Reddit reviews A Paddler's Guide to Killarney and the French River

I can't comment on any local things for Killarney since I haven't been there yet (it's high on my list!) but I'll have a go at some of these other questions...

Gear
You mention that your gear is not that lightweight. The benefit of canoe camping is that it isn't too big a deal if your stuff is a bit bulky or heavy because you can plan your first trip with short portages and spend this time really getting to know what you need and don't need - everyone develops their own style. I say this because I find ~$600-800 on gear for a 4 day trip to be a bit steep, if I assume you already have some equipment from previous trips.

I checked out that list and I think it's a great one to use even for your own packing! It is complete and seems like a great and simple solution to just get out there. But I am not sure if you need to spend all that money on the rental. I think you might already own some equipment from your previous camping trips that could be useful:

• sleeping bags
  
• cooking equipment (pots/dishes/utensils)
  
• tarp
  
• ropes
  
• big backpacks
  
• first aid kit
  
  From this I can come up with some things you would want to add to your gear collection or upgrade from what you may already have:
  
  
• $300 lighter tent. My only advice for purchasing a tent is that 4 season tents just don't exist, nothing will do a great job all year. Pick your season.
  
• $150 stove/accessories
  
• $90 water filter
  
• $60 some dry bags
  
• $20 rope and carabiner for a bear hang for your food (if you dont want to do barrel)
  (I got these prices just looking things up on mec's website)
  
  Plus some things I think you can easily rent:
  
  
• canoe & safety kit, paddles, PFD (though having your own PFD is nice)
  
• bear barrel for food
  
  
  You would need to buy your own food this way, prices will vary if you buy packaged food vs preparing your own things ahead of time.
  
  I think the gear choice comes down to how much camping you expect to do in the future. By investing in camping rather than canoeing gear with this money, you can continue to use it for many trips even when you aren't able to get out on the water. If you aren't sure you want to do more wilderness trips so backcountry great won't be necessary, then the rental package does look complete and simple.
  
  Trip Planning
  Yes - there are good and detailled resources out there for planning a trip to Killarney. Kevin Callan has a book about canoe routes in Killarney. If you are looking for a place to start planning, I'd start there. He'll provide all the details such as where to camp each night and where to park your car.
  
  
  Don't get too overwhelmed! Expect your first trip to be a learning experience. You might pack too much or too little. You will pack and unpack your boat 5 different ways before you like one. It's all part of the journey and it's so great to see someone getting ready to head out!