Ireland - Six of the Best

Visit the Emerald Isle’s Most Exciting and Enchanting Destinations

With over one third of Australians claiming some Irish ancestry, Ireland has become one of the most frequently visited countries for travellers from Down Under.

Dublin's Temple Bar is always lively

Start your trip in Dublin, rightly described by Lonely Planet as Europe’s most vibrant capital. It has been voted in the top four most popular city destinations in Europe along with London, Paris and Rome. See the Book of Kells at historic Trinity College, go to Oscar Wilde’s house, have a drink at the magnificent Guinness Brewery and Storehouse and wander around the ancient cobblestone streets of Temple Bar to visit magnificent pubs.

A valley on the Beara Peninsula 

Colourful streetscape in County Cork

Ireland’s west coast is the country’s scenic heartland. The Beara Peninsula in County Cork is a place of stunning beauty. Green valleys, rocky mountains, rugged coastline and picturesque villages with multi-coloured houses feature in a breathtaking landscape.

The picturesque Dingle Peninsula 

Travel further up the west coast through Kerry to the legendary Dingle Peninsula, once described by National Geographic Traveller magazine as the most beautiful place on earth. Little wonder that David Lean set his film Ryan’s Daughter here.

The peninsula is peppered with ancient stone buildings and prehistoric stone circles. The pace is so slow here that you can hire a horse-drawn caravan for a week or two to get around!

-

North of Dingle lie the truly spectacular Cliffs of Moher, undoubtedly among Ireland’s most famous sights. The views of these sheer, absolutely vertical cliffs that stretch for eight kilometres are tremendous. Bird watchers come to see the Puffin birds that make the cliffs their home.

-

Nearby lies the one of the world’s most enigmatic regions – the Burren. The Burren is a 160 square kilometres of rugged limestone rock, and is often referred to as Europe’s largest rock garden. It was shaped beneath ancient seas and then forced high and dry during a great geological upheaval. Rare plants from both the arctic and the Mediterranean grow side by side in its crevices. The Burren is a paradise for archaeologists, historians, hikers and artists. In addition to its natural beauty, the Burren is peppered with ancient burial chambers and medieval ruins.

-

-

Connemara in County Galway has one of the most memorable, hauntingly beautiful landscapes on the planet. It is a patchwork of idyllic bog wilderness, wild valleys, sweeping beaches and dark lakes that shimmer in the sunlight. To many it is the most enchanting region of Ireland. Connemara affords great hiking, biking and driving opportunities. It also has idyllic coastal villages such as Roundstone, where you can enjoy a Guinness after walking on the fabulous Roundstone Bog and watch the lobster fishermen come and go in the harbour.


Words and images by John Maddocks