Ireland Sightseeing

Ireland boasts some gorgeous, white sandy beaches. 

Dunmore East, in County Waterford, is a charming village close to safe bathing beaches and attractive coves, including Ladies Cove, a neat sandy bay popular with local people and tourists.

Tramore is one of Ireland's main holiday resorts and has a 5km sandy beach caressed by the Gulf Stream.

Ardmore is renowned for its long, fine beach set against high cliffs and its place in Irish history as an important 6th century religious site.

County Cork has a very attractive coastline, from Kinsale, a pretty seaside town at the mouth of Bandon River, to Kilbrittain, Timoleague and Courtmacsherry, (all unspoilt in lovely settings), to Bantry, ideal for exploring Bantry Bay and the Sheep's Head Peninsula.

The Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry has some lovely beaches and the fine town of Dingle itself. Ventry has a lovely white-sand breach, on which legend claims the King of the Other World landed to subjugate Ireland.

Slieve League is outstanding, from the cliffs of Bunglass to the glorious sands of Silver Strand. Brandon Mountain and Brandon Bay are other must-see highlights.

Ireland is a country of castles. West of Trinity College in Dublin stands Dublin Castle, worth a visit for its beautiful state apartments and fabulous views from Saint Michael's Tower. Three castles at nearby Dalkey survive from the 15th and 16th centuries: Archbold's Castle, now the town hall, Goat Castle, housing the Dalkey Heritage Centre and Bullock Castle. Just outside Dublin stands Malahide Castle, a beautifully-restored castle dating back to 1185. With over 250 acres of adjoining park lands and the nearby Fry Model railway, a trip to Malahide Castle is enough to fill most of a day.

In Counties Louth and Meath, King John's Castle is a small stronghold overlooking the sea, and Taaffe's Castle is one of many fortified residences in the area dating from the 16th century. The thriving market town of Enniscorthy, by far the most attractive in County Wexford, was established by the Normans – it is still dominated by the Norman castle and Saint Aidan's Cathedral. The castle houses the Wexford County Museum. County Westmeath contains the beautiful grounds of Tullynally Castle at Castlepollard, the family seat of the earls of Longford. 

Of course no trip would be complete without an expedition to Blarney Castle, home of the famous Blarney stone which is said to give the gift of the gab to all who kiss it. Blarney Castle is also an ideal stop along a visit to Counties Cork or Killarney.

Dublin is the thriving hub of Ireland, the capital city it is famed for being a friendly city for tourists. This is a city with a quirky sense of humour, ideal to explore on foot. The historic heart of the city lies south of the Liffey River, which has remained unaltered in appearance since Georgian times, though the last decade of regeneration makes the place buzz with excitement, especially around Temple Bar. Today, the area features fashionable pubs, great places to eat, discos and infectious vitality.

As well as the obligatory Guinness-dispensing pubs filled with accordion and fiddle playing musicians, Dublin has another cultural side with attractions such as the Dublin Writers museum, James Joyce museum and the Shaw Birthplace. Dublin's Phoenix Park is the largest city park in Europe, and a great place to watch the city going about its business. Dublin Zoo is in the southeast corner of the park.

The city's most famous landmark is Trinity College, whose students have achieved a measure of fame, notably Oscar Wilde and Bram Stoker. West of Trinity College stands Dublin Castle, worth a visit for its beautiful state apartments. Grafton Street is the popular shopping area, while Merrion Square is the city's most elegant place, lined with classical Georgian houses.

Other highlights include a ferry hop over to the Aran Islands which is like stepping back in time.

Much of Ireland's land is significant for the battles that took place there. River Boyne, in counties Louth and Meath, is famous for the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, when James II sought to regain the English throne, but was out-manoeuvred by William of Orange. Astride the Boyne, Drogheda, the harbour town of County Louth, holds an important place in the history of medieval Ireland. It was besieged by Oliver Cromwell in 1649, who either transported or killed most of the inhabitants. In County Wexford, Enniscorthy's moment of fame arrived in 1798 in the form of the Battle of Vinegar Hill, when the United Irishmen made their last stand against the British.

Ireland isn't just rolling green hills and beaches – it also boasts some dramatic mountains. County Tipperary's Slievenamon is called the mountain of the fairies. Northwards, amid farmlands, rises the limestone Rock of Cashel, and to the south are the Comeragh Mountains, amidst countryside dotted with Norman castles and churches, as well as fascinating Stone and Iron Age sites. The Comeragh and Knockmealdown mountain ranges are vast uplands of forest and bog, easy to explore either by car or on foot. County Offaly shares with County Laios the beautiful glens of the Slieve Bloom Mountains which convey a sense of grandeur and remoteness. County Kerry has the highest mountain of them all - Carrantoohill.

Kells Priory, south of Kilkenny, the site of an Augustinian priory, is little known in Ireland, but is one of the most beautiful and finest ruins in the country. Jerpoint Abbey, south of Thomastown, is a remarkable Cistercian ruin from 1158, famed for the carvings on its tombs. 

In County Westmeath, in Crookedwood village, stands Saint Munna's Church, the stuff of fairytales, complete with 15th century tower and battlements and a lakeside setting.

