Springtime in Ireland
based on 10 votes
Ireland is a wonderful place to visit at any time of the year, but spring is glorious in highlighting its charm, revealing its natural attractions, literature and music, not to mention exposing you to the lively local population. Bargains are plentiful before the height of the summer season, so look for promotions from hotels, car rental companies and airlines. Ten days is probably sufficient to hit the highlights although it's a wonderful place to linger if you can. Here are some of my favorite spots.
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Explore locations featured in this Traveler List:
Slane, Bushmills, County Donegal, Derry, Newtownards, Dublin, County Clare, County Kerry, Kinsale
- Category: Best of
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Traveler type: Culture, Sightseeing, Active/Outdoors, Beachgoers
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Appeals to: Couples/romantics, Honeymooners, Singles, Families with small children, Families with teenagers, Seniors, Students, Active/adventure, Tourists
- Seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall
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| Megalithic passage tombs and mounds built around 3200BC. Luckily, Cromwell didn't burn this down like he did a lot of castles and other attractions. The tour is facinating and if you're lucky enough to be there for the summer solstice, you'll wonder at the miracle of human endeavor. Great tour and great storytelling guides. Plan on at least half a day. |
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| Mythology, volcanic activity, rock hopping and hiking are all reasons for visiting this UNESCO Heritage. Justifiably Northern Ireland's most famous attraction, you will enjoy seeing Scotland on a clear day. Further down the coast, the stunning Carrick-a-rede rope bridge spans a gaping chasm between the coast and a small island used by fishermen. Not for those afflicted by vertigo or a fear of the sea, the eighty foot drop can be crossed via a swinging bridge which is easier to stomach on a sunny and windless day, but quite scary on a windy day. |
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| Even if you don't like driving, here's a place to drive through. The Inishowen peninsula is dotted with little towns, with not much happening than a few pubs, restaurants, farms and holiday cottages. In the springtime, the countryside is delightfully dotted with lambs and their mothers, and you can take enough pictures of baby lambs to fill an entire album, while making multiple stops to simply stare at them frolicking peacefully beside their mothers. It is a scene of enormous contentment in this frantic world we inhabit, allowing you to lose yourself and enjoy the sheer pleasure of those few hours. Enough to tempt you to visit the local real estate agent! |
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| The history of Northern Ireland invites exploration of the politics, past and current and one way is to take an interesting walking tour of Derry. It's small and readily navigable, unlike Belfast. Despite the cessation of hostilities, the bitterness prevails but as usual, is tinged with humor. Derry is a fortified town surrounded by city walls and both the geography and politics of the place provided for an informative and interesting walking tour. Finish with a scone and tea, and drive on to the Beechill Country House hotel, a special place to stay. |
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| A National Trust property and home to many political figures, this is also a World Heriitage Site, offering spectacular gardens, and lots of events for families. These include garden tours, hikes, museum exhibits and even theatre. Well worth a detour. The National Trust card will get you into attractions all over the United Kingdom and might save you money. |
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In addition to all the usual attractions, don't miss Kilmainham Gaol, which was the site where most of the famous political prisoners from Ireland's tumultous 20th century history were imprisoned. Make sure you walk , either on a guided tour or on your own, along the Liffey River to the James Joyce museum, and enjoy the interesting outdoor statues and monuments, including the riverside famine monument. And don't miss a play at the amazing Abbey Theatre, even if you are not a theatre buff. Stop at St. Stephens Green for great Irish and ethnic dining, and a lively atmosphere in the evenings. www.visitdublin.com is one of the better city websites. Flying in and out of Dublin, the Holiday Inn at the Airport is one of the nicest of its kind, with two decent restaurants. The upscale Crowne Plaza is also fabulous, but in town, spurge on the Four Seasons or the Conrad, or for a more typically Irish alternative, try the Gresham. |
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| The Burren is a highlight of this county, its desolate landscape allowing you to walk for miles without seeing another soul. The Burren perfumery is the oldest working perfumery in ireland and there's an interesting tour as well as gift shop selling fabulous and unusual scents to take home as gifts. It's also great bicycling country and the town of Ballyvaughan offers great accomodations and well priced restaurants. Doolin, on the coast, is a musical town but should be avoided during peak tourist season. if you fly into Shannon, the Cliffs of Moher are worth a quick visit to clear the cobwebs, and Bunratty Castle is a fun destination for families. |
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Killarney and Kenmare are great towns to tour the Ring of Kerry, hike Killarney National Park, visit Muckross House, where Queen Victoria was once a visitor and luxuriate in the many fine hotels, spas and golf courses in the area. It is a popular tourist destination but well worth a visit. |
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9. West Cork
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| West County Cork is filled with little villages, artisans and foodies offering small-scale locally produced salmon, cheeses, produce and other local delicacies. Don't miss the little towns of Durrus and Goleen for great food and hiking in the spectacular Beara Peninsula. Nearby are Barley Cove Beach and Mizen Head, the most southwesterly part of Ireland. Barleycove, one of the most beautiful beaches in Ireland, is a large sandy beach backed by sand dunes, which were thrown up in the tidal wave that swept Europe after the earthquake in Lisbon in 1755. Schull and Ballydehob are lovely fishing towns that are popular with locals in the summer. Beautiful beaches, great food, recreation and music will make this area a highlight of any visit to Ireland. and finally, stop at de Barra's in Clonakilty for some great Irish music almost any day of the week. |
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| A visit to County Cork is incomplete without a side trip to Kinsale, a beautiful seaside town that is popular with locals and tourists alike. Kinsale is only 25 minutes from Cork City and as with much of Ireland, Kinsale is best seen on foot. For those that love to shop, narrow streets in the center of town hold interesting shops specializing in antiques, pottery, linens and books as well as tourist paraphernalia. But a leisurely two mile stroll to Charles Fort, mainly along a pedestrian path and small road, is a marvelous way to take in the sights of the town, whether it is the expensive real estate on the top of Compass Hill, the ruins of James Fort across the bay or simply the sweeping vistas of Kinsale Harbor. Refreshment awaits along the way at the historic Spaniard's Pub, with its modern menu in the restaurant upstairs and more casual pub fare downstairs. At the end of the path is historic Charles Fort. The older, more informed docents provide a great historic perspective on the battles between the Irish and the English. Max's Wine Bar and the Blue Haven are two great restaurants where you can end your day. |
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Compliment serialtraveler
serialtraveler
Two years of living in Ireland
