Suggestions for 60 year olds driving trip thru Ireland in mid September

its been several years, but I did a trip in October with a group of 6.....2 were a couple in their 70s. we stayed in some nice farm B&Bs. the Burren and ring of Kerry are lovely. don't know where you are from in the US, but be prepared for breezy fall days.....layers probably something with a hood for when it mists/sprinkles.

If you haven't been to Europe before, suggest you get Europe through the Back Door for good basic advice. For Ireland, get Rick's Ireland book, maybe not so much for an itinerary but again for basic advice, such as getting the CDW, clearing customs on the way home,etc. Since you want to see coasts, etc. I think the best advice is to fly into Shannon, rent car there and stick to the west coast. It is much easier to start driving on the "wrong" side of the road from Shannon. You can easily see the Cliffs of Moher and that area by going north from Shannon for a few days, then heading via ferry to Dingle Pensinula for three nights, some of the Ring of Kerry and back to Shannon or reverse, Dingle, etc the north to Cliffs area and back to Shannon. That is a really rough idea but just remember if you have ten days, the first day you may not see much due to jet lag and the last day is pretty much a wash as most flights to US leave in the morning. Whatever you do, it is a beautiful, wonderful county. When you have more of a plan, come back for more advice.

Dingle Peninsula first. Fly into Shannon and out of Dublin. Depending on flight arrival time and stamina you could land at Shannon get the rental and then drive toward the coast to see The Cliffs of Moher. From there secure a BnB in Miltown Malbay. Spend the night, enjoy a pint and conversation in a pub that night then off early the next morning, driving along the coast South to Slea Head and the Dingle Peninsula. Couple of nights in Dingle. MUST have a pint at Foxy John's. Day trips Killarney National Park and Muckross House, Gap of Dunloe. Then take whichever route suits your fancy heading East toward Dublin. Inland or coastal routes. Day trips from Dublin, Glendalough and NewGrange, maybe Carlingford. Could even drive, take the train or a bus to Belfast. 2 hours. I'd drive and spend then night. See the Titanic Museum, visit the Gaol, take the Shankill Road Troubles Black Tour.

Lots can be accomplished in your time frame if you research what is it you truly wish to see. If it's only scenery and farming communities the West Coast can't be beat for beauty, serenity and friendliness.

PM if you want info on Bnb's on the West Coast and in Belfast.

Another vote for Dingle, which is worth two days. If you do go there, instead of doing your own driving around Slea Head, I really recommend getting a mini tour with a good driver/guide. It only cost us 20€ each (plus tip), @and our guide gave us an amazing tour which lasted 4 1/2 (instead of the promised 2 1/2!) hour drive with all of the information on everything we saw. Definitely worth it!

Rick's Ireland Itinerary online roughs out a plan for three weeks, which is supported by more detail in his guidebook. With less time, of course you must choose a region for a more narrow focus. It sounds like you'd be happy to skip Dublin altogether on this trip, in order to focus on more rural and westerly areas. Since cheese is not an indexed topic in Rick's book, try this link to the Ireland Tourist Board.

Be sure to check on age restrictions for rental cars in Ireland. I have read somewhere that there is age restriction on rental cars and it was younger than I expected it to be.

Here are a few of the places that I really enjoyed: Dingle Peninsula, Ring of Kerry and the Killarney National Park, Kinsale and Adare. People were friendly everywhere and the scenery is so beautiful. Look into doing a farm stay or finding farmhouse b&bs.