Ireland Itinerary: 7+ Nts Dub-Dub, visiting Dublin, Kilkenny, Cork, Kerry.

Day 2 - Dublin - Kilkenny via Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains (approx. 175km, min. 3.5hrs drive)

Collect rental car and head south from Dublin to the Wicklow Mountains and Glendalough, early-Christian monastic settlement. Allow between 2-3hrs for Glendalough.

If you get an early start from Dublin, you may have time to visit Powerscourt, en-route for Glendalough.

Spend night 2 in Kilkenny.

Day 3 - Kilkenny and surrounding area.
Kilkenny is a charming city (small) with some interesting historic buildings, including Kilkenny Castle, St Canice's Cathedral, the Tholsel.

Jerpoint Abbey is a beautiful ruined abbey that lies within short drive of the city centre. Well worth visiting for those who are interested in historic buildings.

Day 4 - Kilkenny to Kinsale, via the Rock of Cashel (approx. 185km, min 3hrs drive)

Drive across to Cashel to visit the breath-taking site/sight that is the Rock of Cashel. Allow 2hrs in Cashel, which should be adequate time to park up, visit the Rock.

From Cashel, head to the pretty and lively harbour town of Kinsale, which lies south of Cork city. It has a reputation for gourmet cuisine, and you will find a good choice of accommodation plus places to eat out.

www.kinsale.ie

A pleasant walk will take you from Kinsale to Charles Fort, offering lovely views of Kinsale harbour along the way.

Day 5 - Kinsale - Kenmare via south coast of co. Cork (approx. 145km, min 3hrs drive non-stop).

Take a leisurely day to travel from Kinsale along the gorgeous south coast of Cork through pretty villages:

Timoleague: ruined friary
Clonakilty: model railway
Glandore: Drombeg stone circle (very fine stone circle, and one of the easiest to visit).
Skibbereen: Heritage Centre and Great Famine Exhibition
Bantry: Bantry House

Kenmare is one of my favourite towns in Ireland. It's quite compact and has an excellent range of hotels, guest houses and b&bs. Restaurants are, in my opinion, equal to any in Kinsale!

Day 6 (and 7 if on 8-night itinerary)
Options:
Ring of Kerry. Kenmare is a great location from which to explore the Ring of Kerry.

Alternatively, visit the ruggedly beautiful - and quieter - Beara Peninsula.
Allow a full day to adequately explore each Peninsula.

Or, drive across Moll's Gap to Killarney and visit Muckross House and Gardens, Ross Castle and Killarney town.

Day 7 (or day 8, if on 8-night itinerary) - Kenmare - Malahide (approx. 355km, min. 5hrs drive)
Your route from Kenmare to Malahide will take you past Cahir, where there is a very fine castle, and through Portlaoise, where you will find the Rock of Dunamase, a ruined fortress that dominates the surrounding countryside.
Airport hotels are convenient for a last-night stop, but rather a "low point" on which to end your visit to Ireland.
Consider staying in Malahide, which is a coastal town a short drive from Dublin airport.