't take a day from Kilkenny as two nights only gives you a full day there and there is lots to do and see in Kilkenny itself.

Dingle Peninsula and Slea Head can be done in a day from Killarney. (Just because it comes highly recommended by RS doesn't mean you have to stop longer there - there are so many other places in Ireland that are as good!)

Much as I love Connemara (and actually prefer it to Killarney) I think I'd stick with your original plan of three nights there.

On the way back from Galway to Dublin, think about stopping in Athenry with its ruined castle and also the early Christina site of Clonmacnoise. Both are on teh way so don't involve a long detour.

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