Here's another Ireland itinerary to critique, please!

On day two why not stay in the Cashel area or someplace closer to Cobh instead of doubling back to Kilkenny? I feel that trying to do the Ring of Kerry and Dingle both in the amount of time you have may be too time consuming. I spend more time in Dingle and skip the ROK.

IMO, Dingle deserves two nights. My suggestion for day five would be to drive the Ring of Kerry via Kenmare and then go on to Dingle for the night. On day six tour the Slea Head Peninsula and spend a second night in Dingle. On your drive to Dublin a good place to stop might be Adare. I haven't been there myself, but what I've read is very positive.

Tim's suggestion is excellent. As for Adare, it's a pretty little town with some great thatch-roofed cottages, but has a fairly busy street that cuts through the middle of town and kills the atmosphere IMO. It would be a decent stop for lunch though.

Greetings Gail. My ancestors were original settlers/pioneers in Meigs.

I like your plan although maybe head to Dingle a day earlier and stay 2 days.

Kilkenny is worth a full day and night. If you like the lively, try Lawlor bar and guesthouses.

Kinsale too - eat at the Bulman.

Gail,

I would second Tim's suggestions. The Ring is better driven from Kenmare than Killarney (see Rick's guide). From Kinsale you might want to drive up to Killarney to see the National Park and then head on to Kenmare for night 4. ROK with night 5 in Dingle. That way you wake up in Dingle to drive the Peninsula on Day six. You don't want to try to drive to Dingle from Killarney AND see the peninsula in one day.

Dingle to Dublin in one day is a very long drive. Unless you start out really early, I don't think you'll have time to do much more than stop for lunch, esp. if you're bringing your car back to the airport, which is north of the city.

I agree with Pat on skipping the Ring Of Kerry. Ireland is best enjoyed at a slower pace. You've got a heavy travel day your first day - so spend your first and second nights in Kilkenny. I'd highly recommend Carriglea on Archers Avenue. The owners are wonderful and the B&B is in a great spot - across from the Castle grounds.

You can hit Cashel on your way southwest - and go right to Kinsale. Spend two days there, with a possible half-day trip to Cobh. From Kinsale - you should go straight to Dingle for two days.

I'm not sure what your travel preferences are - but with only 8 days, with the last couple in Dublin, I'd suggest considering going from Kilkenny to Dingle (seeing Cashel on the way), spending two days in Dingle and then two in the Burren region (Doolin, Lahinch, etc). That would put you a bit closer to Dublin for your last leg - and the Burren is a great area.

Food for thought.

If you're going to Rock of Cashel in the afternoon of day 2, consider staying at Cashel Lodge. It is more than a hostel. We had a double room en suite newly remodeled. Great place. In Kinsale, try The Olde Bakery B & B. Tom & Chrissie Quigley know how to make you feel welcome. Happy Trails!

I would skip the Ring of Kerry and focus more on the Dingle peninsula. The Ring is very commercialized and full of tour buses.
Another nice place to stop after the Rock of Cashel would be the town of Cahir which has a castle and the Swiss Cottage.
Glendalough is beautiful and a nice way to unwind after your flight. Another place not far from there is Powerscourt Estate which is just breathtaking with the Sugarloaf mountains as a backdrop. Just a nice place to take a stroll and stretch the legs.