In answer to your title question--"Yes, you are insane, but it sounds like you have done a good job of planning this and herding your group of cats."

My recommendation for a B&B in Kenmare would be Abbey Court B&B. We enjoyed a nice afternoon chat with our host, Brendan, and he gave us lots of good hiking information (which is why we were there.) The property is about a 10-15 minute walk from the center of Kenmare and we easily walked to dinner each evening. It is also located next to the ruins of an abbey which should make for some excellent photos. (Even my amateur photos came out well.)

Here is the required reading for this type of travel
http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/this-is-why-i-will-always-travel-solo-from-now-trip-report--rome-and-sorrento.cfm

I agree with greg - you're bats--t crazy to do this (and I've read most of that thread he linked to). You may even be bats--t crazy to consider it.

The only way this will work is if you don't have R, A, N on the trip because at least the others have been to countries where the natives speak a bastardized form of English and have experienced both the weather and the local cuisine. It's the newbies who are on their first trip to ___ that really gum up the works.

IME, these trips never end up being fun.

I think you are nuts on two counts..First going straight from Westport to Dingle. Second driving from Kenmare to Shannon for a morning flight.

But then you already know they are both daft!

You probably read my trip report way back - yes, you are totally bonkers/mad

http://www.fodors.com/community/europe/6-women-2-flats-2-cars-oops-3-cars-big-house-2-weeks-in-england.cfm

Janis' thread is must reading, well, so is the other on the Amalfi Coast. Herding cats of course comes to mind.

Just curious, how are you moving from place to place? Even the 7-seaters have limited luggage space. And, while deisirable, you can't count on one or two dropping out.

Your budget is fine for Ireland, most good twin B&B rooms should be around 60-70€ per room, including breakfast, leaving enough for a castle splurge.

Westport to Dingle is a drive, particularly as there are things to see along the way. There used to be a great upscale craft shop just outside Doolin but that's awhile ago so not sure about it and there's the Burren, which is spectacular. Maybe cut a day in Donegal and stay one night south of Galway?

Maybe last night near Bunratty? I actually thought the banquet was fun.

One last thing, if I were going I would be sure people were okay with my (or anyone else) striking out on my own for a few hours or for the day, when feasible. There's nothing worse than 7 people joined at the hip for an entire trip.

Best of luck--groups can be fun, it's all about setting detailed expectations.

I am also planning a trip for a group of women currently about 9. Setting up a facebook page is a great idea. I am going to have to try that. Thanks and good luck

The first thing I would check is the weather. In the West Highlands of Scotland, August is the wettest month because of winds coming across the Atlantic. I would be surprised if Ireland, not the driest place ever, is not similar.

Now, how would your friends handle never quite being dry, frizzy hair, and general gloom? September is better almost everywhere.

Good points, all! We will have 2 vehicles, and know full well that we can go off on our own. Another reason to stay at b&bs in town. I went with 6 of us to Scotland, and now know not to mix family and friends. Most of the girls have performed at Renaissance festivals with me, either as a wench or a belly dancer. We are used to, shall we say, inclement conditions .

A has been to the Caribbean, as a performer, so she has some exposure. N is still young and trainable. Oh the ages range from 25 to 44. Most of us have been good friends for 10 years. A and N are the only new friends, and N is my roommate.

I am not a fan of one-nighters at all, and as beautiful as the Burren is, some cuts are needed. Vibratory the last night is a possibility.

And, yes, I've read both threads before, but will go back and re read.

You may be a bit daft but you can limit your exposure if you have your traveling companions be responsible for various aspects of your trip. That way you are not held responsible for everything.

As an example, have each person responsible for the research for one place you will visit, including lodgings and restaurants. They will appreciate things more if they have input.

Just went back to read janisj's report again. No SCQ for me! We've already agreed on a method. None of us are penny pinchers, so we will just estimate. Tally at the end of the day.

Also, two of us have driven in both Ireland and Scotland and we will have two gps units. We all have similar interests. And I've already been thanked profusely by each if them for the research I've already done

I would never ever in a million years do this. But it sounds like you are committed, so best of luck.

Mamcalice that's a great idea! Thank you! I am insisting on input from each one.

Green Dragon: "We've already agreed on a method. None of us are penny pinchers, so we will just estimate. Tally at the end of the day. . . Also, two of us have driven in both Ireland and Scotland and we will have two gps units. We all have similar interests. And I've already been thanked profusely by each if them for the research I've already done"

I'll trade my group for yours

I've found that the planner is usually the person that ends up taking the lead all the way through. Will you enjoy that? I just read Barb's trip report- what a hoot! I would either think seriously about your trip or make it clear to the group what you want your role to be upon arrival. With that group size do you think you will be able to find b and b's that can accommodate all of you in one place? I would like my own room and would make no qualms about it! Keep us posted-group dynamics are always interesting!

