Great post GH. Have a wonderful time in Ireland and don't forget that it is your trip also. I don't really think you have, but a few posts back you talked about your wife's idea of the trip not being yours, and seemed to accept it as a done deal. While it is great to roll with the punches and be flexible, it is also important to respect your own wishes. Along with that, it is also important to focus on YOURSELF and being happy YOURSELF. Your list is excellent, but most of the items on it seem tilted toward answering the question of "what do I need to do to make W happy, rather than what do I need to do to make ME happy." So, perhaps you may want to add a few slanted toward answering that one. And don't forget to continue to GAL. BTW, as someone who travels alot, I can tell you I much more appreciate working with someone else on trip plans who is excited and enthusiastic and watching out for their own interests rather than someone who is going along to get along. The latter saps the energy right out of me... So, just make sure you make your trip a great one for you!
Ireland is great with respect to public transportation and hitching at least used to be very safe. So, if one day you want to say, go for a hike in the Burren instead of going lace shopping, I'd say go for it :-) Now, if you are looking for the best music places, ask around for where there is some good crack (not sure of the spelling, but it means a good time) and a decent session (where locals wonder in and out and play music and sing). This is far better than all the traditional music bands which are put together to cater to tourists and really isn't much of the real Irish experience at all. Though, this time of year, the tourist stuff may not be being pushed that much.
If you are around Dingle, there is an amazing archeological tour run by a guy in a minivan that goes way off the beaten path. (I'm a Lonely Planet type traveller, not sure of your style.)
The hokey mideival feasts in real castles are actually pretty fun :-) Oh, and if you are likely to go pubbing, I'd recommend (strongly) getting a B&B within walking distance. The Irish have a pretty strong tradition of buying rounds, and everyone in the round is supposed to buy a round, and, well, you can often wind up stayin out later than intended.
Be careful driving! It is pretty darn scary and the Irish whip around not only just in their little cars, but in the big buses and trucks like mad.
Leave the R books at home and pack some massage oil instead. You are not so powerful as you think you know. Your entire M does not rest on every little decision you make, though I know it seems to you as though it does right now. It really doesn't. It depends on the kind of person and partner you become in general. No one is perfect and you don't need to be either. So RELAX
As for romance, I'd suggest you throw in a few ardent gestures on top of the gentlemanly considerateness. Having a door opened for you is nice, but it doesn't really make the blood race, if you know what I mean. Pin her against a cliff and kiss her deeply, press into her, put your hands on her. Seriously. Tentativeness can be a real passion killer.
