HarveyIreland - Thanks for the route planner as I hadn't come across that one. It's detailed but easy to use. Yes, Rathdowney and Ballyporeen are part of the family history (as are the towns in Clare except Ennis.)

I would try to get to the Rock of Cashel as soon as you can as it can get very busy during the day.

If you will be in Spiddal, be sure to hit the little craft village and meet the craft workers -and maybe buy a few bits. Tigh Hughes is best known pub in the village, always a stir on and good music too.

The Irish language soap "Ros na Rún"is shot in the set to your right in the village, if there isn't filming you might be able to have a stroll around.

http://www.rosnarun.com/

Ennis to Shannon is 30 minutes tops- assuming you're flying out of Shannon early you shouldn't have to worry about any traffic. We did some nice hiking at Muckross. We did horseback riding at KNP but unless you're experienced riders it's more of a led tour at walking pace and better off skipped. Consider adding Kinvarra to your last leg. We stayed in Northern Clare along the Kinvarra to Doolin route and I think there's more to see there personally. A little closer to the Cliffs. Consider starting the Cliffs at Hagshead or Doolin instead of the visitor's center- I dropped our group at Dollin and parked at Hagshead and met our group about halfway so they could do the whole hike.

stpauligal, maybe you're kin to Ronald Reagen, as his ancestral home is Ballyporeen too....

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