Itinerary feedback for an Irish road trip/Scotland

Your Aug 30- 31 - Sept 1 plan sounds like it would involve a huge amount of driving and stress because you have to catch your flight. Any chance you could fly to Edinburgh from Shannon instead of Dublin? If not, I would say skip Ring of Kerry (or Dingle -- the latter seems to get many more recommendations, at least on this forum). There are several popular destinations close to Dublin that would make your trip memorable and less stressful.

On the Edinburgh end, it looks good to me.

I cannot comment on the Scotland part as I have not yet been but the Ireland leg seems really rushed to me. For example by the time you get to Killarney after having driven from Kilkenny and stopped at the Rock of Cashel, you will not actually have much if any time to see Killarney.

Any alternative suggestions?

The first thing I would do, if still possible, is change your flight to fly out of Shannon to Edinburgh so that you do not have to 'double back' to Dublin.

What are your main interests? History, culture, outdoors, music? Any must do and see while in Ireland?

Sharon I looked into flights from Shannon to Edinburgh and they are super expensive and not direct! Just on google flights. Returning a rental car is also like $300 more expensive than driving it back to Dublin. I think Glendalough/Wicklow and Kilkenny are must dos they seem very beautiful and historical to us. We want to experience it all! Culture, music, history, etc. We decided no ring of Kerry based off more research and time and would consider a small route instead. We've also read a lot about Galway but it seemed to far out of the way.