Please sign in to post.

Please help Dublin-Dingle-County Clare

Thank you for taking a look at our itinerary. We are parents and 2 adult children visiting Ireland for the first time. The kids will be with us for 8 days then will fly to NYC from Shannon. We will continue north for 6 days and fly out of Dublin. We like history, ruins, beautiful scenery, walking trails, exploring small towns, pubs and music.

I’d appreciate your advice regarding the pre-SNN days. I suspect parts might be too ambitious. Specifically, would you skip Kilkenny to get to Kinsale more quickly? Would you drop Kinsale instead since we’re visiting Dingle and Kilkenny is more important to see? I have some concern about too much car time each day.

We will be driving the kids to SNN for a 12:30 pm flight on Sun. Would it be terrible to drive from Lahinch area or should we base in Ennis for last 2 days?

Days 1 and 2: DUBLIN
Museums, Trinity, Kells, other top sites.
SLEEP DUBLIN

Day 3:
Kilkenny
Rock of Cashel
Cobh (might skip for time)

SLEEP KINSALE

Day 4:
Kinsale and fort in the morning
Coastal drive stopping in Clonakilty, Skibbereen
SLEEP KENMARE

Day 5:
Visit Killarney National Park (½ day)
Explore Dingle
SLEEP DINGLE

Day 6:
Slea Head Drive with stops
SLEEP DINGLE

Day 7 and 8:
Drive Connor Pass to Tarbert Ferry
Drive coast visiting Kilkee or Moher cliffs
Visit Burren
SLEEP County Clare (Lahinch area)

Day 9: (Sunday)
Drive kids to Shannon airport
12:30 pm flight

Posted by
741 posts

You haven't gotten any replies because you've apparently done some homework. We sort of fit your profile except music would be earlier on our list, and we've done a very similar trip. Killarney and Moher are "will skip next time" due to tourist density. Although also touristy, we always enjoy Doolin. Slea Head is fun if you enjoy traffic jigsaw puzzles. I'd include Cahir Castle with Rock of Cashel. The favorite part of that trip was Skellig Michael because of the puffins, but that's very seasonal.

Posted by
4803 posts

It looks very doable to me. I agree you’ll probably have to skip either Cobh or Kilkenny on Day 3. And I would plan to give Killarney National Park most of Day 5. Enjoy!

Posted by
2 posts

Thank you for your kind replies. I couldn't even find my post until now so this was a surprise!

We've decided to stay in Ennis the last two nights. Easy to SNN and my creative children will enjoy the Poet's Bar!

I'll be asking for Connemara/Mayo/Sligo help soon!

Posted by
136 posts

Ah, yes, the Poet's Corner was very nice. And the cat's name at the Old Ground was Ogham, you will certainly see him. We were there for the RS Best of Ireland tour.