An awful lot of expert opinions from one time visitors here...
Take the advice on Donegal as a town over Sligo... You'd be silly to miss a stop at Rosapenna when visiting Portsalon... Take my previous advice and stay in the lovely village of Ramelton for a night or two and eat in the Bridge Bar...
Taking Sean's previous agenda and your love for hidden gems, I would seriously suggest this: Play Enniscrone then Carne (not the other way round) and after Carne travel down from Bangor along the N59 to Westport (lovely town) stopping for 9 holes at Mulranny... A forgotten links course with fences round the greens but great rolling undulations...
Mulranny is charming.
We had a great day there climbing into the sheep maintained dunes and creating our own elevated seaside tees.
The only place I've been with not only an honor box, but an honor bar!
Brad memntioned his tastes leaned toward hidden gems.
That said, there are many gems along his path as he has picked a massive area
Cruit (not so Hidden), Gweedore, Otway, Spanish Point, Connemara Isles,Achill Island are all within minutes of their route/se;ected famous course and make for a wonder ful day paired with an18 holer for a scenic "beer nine".
In addition , Northwest Golf Club and Dunfanaghy are precisely on his route and in my opinion are not to be missed.
Also, I never understood why "packing" was such a big deal.
What exactly are you packing?
Your rainsuit and a few clothes.
I refuse to drive an extra 45 minutes to an hour or more
(each dayx 2) to save myself from "not packing"
Brad's going to have to decide for himself but traveling all the way to Ireland, spending more time than I've ever had myself at one time(10 days) driving 1/2 the coast, and playing
RCD , Portrush, Ballybunion, and Lahinch(which he's already played) behind a bunch of American, Swedish, and German tourists(and spending a fortune) seems more like going to Disneyland than visiting rural Ireland and the multiple once in a lifetime hidden gem, scenic oppoortunities, and cultural experiences that could be had at places not purely patronized by guys in Pebble Beach rainshirts.