Please Help Me Tweak Itinerary

I think your itinerary is pretty good, but I worry about driving to Galway on Day 1 after the long flight. That's a long drive for someone who is jet lagged. Have you travelled overseas before? If so, how are you the first day? Some people could do this, but it would be too much for most. Especially since you will be driving on the "other" side of the road. Why don't you fly into Shannon, which is much closer to the Cliffs of Moher and skip Galway.

I also would consider skipping Kilkenny (it's a fine town, but nothing exceptional) and stopping at the Rock of Cashel instead. Or you could stop at Wicklow on your way to Dublin instead of getting to Dublin and then heading back south the next day. That would give you one extra day in Dublin and allow time to see Bru na Boinne.

I don't see how you could fit in Skellig Michael, nor do I see how you could do it with a one-year old. The trips are often cancelled due to rough seas, so it might be best not to plan around this anyway.

Thank you kindly for your reply. I do appreciate your concern, I have never been to Ireland, but this will make my 9th trip to Europe though I certainly did not drive on even most of them. We are planning to play it by ear and stay in Dublin or use public transportation if there is any issue. I really wish Shannon had been an option but there was no way to make it work, especially preferring non-stop flights with a 1 year-old. I appreciate the advice on Kilkenny v. Cashel and really appreciate taking it further to possibly freeing up an extra day by going through County Wicklow instead. We actually got married at a venue in Georgia called Glendalough Manor, so it jumped out to me, though how I've been mispronouncing it did too. Thanks for the reality check on Skellig Michael, a top must-see for me but I had the feeling that it would fall into the cannot see everything on the first visit category, and I think I want to see Bru na Boinne more.

My 2011 visit to Skellig Michael involved a fairly early departure from Portmagee, near the tip of the Iveragh (Ring of Kerry) Peninsula, then it does take some tome for the boats to cross to and from Skellig Michael (slowing alongside Little Skellig to have a look at it and its mass of seabirds). Although the sun was shining the entire day and there was little wind, one person on the boat got seasick during the first crossing. Allowing time to climb the steps and visit the hut and chapel remains up top, observe the puffins and other birds, admire the views, and descend the steps (no handrails, by the way), it was well worthwhile, but required a good part of the day, followed by visits to the tetrapod tracks and other sights on Valencia Island, plus the two impressive ring forts just outside of Cahirsiveen. If you squeezed Skellig Michael in this trip, it would cut into your Dingle/Ring of Kerry/Killarney N.P. time, but there's plenty nearby to enhance your visit when you can fit it in.