Kenmare or ?

My family of 5 will be in Ireland for just a short visit this summer at the end of a visit to the UK, so I am trying to see just two places. We will have 4 full days (with travel days on either side). We will be flying in and out of Dublin so I had thought we would spend 2 days in the Dublin city area and 2 nights outside of Dublin. I will be honest and say that Dublin in and of itself does not draw me to it but as this will be our first trip to Ireland I feel like we should visit. I had contemplated making Dublin our home base but honestly the prices of lodging for 5 in Dublin are quite high and as I mentioned Dublin was not on the top of my travel wish list (not a big city girl). I had originally wanted to stay in Kenmare but after looking at the travel time it would really be too far too go I believe. I loved the smaller town atmosphere of Kenmare. We will be traveling by train and have rail passes so no car on this trip so I had looked at Cork but that appears to be another big city. Does anyone have any suggestions as to another smaller town off the trainline (willing to take a cab from the train, or bus if need be). Is Kilkenny a town that might fit? Our family (daughters are 17,21,24) love music, good food, great architecture and history. Any new ideas would be helpful as my travel planning mind is starting to fade!