Carlingford or Ardee? No contest. It has to be Carlingford.

The best trips I have been on were groups of nine men (golfers) in Ireland and Scotland. A group of us just had a great hike in Peru. You will have a blast. Some of the people who post here seem a tad uptight in my view. Let er rip.

If you need a man somewhere along the line, drop me a line. I will rush over.

The subject of group travel was analysed in detail by the smarter people in the Lounge:

http://www.fodors.com/community/fodorite-lounge/size-matters.cfm

Padraig - Ardee has Smarmore Castle, which we are seriously considering...

cheapboxofwine, I'm happy being the 'tour leader' for them all! And we all share rooms, no worries. Most of us have slept in the same beds many times with each other, on other trips.

Cold, I would love to buy you a pint along the way

Janisj - NO TRADE!

So far I've one member offer to cover a night's stay for my work. If I get that from each one, I'll have a week's free!

Oh, and now it's 8 people. That's the upper limit! I'm having everyone vote on each B&B. We have chosen the Waterloo Lodge B&B in Dublin and Smarmore Castle B&B in Ardree, and then it looks like Teac Campbell B&B in Bunbeg, County Donegal.

Your post reminded me of seeing a group of women on the train in Ireland several years ago.
They were wearing tee shirts with Mom Chick on one and then Chick one, Chick Two, etc. You could tell they were a fun group and put smiles on lots of faces. Have a great trip.

I hope your group are not foodies, because there is little in the way of fine dining near Smarmore. You might like the Forge Gallery in Collon, a few miles south of Ardee. I can't report on current standards, but whenever I visited in the past, I enjoyed the experience. Fine, but expensive, dining at the Nuremore Hotel, Carrickmacross, about 10 miles north of Ardee.

One of the undiscovered charming things in Bunbeg is a waterfall on the Clady river. Not easy to find: ask locally for directions.

From what I understand, about the only thing to eat near Smarmore is the Italian restaurant inside. We'd have to drive for food - fair enough, forewarned. We aren't true foodies, but we like trying new things. We will likely visit the north for a day trip from there, and the other day will be out in the Boyne Valley.

Thanks for that - I love waterfalls, and will have to seek that out!

So, it was 8 but I think it will go back down to 7 again soon. One is definitely getting married within the next year, and wants to save money for the wedding and honeymoon. We won't really know for sure WHEN we're going until K gets her approved vacation - which she won't know until March.

I've been researching my B&Bs and posting them to vote on a private FB page. So far, we've gotten votes on the first 4 stops. Everyone is helping with input, so that's great

I have nothing to add, I just think this is going to be a riot as it plays out. So, bookmarking.

Ha! You are likely correct. And I always do extensive trip reports. Should be highly amusing

I am following this post. I have done it for three and now 7 of us want a trip together. We have done St Patrick's in Savannah for years together so think it is time to take it to Europe. We have two guys with us that are partners and they are perfect for us and will drive!!! I want a base house though and day trips wherever. Last trip we kept the base and spent a night when we ventured far but only took backpacks. We have agreed that we don't have to do the same thing everyday and if you want to go off and see something yourself go. My problem is we were talking about it at work and this one girl invited herself so we are now hush hush about it. Why would someone invite themselves. She would drive my other girlfriends crazy. We did a trip once and this guy bitched till he found starbucks and get this "chicken wings"

Do you worry about if the accommodations will make all happy? I like the facebook page. We could keep that private. We want to do public transportation as much as possible and rent a car for a couple of days to places that you really need them.

Packing: you pack it you carry it is our number one rule! Tell them space is a problem in the smaller euro cars. 22inch carry on is big enough.
Good Luck!

I have one friend that likes to invite herself. We took her to Ireland once, never again. We simply told her 'the trip is full, sorry!' If she presses or asks next time, I'll say 'our traveling styles don't match - I'm value your friendship too much to risk it.'

Yes, you pack it, you carry it. That includes airport and to/from B&Bs, etc. We all have our own stuff. I did fine with carry-on only on my last trip, and plan on it again this one. Granted, with two cars, it will be easier, but yes, space is definitely a premium in the cars.

GreenDragon-
Please do a trip report. I am sure that it will make for great reading.

David - I always do very detailed (ad nauseum) trip reports, never fear!

