Don't try to see too many places, pick two or three and savour them. Don't be too swayed by the local loyalties of Mudcatters into trying to visit too many places or you'll spend the whole holiday in the car feeling frustrated (and carsick).

Most roads (especially in places like West Clare) still have a lot of "character", and it will take a lot longer than you think to get from anywhere to anywhere.

Make a provisional list of possible destinations on the basis of advice from Mudcat and elsewhere, and ask the people in your Bed and Breakfast for a reality check about what is really achievable. They are well used to dealing with over-ambitious travel plans by first-time visitors and are just about universally friendly and helpful.

You can probably go most of the day on the B&B breakfast alone, but remember that sessions generally go on till late at night, so the effective day gets shorter and shorter as an early start becomes more and more difficult as the holiday goes on.