Recently we visited Ireland and I have to say — if it’s not on your bucket list — it should be!
The country truly is beautiful and the people are very friendly. We were lucky with the weather too and whilst the mornings were a little foggy, we enjoyed lovely clear afternoons.
We started in Dublin where we visited the Castle and the Kilmainham Gaol. There is some fabulous history surrounding the gaol and it’s also where “In the Name of the Father” was filmed.
From Dublin we drove to Cong, also the setting for another movie, John Wayne’s “Quiet Man”.
Here we stayed in Ashford Castle, an absolutely beautiful hotel and apparently rated one of the top ten in the world. The castle offers numerous activities such as archery, falconry, clay pigeon shooting, bike riding, boat trips and walks.
I also highly recommend a visit to the Cliffs of Moher near Doolin. These cliffs are amazing, they stretch for 8 kms along the Atlantic coast and on a sunny day the views are stunning.
Killarney and Dingle in County Kerry are a must see. This area is picturesque and the Ring of Kerry circuit offers lovely views of the countryside and the coast, plus some very interesting historical sites.
We finished our visit in Kinsale, County Cork. Kinsale is a historic port and fishing town. The famous Blarney Castle is close by where visitors kiss the Blarney Stone to gain the gift of eloquence! The gardens in the castle grounds are also beautiful. Visit the “Poison Garden” for a quick tour of some of the world’s more interesting toxic plants. Charles Fort is located at the top of Kinsale. This fort boasts some interesting history and is also worth a visit.
I highly recommend a visit to Ireland. This was our first time there and I’m looking forward to my second trip to this beautiful country!
