Flight Options Try 2 - Round Trip to Dublin

We can fly round trip to Dublin on United. Depart Sunday, August 25, return Monday, September 9. Non-stop, $1,076.

Just searching for the cheapest flight, we can leave Chicago at Sunday August 25, return Wednesday September 11. Round trip to Dublin, $653 on American. However, we have long layovers in Madrid on the way there and NYC on the way home. Two places I'd like to see, but not sure we can do it in a layover.

American again, round trip to/from Dublin, leave Chicago on Monday August 26, return Wednesday September 11, $845. Non-stop to Dublin, same layover in NYC on the way home.

Aer Lingus has the same prices to/from Dublin as United.

Did a random Kayak search for round trip to/from London for 8/26-9/10. The United flight(s) are the cheapest. Well, if we leave on Sunday and are willing to have 2 connections both ways, we can do it for $800. Hardly seems worth it to me.