Ireland Anniversry Trip Itinerary Advice

This is a lot of driving. I would suggest skipping Kinsale and perhaps staying in the Killarney area or adding another night in the Shannon area. You would then have time to explore Bunratty castle and the folk park next door. If you go to Kinsale, you won’t have time to see much!
I am also flying into and out of Shannon this summer for one week.
This is my itinerary;
3 nights Dingle
1 night Killarney
2 nights Kinsale
1 night Shannon ( but I have already done the castle and folk park on previous trip)
Also, if u add a night in Shannon there is a medieval banquet at the castle that is good fun.

Thanks for the reply! If we skip Kinsale, I was thinking of staying somewhere near Cahir or Cashel?
9/27 Doolin

9/28 Dingle

9/29 Dingle

9/30 Dingle

10/1 Cahir area? (Rock of Cashel is a must for me)

10/2 Bunratty

10/3 Fly out inShannon

Please look at driving times from Dingle to Rock of Cashel. You can do through Google driving. And then add several hours or double it! If you do Rock of Cashel, you will spend two full days driving just to get there and get back to Shannon area. I haven't been to Rock of Cashel, but I am pretty sure it would not be worth it!!!

Ok, will do! Thanks for the driving time tips!

Unless you're planning to explore more of the Dingle peninsula than Slea Head Drive, I think 3 nights in Dingle would be one too many.
Cashel is only about an hour and 15 minutes from Bunratty, so you might consider just staying there 2 nights and making a day trip out of it rather than having to move two nights in a row. There's a lot to see in the area: Limerick might be of interest, especially if you're a fan of Frank McCourt (Angela's Ashes, etc.), and the pretty little town of Adare is worth a look too. If you elect to stay in the immediate vicinity of Cashel, consider the short walk down the hill to the ruins of Hore Abbey. You'll have the place all to yourselves, and the view back up the hill to the Rock make for a good photo op, and/or a good place for a picnic lunch.
Agree that the advertised driving times are overly optimistic no matter which mapping service you use. We've found that adding about 30% to the estimated drive times is about right. And you're bound to see inviting places to stop along the way which will further extend your journey.

Good idea...I think we might just add that extra night at Bunratty. Thanks for the advice!

Car rental....we found the best rates and for ease of service ......we use Easirent. They are located just outside of the airport and will pick you up and drop you off. There are other good, reputable car rental agencies at the airport or just off site like Easirent that are fine. In the past we just found them more expensive and also very nit-picky on the details than Easirent. Regardless.....recommend an automatic and definitely get max CDW Insurance coverage INCLUDING tire and windshield coverage. So worth it for Irish roads.

As far as first day personally I'd skip Galway. It's a pretty city, but it's touristy, congested and its a city. Unless your really into city "stuff", which I would think would take a long part of the day to enjoy.....I'd decrease my overall driving times and just go to Doolin. There is plenty to do there. Excellent restaurants and pubs. Great trad music. If you're tired from jet lag and driving they have a super easy to use hop on hop off shuttle for a minor charge...Will take you all over including the Cliffs of Moher.. Which btw are best seen early or late in the day......less tourists and buses, birds more active etc. Also there are very affordable Cliffs of Moher cruises available. You could easily hop on an afternoon trip. They don't take long but are a lot of fun to see the Cliffs from under them.....impressive !

Heck, if you see the Cliffs on your first day after a more leisurely drive you either have more time to enjoy the next days drive to Dingle or you could from Doolin have a day trip to the Aran Islands.....take a horse cart or tour bus ride to amazing sights like Dun Anghosa. Just a thought. It really is beautiful.

If on Dingle you just want to do Slea Head drive that really is just one day. If you are also exploring other fun sights like the Oratory, a boat ride out to the Blaskets, and nice villages like Ballyferriter another day would be great.

If on a later day you are considering the Rock of Cashel....it and nearby ruins are very impressive and well worth a visit......but agree with previous poster it wouldn't be worth burning most of a day there and another day back......especially when in Ireland there is always amazing things to see and do near to where you are. If you do find yourself within an hour or two of Cashel it's well worth it.

No matter where you are there are great things to see and do nearby. So cutting back on driving is a good thing. The trade off of extra driving to see another "major" thing or sight isn't remotely worth it. In Ireland less is always WAY more....especially since wherever you are there are magical hidden gems close at hand....and ask locals for ideas.....they know amazing other things to see and do.....and allowing time to interact with the people is what turns an Ireland trip from a checklist completed into an amazingly deep life experience.

Have a great trip and happy anniversary !

I suggest sticking to County Clare and Dingle over a six night stay. Maybe go as far south as Kenmare. Kinsale is too much of a stretch. Ennis is a great base in Clare. (Wy wife and I visited Ireland in 2002 and 2016 and have visited all of these places, so I speak from experience. Both times we stopped by Doolin the weather was very stormy, even scary if you got anywhere near the ocean.)

Thanks so much for your replies! I think we have officially crossed Kinsale off our list and are just trying to decide if we should go to Adare for one night before we get to Bunratty for our last night OR just stay in Bunratty for 2 nights. Also thanks for the car rent advice, will definitely check into that! Thanks again, we're very excited for this experience!

Adare is a beautiful town so I would stay there one night and Bunratty one night.

Are you sure you want (or should) drive upon arrival? Lack of sleep, jet lag, not being familiar with the road system, and driving on the "wrong" side of the road can all be problems. Some people are not bothered by any of those things while some are actually driving while impaired. And there are some who shouldn't be allowed to handle sharp objects. Don't mean to be a party pooper, but even a minor fender bender at the start of the trip will be a real bummer. Just food for thought as it sounds like a great trip. Ireland is beautiful and I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time.

I think we'll be ok to drive, I'm sure my husband will sleep on the plane and the drive isn't that long, I understand it will be different driving on the left. Fingers crossed!