Hee is what we did, and when I go again I'll do the same.  Landed in Dublin, got our rental car, and headed southwest.  We had a room booked the night we got there and the night before we left.  The rest of the time we ended up where we ended up.  Looked like a cool little town, we'd find a bed and breakfast and stay the night.  It was freaking awesome.  I wish we would have had more time because we didn't get to see Northern Ireland, but truthfully, my wife was a little iffy about going there at the time anyway.
It is a beautiful country with really nice people.  You'll have a blast.  