Nice! See you in Westport again

Aha! Definitely

For that many... I would suggest a driver.
We did a family(10) tour with private driver through Discover Ireland and it was fabulous!
I am a planner and they let me plan, then they booked everything.
( side benefit...this took off some of the pressure...believe me, it is nice to have someone else reminding people to stick to schedule...get up...get going. Especially for the inexperienced travelers!...face it, even tho you are giving choices, you will feel pressure as organizer)
You wouldn't need driver till you left Dublin.
No worries about long drives.
We could stop at all the pubs on the way.
Comfy,small coach like the big ones but shrunk, with big windows, fun driver that cut the tension of so many days together.
Lots of storage.
The 2 places we stayed in donegal had resteraunt/pub... All other stays in small towns with choices for food/pubs to walk to so everyone cold do their own thing.
(example of convenience/flexibility... In dingle the driver arranged and dropped 4 to golf, 3 to go horseback riding, and 3 stayed in town to shop.)
Face it... Ireland driving is not easy... You will get lost in donegal! And do you really think you can take 8 women with luggage in 2 cars for 16 days??? Then add in shopping? It's going to get tight! And who are the lucky ones that get responsibility of driving? Since you are not penny pinchers... Get a driver

We did in/out of Shannon, Westport, southern donegal, northern donegal/Derry/giants causeway, doolin, dingle, kenmare, Bunratty.

This would be a perfect donegal day stay...we wished we could stay longer!!!
Very scenic, great food...this was our splurge.
Castle Murray House Hotel & Restaurant (not a castle)
St Johns Point, Dunkineely, Ireland

I would still suggest Bunratty on your last night. Drop off car... Or driver.
We stayed where we could walk to Castle. Did dinner...fun group activity to rap up tour.
Gave us time in morning for last minute shopping at woolen mills and we cabbed it to airport.
No pressure, relaxed, easy!!

Love checking back in on this forum... Helping a friend plan their family of 5 trip.
Have fun planning and visiting Ireland with your friends!! Slainte!

so you don't have to hunt if you're interested in chip's recommendation:

http://www.castlemurray.com/site/index.aspx?ID=1

Chip: Good suggestions, but I would have to think a lot about that. We did 6 people in Scotland with 2 cars, and it mostly worked out well (though I'll never again mix family and friends). I didn't get lost in Donegal last trip unless I did so on purpose

Both cars will have GPS and cell phones that work in the country. My friend Kim will do all the driving for one car (because she gets carsick if she is NOT driving). That sort of precludes having a driver. The other car will be shared by the other 4 of us who can drive stick. We are planning on getting midsized cars, and most of us are planning on doing carry-on only, so luggage shouldn't be too tight. Granted, it was tight in an economy car with three people back in my 2006 trip!

There are likely several days where we want to go to several different places, i.e., some want to go explore Gleninchaquin Park, and the others want to drive the Ring of Beara. Both would need vehicles.

So... as an update, the number went up to 9 - and then started with the attrition. I am now offically down to NO travel companions for this trip. I has a SAD!!!!!

N is getting married, so no cash.
S broke up with her boyfriend and moved back home - no cash.
R has been unemployed - no cash.
C and A are dedicating their vacation time to belly dancing seminars and performances.
V is worried about her job since her boss was laid off, and paying down her bills, so no cash or job security.
J just can't see it this year

K, my last hope, my best friend - she is a nurse and doesn't have seniority at the small hospital she works at. Evidently only 1-2 nurses can take vacation at a time. The senior nurses like to snap up the summer slots early, so the juniors rarely get any vacation time. That's what happened this year - she just found out yesterday. She can get 3-4 days at a time, but not a full two weeks. During the non-summer months is out of the question, as she's in a Master's degree program. She hopes that will get her out of this situation in future years.

So.... it's just me. DH doesn't care to travel to Ireland, and it seems more difficult to justify going by myself - though I've traveled solo before, and will have no problem doing it again. Ah well.

What a sad outcome for all your efforts..Dare I say better luck next time or maybe you should skip a next time!!

I'm so sorry to hear how that worked out - I've had that happen and know the feeling of that disappointment. One quesiton - with which company were you going to rent your car?

I am so sorry that things have gone down the tubes, and I am really sorry that there will be no trip report!

You will be able to "repurpose" the planning for a more auspicious time...

Oh, the planning will not be wasted I usually rent with Dan Dooley, Robin. They have no hidden costs, and are no muss, no fuss. Now I have to decide if I want to go alone, or go to Nova Scotia for the Celtic Colors Festival as a consolation prize!

Good for you but bummer for us:

One of my many guilty pleasures is reading reports of "trip companions gone bad!"

Think you may have dodged a bullet, oth, I have a feeling I'll be missing some great stories.

Hope the trip gets resurected in some form.

I am so sorry. My trip has gone from 7 to 8 and we have all booked our tickets, two nights in Cinque Terre, seven in a nice apartment in Florence and two in Rome. Some are only doing Florence and Rome but we have decided that we will do what we all want in Florence. Some are going to Venice, some to Montepulciano for the night. Apartment is cheap enough that we can just take a backpack for the night. I am doing a cooking class and have asked others if they want to book but if they don't I will do alone. We did the Facebook group site which was fab for voting on apartments and hotels. We booked the beehive in Rome. Just crossing my fingers all goes well. You gave me some great tips and thank you.