We went to Ireland last summer and did four nights each in Ennis, Killarney, Kilkenny and then Dublin. We stayed at mostly lower end B&Bs, but you might get some ideas from my trip report:

http://www.greendragonartist.com/BItripreports2006.htm

Kilkenny is a great city, very medieval, and I had a great hostess at The Alcantra. I don't know if she's taking new visitors, though -- I heard she only does repeats and referrals now.

I would offer a suggestion as an alternative to the medieval banquet at Bunratty - they also have a 'ceilidh in the corn barn' which is more down-to-earth. Still touristy, but you get mead and irish cream, irish stew, etc. to singing and dancing peasant style