Ireland ideas/itinerary please from Ireland pros

This Oct or next? If this Oct I would see where you can get reservations. If next I would start with the Rick Steve’s guide book to see what interests you

This Oct. We had a travel window so we lept.

The AT A GLANCE section might help you plan.
https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/ireland

I would get on booking.com now and see what is open. I will let others jump in on places. We just finished a RS tour and added two days on both ends. Enjoy

3 to 4 locations in 10 days IS jumping location to location. That’s what “touring by car” means. You can do a huge loop drive all around the island, stopping in a different place every night. Just decide clockwise or counterclockwise.

If you want to spend more time in one or two places and take day trips, you need to decide what day trips you want to make. This will dictate the places you decide to stay (also availability of accommodation).

This site has a lot resources for planning an itinerary. It even has a suggested driving route. But it is for 21 days, not 10. You could Google “10-day driving tour of Ireland” as well.

Although I sometimes target staying in places for multiple nights, the things that we're interested in are usually between towns, so rather than constantly backtracking, we hop from town to town. If you resist the urge to take the kitchen sink with you, checking in and out of lodging is no harder than walking to/from the car. If you're more interested in the things close to towns (museums, walking tours, etc) then two nights in one spot is okay. Other's prefer to camp out in just one or two places, which is definitely not our cup of Guinness. In 64 days of visits, we've stayed three nights in Dublin, Dingle and Belfast, two nights in Doolin, Dunfanaghy, Donegal, Galway and the remaining nights were singles. Our 2025 trip does include a triple in Cork and three doubles, probably more a reflection of getting old than a change in preferences.

Past two weeks we did Galway, Ennis, Dingle, Kenmare, Kinsale and Kilkenny. All good but would drop Ennis and Kinsale to give you four locations outside of Dublin. If in Galway, definitely see the show "Trad on the Prom" if performing the day you are there. Also, the best traditional music in pubs is in the west and you will witness that in Galway. We had a car, but would highly recommend Paul Brown Tour of the Ring of Kerry if he is available.

A group of 4 adults spent 10 nights touring the south of Ireland. We landed in the morning and drove to Rock of Cashel, about 2 hour drive, for the night. We didn’t want to drive long distances after flying all night. We got up early to tour Rock of Cashel before the tour buses arrived. Beautiful abbey ruins worth a visit. Great way to get a feel for Irish countryside. Next we drove to Kenmare for 2 nights with a stop at Kinsale for lunch. We drove the Ring of Kerry, stopping wherever we saw something worth visiting. IMHO it is as beautiful as the Cliffs of Moher. On to Dingle for another 2 nights. Then Galway via Cliffs of Moher for 2 nights, exploring the Connemara. On to Dublin with a stop at Clonmacnoise another worthy site. Unfortunately it was pouring rain but still could enjoy the visit. Luckily Sean’s bar/oldest bar in Ireland/was a short drive away. stopped for Irish coffee and on to Dublin for three nights.

I spent a lot of time planning this itinerary. I actually found some blogs on pinterest recommending this tour with short stops along the way to to see things we wouldn’t have been aware of, like Hazel Mountain chocolate.

definitely not a pro but I would say focus North/West or South/West, not both....I found the road trip Ireland site very useful. lots of ideas for stops along the way and routes....

Recently landed in Dublin (8 nights)
1. drove to New grange spent night outside Belfast (we skipped Mourne Mountains but could be good with more time
2.Belfast (we did Black cab and Christmas markets but with more time would've done Crumlin Gaol and Titanic). I would do two nights minimum
3. Antrim Coast (Giant's causeway, Dunluce, Mussendon, etc) Would've liked to Carrickfergus and rope bridge with more time
4. Derry (walls, and many museums/Polltical murals. Coleraine was convenient stay
5.We stayed two nights in Donegal 3 or 4 would've been better (Slieve League, Malin Beg, Glenveagh Castle, etc TONS!)
6.Headed back to Dublin (guinnesss - not worth the hype, Kilmahain totally worth it. also did walking tour and Chester Beaty. Lots in Dublin - Jamesons was recommended, Book of Kells, famine ship, Epic, etc...

Donegal was a little out of way but Slieve League was huge interest to my children and it didn't disappoint

Many years ago I visited lots South/west of Dublin, Glendalough, Kilkenny, Waterford, Kinsale (was my favorite), Blarney (skip) Killarney, Rock of Cashel, Ring of Kerry, Cliffs of Moher, Dingle peninsula, Galway, Connnemara, Westport to stay with friend's family. lovely town..... This was over a lot more time than you have though.....and my order is probably not geographically sensible....

oops. I think this trip happened months ago.