Ireland Travel Plans

Without more detail about what you want to see in each place, it's hard to say whether it's a good plan or not. Connemara ia a long way from Clonmel (which is a very small town, but is close to places like the Rock Cashel, Cahir, and Kilkenny) and Donegal is beyond that. Where are you arriving to and leaving from? Are any of the listed nights the one just before your flight out? In what order do you want to see these areas? If you can give us a bit more detail we can give you a better idea.

I just returned from Ireland and hit all those areas. I like the three nights in Dublin. The hop on hop off bus is great and you can buy two or three day freedom bus passes which includes fares to and from the airport. Lots to do and see in Dublin.
The Clonmel area does have Cahir, Cashel and Kilkenny Castles to visit. Galway is a lively college town which your nephew would probably like as well as you. You could spend two nights there and then drive through Connemara visiting Clifden, Kylemore Abbey, Aasleagh falls then north to Westport, via the R335. Spectacular scenery all the way. Westport is a nice place to stay for a night and you will all enjoy the traditional music at Matt Malloy's pub. The Atlantic Drive on Achill Island is amazing. Donegal's scenery is unbelievable and totally worth a visit. The Slieve League cliffs tower over the Cliffs of Moher and the Glengesh Pass to Ardara is some of the most incredible scenery I have ever seen. Those are must dos. All of Donegal is beautiful. I was all over that area. If you have any questions just contact me.

I agree with Brian about how beautiful the spots in both the Connemara area and County Donegal are. County Donegal is not as crowded and most of the people I've met there are genuinely surprised that an American tourist is visiting their area and enjoying it. (I'm assuming you mean both Donegal Town and County Donegal when you mentioned Donegal area.)

Look for "Donegal Sessions" - musical evenings in parish halls or other meeting places (not just pubs) where local, and sometimes famous, musicians entertain for the evening.

Also, check out http://comhaltas.ie/ for traditional music/dance sessions throughout Ireland.

This is revised - Our plan now is 3 nights Dublin. 2 nights near Clonmel, 3 nights Connemara area (Clifden?), 3 nights Donnegal area (Dunkineely or Bruckless?), 1 night near Dublin airport.
Would love to stay at mostly B&B. We would need 2 rooms (a single for our nephew). Trying to think what an almost 18 year old would like too. I would love to stay near the sea or on a farm, but wondering if it is better to stay closer to a town for a teenager. I was also wondering if all this driving would be reasonable. My husband loves driving on left, but wondering about travel time between the areas. Our nephew wants to see Clonmel where is dad's ancestors are from. Trying to decide what would be a good place to stay in that area for 2 nights for him.

Marie - aaroadwatch.ie is a good place to get directions and approximate driving times. For really accurate paper maps I like the Ordnance Survey maps - http://www.osi.ie.

For a really rough idea, I just drove 4000 km. At the end, the gps said that my moving speed had been 63 kph. I'm sure the non-moving time was loading the thing in the morning, but also included things like sheep and traffic light stops. Probably five percent was on freeways and twenty-five percent was on pause-to-pass roads.

We just spent time at Daly's House B&B in Doolin near the Cliffs of Moher. It is a great B&B, next to a farm and near the sea. Our morning view was a herd of cows staring at us. You can also walk to the Ocean. Also a 3 minute walk to the music pubs in town. Book early as they fill up. The driving was fun all over Ireland and the roads have been upgraded. We stayed at the Maldron Hotel Parnell Square in Dublin and it was very good. Clean, comfortable and quiet. 69E per night for two inc breakfast. The manager is Phillip and I m sure he would work out a good deal for your nephew as a single. Contact him directly. Hotel prices are very soft in Dublin now. In Donegal we stayed at The Arches B&B, very nice, 65E night, near Donegal Town. Very convenient to tour Slieve League and that area.

If you've already seen Dingle/Shannon a trip to Donegal is well worth it.

Just to let you know Donegal Town is a pretty small place but because of the name the assumption is that it's the main attraction/heart of Donegal.

Letterkenny and Buncrana are the 2 largest towns in Donegal and are about a 4-5 hour drive from Clifden/Westport. I probably wouldn't stay in Letterkenny as it's a bit cramped and not much to see but bars on the main street. The Innishowen Peninsula near Buncrana is a match for Dingle's scenery and you might be the only car on the road for miles and miles.

Gweedore and a trip through the Poisoned Glen in the NW of Donegal is also very nice. The trip to Tory island is supposed to be great although I've never had the weather good enough to make it. It's also a true Gaeltacht area and I have a few friends here from Bunbeg that speak Irish

Donegal is ever bit,and maybe more,scenic than Dingle and with only a fraction of the tourists and the ones you do meet will probably be either Irish,English or Scottish. I have spent over three weeks in Donegal and never met another person from the USA.
If you happen to be in Dunkineely on a Wednesday night McIntryes Bar has a great music session that goes till the wee hours of the morning if you want to stay that long. No tour buses here, just local and regional musicians and a plentiful supply of Guinness.

You might take a look at the "Bruckless House" as a place to stay. St. Johns Point is also worth the short drive down the peninsula to the light house.

If your nephew enjoys hiking, you could hike up Croagh Patrick. It takes less than 1/2 a day and was a very enjoyable hike. I have also heard there are good hiking options in the Clifden area, but have not had a chance to check them out myself.

I'll also add that being 'almost 18' will probably get your nephew served in most pubs in Ireland. For better or worse, the '18 or older' drinking requirement is loosely enforced.