I have a travelogue of my trip in 1996 if you are interested. Even though I went with a tour group it could give you some ideas of sights. Let me know I will send it on privately to you. To avoid the greater numbers of tourists I would skip southern Ireland and head west and north. The entire island (including Northern Ireland) has much to offer but if I had to chose again I would go north. Definitely the CLiffs of Moher and the Connemara/Twelve Bens region - the city of Galway and the lovely town of Clifden. Make sure you stop at Kylemore Abbey - such a picturesque locale. Drive through the Burren and head on up to the Sligo area and Drumcliff where Yeats is buried. Just into Northern Ireland is the Belleek porcelain factory where you can watch the craft being made and talk with the artisans and spend all of your money :-) I loved my day around Enniskillen and a boat ride on Lough Erne to Devenish Island to roam around the monastic ruins. The best of all my days was up on the northern coast at The Giant's Causeway - fantastic volcanic basalt columns that step down into the sea. Nearby is Bushmill's Distillery for an interesting tour and tasting. Then drive around the incredible scenery of the Antrim Coast. Head on down to Dublin and spend 2 or 3 days. A marvelous city that has so much to offer - a lively scene.

Cynthia Kilian in Woodstock, Illinois USA