One of Ireland's most holy places, Clonmacnoise, in Counties Offaly and Laios, was founded in 548 AD by Saint Ciaran at a strategic crossing point of the Shannon River. During medieval times, it developed into a great seat of learning, acknowledged by kings.

Monasterboice in Counties Louth and Meath was formerly a 6^th century monastery, and in the cemetery stand three of the finest High Crosses in the country.

County Mayo's topography rises to the sacred mountain of Croagh Patrick, an annual place of pilgrimage. In County Mayo, the small town of Knock has an internationally recognised Marian shrine. 

Costelloe Memorial Chapel in County Leitrim has a strange claim to fame: it claims to be the second-smallest chapel in the world.

For centuries, County Wicklow was a stronghold of Celtic Christianity, with a focal point around Glendalough. Glendalough, the glen of the two lakes, is a place of holiness among the hills and a place of pilgrimage, where Saint Kevin founded a monastery in 570 AD. The tall round tower is a familiar landmark, used as a look-out post, a grain store and a belfry. The cathedral is now in ruins, but remains evocative. Down towards the river is Saint Kevin's Church, a modest building with a chimney-shaped belfry.

Ireland is full of sights of great antiquity. More than forty prehistoric burial sites of Brú na Bóinne, west of Drogheda in Counties Louth and Meath predate the Egyptian pyramids. Among these, Newgrange is western Europe's most outstanding chambered tomb, built around 5000 years ago. Cavan, in County Cavan, has nearby Clough Oughter, a circular tower castle, which tells of a time when this was the stronghold of the O'Reillys, the princes of Breffni. A short way out of Cavan, is a group of standing stones, Finn MacCool's Fingers, said to be the place where the princes were crowned. More than 2000 stone forts dot the landscape of County Clare, a county that would be virtually unknown were it not for The Burren, a beautiful limestone district overlooking Galway Bay. Along the north Mayo coast is the archaeological site known as the Céide Fields, supported by an imaginative visitor centre that explains the 5000 years of settlement in this part of Ireland. Carrowmore in County Sligo is an important prehistoric site with a vast number of stone circles and dolmens.

Explore some of Ireland's watery wonderlands. Counties Louth and Meath share the River Boyne, which is wide, gentle and very beautiful; in County Wicklow, a pleasant footpath leads to the Powerscourt Waterfall, the highest falls in Ireland, formed by the Dargle River which drops over cliffs 122metres high; in County Monaghan, Castleblaney lies at the head of Lough Muckno, the county's largest lake and a source of excellent fishing; and Killarney National Park in County Kerry embraces three lakes all linked by a beautiful river.

Drink a pint of Guinness
This is one of the most famous, popular and distinctive drinks in the world. Guinness can be enjoyed while listening to some traditional music and craic (talk). Dublin is the ideal city to do this, with an infectious buzz of excitement, especially around Temple Bar.

Kiss the Blarney Stone
No trip to Ireland would be complete without a visit to kissing the famous Blarney Stone. Located in the wall of Blarney Castle in County Cork, the Blarney Stone is said to grant the 'gift of the gab' to all who kiss it.

Oysters
Taste some succulent oysters in the place where they are famed – Carlingford, which looks across the lake to the Mourne Mountains.

Spot Wild Dolphins
Dolphins can be seen off the coast of Shannon. Boat trips can be arranged locally. This area of the Atlantic is home to around 100 wild dolphins.

Take a Scenic Drive
The Ring of Kerry is a stunning, 180km scenic drive around the Iveragh Peninsula, with numerous diversions along coastal roads and out to islands like Skellig Michael. A drive through the hills, via Ballaghbearna Gap and the Ballaghisheen Pass, bestows rugged landscapes shimmering with lakes and rivers. The Atlantic Drive is also a wonderful drive, beginning from the village of Mulrany. The Arigna Scenic Drive is highly regarded for its fine views of Lough Key.

Go Bird-Watching
Bird-watching in the uninhabited Saltee Islands is a real treat. It is one of Ireland's most important bird sanctuaries, located off County Wexford. In this county are also the mudflats of the Slaney Estuary (known as ‘slobs'), which make up the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve, at its best between October and April.

Party with Saint Patrick
Although now celebrated in various places around the world, there is still nothing better than partaking in the revels of Saint Patrick's Week in Ireland itself. Usually held in March, Ireland observes its patron Saint, who brought Christianity to the pagan Celts almost 1500 years ago, with a flurry of raucous activities, from fireworks, exhibitions, funfairs and treasure hunts in Dublin, the capital city, plus a spectacular 3km-long Saint Patrick's Day Festival Parade, to food markets and street theatre in Cork. Visit www.stpatricksday.ie for more information.
 

Explore Dunmore Cave
In County Kilkenny, Dunmore Cave is one of the most famous caves in Ireland, noted for its great beauty. In the past, people took refuge here from the Vikings, though not always successfully.

Spend a day in Cork
The city of Cork is lively and buzzing with energy and the sound of spontaneous music jams. The main part of the city is squashed onto an elongated island linked by elegant bridges. Paul Street is the trendy part of Cork. Other places worth taking in are the tower of Saint Anne's Shandon, the Butter Exchange, which houses the Shandon Craft Centre, Cork City Gaol, Elizabeth Fort (now a Garda station), the Cork Public Museum in Fitzgerald Park and Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral. Cork was designated the European Capital of Culture in 2005.