Hi all,
My partner and I are due to travel to Ireland for a 10 day trip this September to meet with my partner's daughter at University in Limerick.

We'd like to see as much of the south, southwest and west as possible (flexible on that), and would have a rental car. We're aiming to see towns, scenery, sights, coastal walks and nature (including whale and dolphin spotting, if possible!) and do one or two boat trips (if that fits in).

We have to be in Limerick for the weekend, as that is when my daughter, (we are both partnered, with separate, adult children) will be free to spend time with us.

Please note that the following itinerary is a very rough draft, as we are unsure on travelling times within Ireland, and the number of days to be spent in each 'base'.

On the days when we are not sight-seeing, we would ideally not spend more than 3 hrs driving (the exception to this being the first day, when we will be driving from Dublin, potentially).

Our plan so far

Sunday
Arriving early in the morning at Dublin Airport and spend the day in the city.
Overnight: Dublin

Monday
Spend the morning in Dublin, and collect the rental car and travel to base 1 in the afternoon.
Overnight: Base 1 (Possibly Kilkenny or Cork)

Tuesday
See the sights in base 1 area, or take a day-trip.
Overnight: Base 1

Wednesday
See the sights in the morning, and drive to base 2 in the afternoon.
Overnight: Base 2 (Possibly Killarney/Dingle)

Thursday
See the sights in base 2 area.
Overnight: Base 2

Friday
See the sights in the morning, and drive to base 3 in the afternoon.
Overnight: Base 3 (Possibly Galway/Doolin)

Saturday
Drive to Limerick and spend the afternoon/evening with my partner’s daughter.
Overnight: Limerick

Sunday
Spend the morning in Limerick, and drive to base 5 in the afternoon.

This is where we are a bit unsure about. Is it worth driving east, taking us to Wicklow (or some other county to the south of Dublin?), for a final leg of the holiday looking at the coast, or staying further inland, perhaps around Athlone?

Overnight: Base 5

Monday
See the sights in the base 5 area, and drive to Dublin in the afternoon.
Overnight: Dublin (or stay in Base 5?)

Tuesday
Return the car in the morning, see sights in Dublin, and fly home in the evening.

Quick overview 10 day itinerary

Overnight 1	Dublin
Overnight 2	Kilkenny or Cork
Overnight 3	Kilkenny or Cork
Overnight 4	Killarney or Dingle
Overnight 5	Killarney or Dingle
Overnight 6	Galway or Doolin
Overnight 7	Limerick
Overnight 8	Wicklow or Athlone
Overnight 9	Dublin

What do you think

What are your thoughts of our plan? Where would you suggest are the best places to base ourselves for our 10-day-around Trip? Just keep in mind that the weekend is reserved for Limerick.

Any ideas and recommendations would be appreciated!

Thank you.