If we used Kenmare as a home base, what sites/areas could we realistically explore. For example, it looked like the drive to Killarny might be through mountains and hard to do. What would you explore on day trips from Kenmare? Or is there somewhere else you'd recommend as a home base?
Kenmare would make a great base for Killarney! The drive is beautiful and not difficult. You could easily make day trips to the Rock of Cashel, Cork, Kinsale, Killarney, Ring of Kerry, etc. And Kenmare itself is a charming little town.
Kenmare, which has several nice restaurants, is an ideal base for the Ring of Kerry or the Beara Peninsula. If you get an early start, you can also do a day trip to the Dingle Peninsula from there.
For a ten day trip to Ireland, you might do some day trips from Kenmare and then move to the Galway area for a second base. From Galway, you can day trip to County Clare, Connemara, and Inish More.
Thanks to both of you for the reassurance. I really want to avoid moving each night, but remember some really horrendous roads from trips to Ireland 25+ years ago. I'm probably overestimating the driving complexity.