Suggestions For Southwestern Ireland?

Two things

Buy a Rick Steves book on the area if he has a selection. Rick Steves will make your vacation more fruitful because reading or scanning his small paperbacks means you do not waste half a day planing things at the last moment.

The shoreline has all sorts of ins and outs of volcanic rock to sandy beaches. I spent a few days years ago with family seeing different beaches all very different from each other.

If you have time go to Galway and the Aran Islands.

Make sure to sing in a pub or two with the live entertainment.

Relax and have a good time with the locals. Try the plaice if it is affordable.

I'm a bit north of Shannon (North Clare/Burren) and haven't been to the SW in years but I used to guide tours down south. Kenmare, Kinsale (foodie town), Killarney National Park, Beara Peninsula, Bantry (Manning's Emporium for foodie stuff), Gougane Barra...
I presume you will have a rental car?

David - Thanks. I'm big on planning this trip in advance. I think the Aran Island will make the list. Galway may be home base for 3 or 4 nights.

Western Exposure - Yes, we are renting a car. We're going north of Shannon as well (is that considered west Ireland?) We're going to see the Oyster Shucking competition in Galway. I've just now been reading up on Connemara Coast as well.

Even though we're looking at two weeks, I have a feeling two months would just barely scratch the surface!

Ah well, then! Counties Clare and Galway are considered Midwest. I assumed you were heading south from Shannon. In that case you should definitely add the Burren to your itinerary. It's a karst landscape and rather unique. https://burrenbeo.com/ If you decide to come (t)here I could show you around for a bit, schedule permitting, or at least give you some detailed pointers.
Plenty of places in Connemara too. The coastline, Roundstone Twelve Bens, Letterfrack with the tiny but interesting national park (more of a nature reserve), the beautiful Renvyle peninsula, Leenaun (where "The Field" was filmed) , the stark famine road from Delphi to Louisburgh, the backroad from Leenaun via Maum to Maam Cross, Inishbofin island.

Many years ago some friends and I toured SW Ireland with a horse and wagon, like the Irish gypsies in those days. We had 3 weeks of rain and we all looked like hell after a while, but it was the best vacation I ever had!

I fell in love with Ireland and the Irish people right there and then. I don’t really think it matters much where you go or what you do, it is all great. I could live there ( probably)

Dingle/The Blaskets
The Burren
Gougane Barra
Barleycove
Baltimore/Schull/Cape Clear/Sherkin

There are three Aran Islands. I have only trekked to one. That alone can be a day. We walked the fields and ruins in a light rain.

Pack a sweater and windbreaker.

Try to get everything into a carry-on bag. If they lose your luggage it might blow up your vacation. I think you have 21 inches for your overhead bag. You will need to ask the airlines. Roll your pieces of clothing to pack them. It will keep them wrinkle-free and allow you to pack more into the bag.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/vUjrkoWAKtiVf75h/

Good read if the link works.

Rudy, what a grand adventure you had! My husband actually had an acquaintance that went to Ireland and didn't come home for 7 years. I am really looking forward to this trip.

Jack, thanks for the list! There's a few new names on there to me and I am anxious to find out more.

David, the link worked fine. I'm glad you sent it, as some of my travel options go through Newark. I now know it's prudent to avoid it. And, I'm looking forward to sweater weather.

Western Exposure, thanks for the generous offer. I'll contact you as it gets closer to when we leave in mid September. I actually have Letterfrack on my list after seeing a picture of the abbey and the Victorian Walled Garden near there. I didn't know there was also a National Park.

Mary, Ireland being as tiny as it is, national parks here are more like nature reserves - protected areas under conservation management with an information center and such. On a clear day it's worth going up Diamond Hill at the park's center which offers fabulous (and photogenic) views.

Hartford's Bradley Airport has direct flights to Ireland but flights now go directly to Dublin. I don't know if we have flights to Shannon. We should have.

From where I'm flying the most convenient way to get to Shannon is through Chicago (1-stop) or Newark (2 stops). We opted for the one stop flight.

I think Delta flies to Shanon, but they would have taken us in a very roundabout way to get there.

A pint of Guinness

Hugh, it's on the list!!!!

Lmao

Mary....

I am not a speller. You threw me for a loop. Shannon