Dav,

We were there in 2004 and had a great time. As you know we use the Rick Steves guide book also. Planning included some main tourist sites and some outdoor activities. The Cliffs of Moher, Aran Islands, The Burren, The Rock of Cashel, Ring of Kerry and Dingle Peninsula are famous tourist site. We learned about a naturalist that leads day hikes in the Burren and added that to the itinerary. The Connemara was added. We found out about Powerscourt and Glendalough located in the Wicklow Mountains. Dublin was totally removed when we heard out about sea kayaking in West Cork County. Kinsale is between the Rock of Cashel and the Sea Kayaking, plus its restaurants were known for gourmet food. The Aran Islands, Connemara and the Burren can all be accessed from Galway. The Medieval town of Kilkenny was the last addition. We took 2 weeks to tour this southern route. When we go back, we would go to Dublin and the northern sections.

We have two enlarged photos on our wall from that trip. Practical suggestions: We rented as small a car as we could with automatic transmission. Roads are very narrow. Be sure to check for scratches and damaged hubcaps on the passenger side when you pick up your car. Visa would not cover collision damage wavier, but Master card would. I took out a master card for this trip for the car rental. My wife complained about how close I was to the hedge rows and stoen fences, then it was her turn to drive!! Allow lots more time to drive some place, it is a slow go. We were almost late to the Aron Islands ferry and to the plane on the last day. You would have thought we would have learned by then.

We like all the B&Bs used on this trip. They were fairly described. Highlights was the entire trip. We made several drives through the country, just got lost and got some great pictures. The weather changed back and forth and so did our plans for the day. We had a clear day for the Cliffs of Moher. Back in the area a week later staying at a farm house and that night the rain storm was beyond fierce. We did not even go back for more pictures at the Cliff as planned.

In Dingle Town at the Captain’s House B&B we met several people that had been on a Rick Steves tour. Because of that we have been on 2 of those trips.

Just rereading my notes, it was a fun trip.
Bill

One thing is that not all credit card foreign car insurance covers Ireland (and a small bunch of other countries) so if you plan not to take local insurance:

Check whether you can not take it as part of the car rental (at one time it could not be not taken, at least by with some rental companies).

Check whether your payment card extension will cover you.

Professor Dav,

The book on Kayaking around Ireland goes into the history of some of the Islands he sees. He talks to people that live on the islands about how they exist. He describes difficulties of fishing. In between how you live out of a little boat.

I enjoy the mountains here in east Tennessee, so I also enjoyed the mountains in Ireland. The pictures I have on my wall at home show an old broken down castle in a lush green sea side view. Another shows a farm with no electricity at the base of rugged mountains. The farm in the valley is lush and green, the mountains bare. The Electrical poles had stopped several farm houses back. Also the road quit here, so we had to turn around and try a different route back to the main roads.

Bill