June 2024 Itinerary help!

It helps that you’re flying into one airport and out the other. Here’s what I suggest:
Jun 3 – sleep in Dublin. Spend day one settling in. This is not the day to visit a museum or ride the hop on hop off bus. Instead, walk around and get acquainted with what’s nearby. End the day with a nice meal and hopefully all of you will get a decent night’s sleep.
Jun 4 – sleep in Dublin.
Jun 5 – rent a car and drive to Kilkenny (1h 45m). Sleep in Kilkenny.
Jun 6 – drive to the Rock of Cashel (1h). From the Rock of Cashel drive to Dingle (3h).
Jun 7 – drive the Dingle Peninsula (Slea Head Drive). Sleep in Dingle.
Jun 8 – Drive to Galway (3h 45m). Sleep in Galway.
Jun 9 – sleep in Galway.
Jun 10 – From Galway drive to Doolin (1h 30m) or Ennis (1h). Sleep in Doolin or Ennis. Doolin is a 1h drive from Shannon airport and Ennis is a 30m drive.

It is doable, but you are covering a lot of ground and will be spending a lot of time in the car, particularly on days relocating between overnight stops. You haven't got a lot of time to actually stop and explore and will be passing by so many amazing places. Driving in. Ireland is slow. Distances may not look far on the map but will take a lot lo nger to cover than you might expect.

I would be inclined to remove Kilkenny from the list and travel directly to Galway from Dublin. splitting your time between County Galway and Dingle area. On the day travelling betweeen the two, do the Burren with its limestone scenery, Cliffs of Moher and use the Killimer to Tarbert ferry rather than the long way round via Limerick.

If I were going to cut something out it would be Galway. It’s a good base as a jumping off point to Inis Mor and Connemara but nothing more.

but nothing more.

Can I clarify. Do you mean Galway City or County Galway?

I might agree with Galway city although with its university it is a viubrant place. County Galway is more than a trip to the Arran Islands. I actually prefer it to Kerry and it is less busy. The drive to Roundstone with its tiny harbour, Clifden and the Sky Drive (on a clead day possibly one of the best shiort scenic drives in the world), Kylmore Abbey, Killarey Ffjord and back to Galway makes for a wonderful day out. The County Life Muserum near Castlebar is one of the best in Ireland, especially with its videos recording life in Ireland in the 1950s. County Mayo is easily doable and is just as nice too.

We've spent a week there several times and still haven't run out of things to do or see.

Each to their own...

Thank you for your tips! I am thinking something like this. This is pretty rough and needs tweaking, but is this a good starting point?

Jun 3 – Arrive Dublin AM
Jun 4 – Dublin.
Jun 5 – Drive to Kilkenny (sleep Kilkenny)
Jun 6 – Rock of Cashel Drive to Killarney (sleep Killarney)
Jun 7 – Drive to Portmagee (sleep Portmagee)
Jun 8 – Kellig Michael Landing Tour (sleep Portmagee)
Jun 9 – Drive to Doolin (sleep Doolin)
Jun 10 – Cliffs / Aran Islands / Doolin / Drive to Galway (sleep Galway)
Jun 11 - Galway
Jun 12 - Depart Shannon AIrport AM (possibly spend night in Shannon near airport)

Galway is north of Doolin and a hassle to drive in. I would remove Galway because it’s an outlier and you're spending too much time in the car. Remember, you're driving on the opposite side of the road and the steering wheel is on the other side too. Furthermore, Galway is not an attractive city. There is one fun street with a good vibe but that’s it.
Ennis is a good place to sleep the night before flying home. Perhaps you can arrive early and spend the day in Ennis before your 15m drive to Shannon airport the following morning.

MaryPat -
Thank you! I was wondering about Galway as well as a location to stay before flying out. Your advice is helpful!

So I have made a few tweaks, but now stuck again. I really want to have Dingle and the peninsula in the itinerary, but don't know how to get it in or what to take out to fit it in. I like to stay more than one night at each location, but not sure if we need to. Any advice would be so appreciated! Thank you to everyone who has been so helpful!!

Jun 3 - Arrive Dublin AM (sleep Dublin)
Jun 4 –Dublin. (sleep Dublin)
Jun 5 – Drive to Kilkenny (sleep Kilkenny)
Jun 6 – Rock of Cashel Drive to Killarney (sleep Killarney)
Jun 7 – Killarney National Park / Falconery (sleep Killarney)
Jun 8 - Killarney AM / Drive to Portmagee PM (sleep Portmagee)
Jun 9 – Kellig Michael Landing Tour / Drive to Doolin (sleep Doolin)
Jun 10 – Cliffs / Aran Islands (sleep Doolin)
Jun 11 – Doolin AM / Drive to Ennis (sleep Ennis)
Jun 12 - Depart Shannon Airport AM

If you want to add the Dingle Peninsula you need to remove the Ring of Kerry. Ferries don’t run from Portmagee to Skellig Michael when the sea is rough so it’s best to add a day to your itinerary when visiting this island.
As wasleys said make sure you take the route where you can catch the Tarbert Ferry instead of driving to Limerick to get to Doolin. This will save driving time.

Thank you for all your helpful suggestions! I have make some adjustments to our itinerary. We haven't completely decided on staying in either Kenmare or Killarney yet. Each time I decide I read something else. Both seem great for different reasons. I will be deciding soon.

I am working to fill in the details of what we are doing everywhere - my list for each area is LONG!!! Any tips/critique - positive or negative is welcome!!

Jun 3 - Arrive Dublin AM (sleep Dublin - Buswell’s Hotel)
Jun 4 –Dublin. (sleep Dublin -Bushwell’s Hotel)
Jun 5 - Pick up Rental Car 2 pm / Drive to Kenmare / (sleep Kenmare - O’Donnabhain's or Killarney - sleep The Ross)
Jun 6– Killarney National Park (sleep Kenmare - O’Donnabhain’s or Killarney - The Ross)
Jun 7 - Falconry Killarney AM / Drive to Portmagee PM (sleep Portmagee - The Ferry Boat Hotel)
Jun 8 – Kellig Michael Landing Tour 8:00 departure (Skellig Coast Adventures) / PM Drive to Dingle (sleep Dingle - 3bedroom friends AirBnB)
Jun 9 - Explore Dingle and Peninsula (sleep Dingle - 3bedroom friends AirBnB)
Jun 10 – Drive to Cliffs / Aran Islands (sleep Doolin - Doolin Village Lodges)
Jun 11 – Doolin / Cliffs (sleep Doolin - Doolin Village Lodges)
Jun 12 - AM Drive to Shannon airport / drop off Rental Car 7 am

Since you’re visiting Killarney National Park and Portmagee then driving to Dingle, sleep in Killarney not Kenmare. My suggestion had you driving the entire Ring of Kerry and you’re not doing that.