Questions about Wicklow, Killarney, Galway and Dublin itinerary.

For walking/hiking look into the Kerry Way, https://www.kerryway.com/. Although it's a through hike you can do parts of it as day hikes. Among the day hikes is one in the Black Valley which is between the Gap of Dunloe and Moll's Gap, https://www.theringofkerry.com/the-black-valley. You can access it via Killarney NP. By the way, there are lots of walking paths in the Park. Another wonderful and little used hike is the Bolus Barracks Loop off the Ring of Kerry, https://www.discoverireland.ie/kerry/bolus-head-barracks-looped-walk.

Regarding your itinerary, why are you heading back to Killarney after driving the Dingle Peninsula? You would save time if you spent that one night somewhere along the way to either the Cliffs of Moher or Limerick.

Why Wicklow and not somewhere actually in the Wicklow Mountains National Park. Have a look at accommodation in and around Glendalough.

Don't attempt to drive to Killarney via Waterford and/or Cork. Head cross country and visit Rock of Cashel or Cahir Castle on the way. More bang for your bucks!

Dingle and Slea head can easily be done as a day trip from Killarney and I wouldn't bother relocting for one night.
Ross Castle is a ruined C15th castle that can be done in you day around Killarney National park. There is also Mucross House for a stately home experience.

With what you are wanting to do, then you will need four nights in Killarney

I wouldn't bother with a stop in Limerick. Think about taking the ferry from Tarbert to Killimer rather than going round via Limerick. It may not save much on time but is a shorter and nicer route. - head direct to Cliffs of Moher on the way to Galway.

Galway to Dublin is going to be 2.5-3 hours drive, so you could spend the morning seeing more of Connemara before heading to Dublin.

The other alternative would be to fly into Dublin and do two nights there at the start of the holiday and then fly out of Shannon.

Thanks for all the great information. I will check out all the suggested walks and stops. Our flights are already booked in and out of Dublin. I was a little confused about the town of Wicklow, Wicklow Mountains National Park and Glendalough. So, is Glendalough a town you can stay in? I thought it was just a historic site.

I like the idea of taking the ferry. I will look into it. I would like to spend more time exploring Connemara, but there is only so much time. Would it make sense to stay closer to Connemara instead of Galway? I know that would make the drive from Killarney longer and the drive back to Dublin longer.

Wicklow is a coastal town which is about 25 miles east of trhe wicklow Mountains which are designated as a National Park. Glendalough is mainly the monastic site but there is some settlement around the valley. There is also Laragh, a couple of miles away which has some accommodation too.

I'd stick with your plan to stay in Galway. It is a good base to do a round trip of Connemara . As you say 'here is only so much time'.

I’m rethinking the stop at Galway. It will make for two many long driving days in a row. What do you think about leaving Killarney and spending two nights in Doolin? I would skip Galway completely on this trip, and just visit the Cliffs of Moher and drive down to Bridges of Ross and Kilkee Cliffs.

That would work really well. After the Kilkee Cliffs, the Cliffs of Moher may feel like tourist central. See them on a boat trip from Doolin instead. You could also combine this with a short trip to the Aran Islands as well.

If not Doolin, there are several other attractive small town to stay. That would also give you time to explore the Burren with its limestone scenery which is completely different to anywhere else in Ireland. The drive round the coast from Doolin to Ballyvaughan and Kinvarra is lovely, particularly the stretch between Finavarra and Newquay which is called the Flaggy Shore. Stop and have a look at the outside of the ruined Gleninagh Castle Drive down to Finavarra Point with the remains of a C19th Martello Tower, built when there was risk of Napoleon invading England. There is another one at Aughinish Island. The area between the two is well off the tourist itinerary but will well repay time spent exploring it.

The Burren is also good walking coutry. There are ideas for walks here and here.

Dunguaire Castle near Kinvarra is a popular photo stop. You can visit the castle and it also does banquets if you want to treat yourselves!

Thank you wasleys! Through this post and others you have answered some very specific questions I had for our upcoming family trip to Ireland!

Glad to have been of help. It has reminded me just how many interesting places there are to visit in Ireland and how many just don;'t feature in the tourist literature.