Originally Posted by
djm3
This new itinerary has a lot of "back and forth" driving. You should consider an open jaw between Shannon and Dublin. Land in Dublin, and spend a couple of days there before getting the car. Then drive south through Wicklow Mountains, see Cashel and skip Waterford. Stay in Kilarney and then go over to Dingle (very picturesque). Then drive north to Clare (use the Shannon ferry) and then stay in Galway. This is a long day of driving and you might consider staying in Ennis. Galway is a fun littel city and good base for touring the area. Connemara is completely different from the south. You could stay at Ashford castle on your last nights. This route would be much more relaxing.
Yes, this is what I would have wanted to do, but there's limited availability at many of the hotels we'd like to stay in, so we're having to fit our travels around the hotels. Right now it's three nights in Ashford, three in Dublin, two in Kilkenny, four in Killarney, one in Glin Castle, two in Bunratty, fly home. We like drives so I think we'll be okay.