Holiday in Ireland

Wicklow - very quiet, beautiful and lovely beaches, hills and forests

it's like Northumberland without the castles but with Guinness

I'm biased 'cos my Dad's from there

Cork and west Cork (county). Beautiful part of the world and pretty quiet. I’m biased ‘cos one of my best mates is from there.

Bantry Bay. My Mrs wants to go there cos she likes the name.

Kerry, where I am right now.

Another vote for Kerry and the Iveragh peninsula; Kells, ring forts in Caherciveen, Valentina Island, Caherdaniel, and Baile an Sceilg to start

I hope you like rain!

I'm biased because a lot of my family are from Westmeath - don't go there as it's not particularly interesting!

Can't speak for harbour walls, but my next Irish holiday is going to be in the Donegal / Sligo area, and county Mayo. You can't swing a cat without hitting a beautiful coastline. Galway is great too - the county is bleakly beautiful and the city itself is good fun.

Have not long been in Belfast for a week.

If going to NI from the NW the Liverpool (really Birkenhead) ferry is highly recommended - not much different in time to driving to Cairnryan nor in cost (parents paid much the same for a <4.7m car from there as we did for a slightly longer one).

Giant’s Causeway/Carrick-a-Rede obligatory; also some nice places round Strangford Lough?

Galway, Connemara and the Aran Islands.
My mother was from Galway so I'm, slightly, biased.
Ferry from Rossaveal to Inishmore is great - next stop, New York! Did it once in an Atlantic gale - that was...interesting - bar stayed open and I was one of the few who didn't throw up.
Inishmore - Dun Aonghosa is the site of a bronze age fort right on the cliff top and it's a very long way down!
Back in the 'good old days' you could get real illegal poteen if you knew the right people; my uncle Tommy worked for Shell delivering fuel across Connemara - poteen, poultry, vegetables were all traded.
Go - you'll love it!

Had a mini tour this august visiting family in Belfast and Derry. Travelled around northern Donegal and then down the coast to Bundoran and beyond before heading back inland to Enniskillen and finally Belfast again.

Hit lucky with some perfect weather

View this post on Instagram

Think I’ve linked that ok

depends too what time of year, rain pretty much guaranteed most months but there are some drier months, Feb and June are normally good for the North, but July and August cloudy though mild.

Ireland takes a while to get around in the West, so focusing on a smaller area makes sense, the coast is impressive yes, and my suggestion would be to take the ferry from GB to Belfast from Birkenhead, as above, then head west to Co Fermanagh and visit Lough Erne, then from there west to Sligo, working north along the coast into Donegal, along the Wild Atlantic Way, then from Co Donegal to Derry/Londonderry, lots of history there (and everywhere really), and then the north coast via Giant's Causeway, along the coast road to Larne, nice little harbours like Ballintoy along the way, then head back into Belfast for ferry home--spend a while in Belfast too, it's a great city.

cheers,

Keith

a link to Google maps, not sure if this will work

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Belfast/Straid,+Glencolumbkille,+Co.+Donegal,+Ireland/Belfast/ @54.8788489,-8.6798129,8z/data=!4m55!4m54!1m10!1m1!1s0x4860fffdd7d08a3b:0x2e57162cefc7c531!2m2!1d-5.93012!2d54.597285!3m4!1m2!1d-8.4720606!2d54.2981876!3s0x485ee86c51700725:0xe636cd64aca9cfd2!1m35!1m1!1s0x485f3c419e4ff4ad:0xc72c846096027b3d!2m2!1d-8.7295157!2d54.7080885!3m4!1m2!1d-8.1292373!2d55.1359463!3s0x485f86a1ae265415:0x8855a0c50c10f69e!3m4!1m2!1d-7.8021777!2d55.1633769!3s0x485f8b5242668b1b:0x1f102bc3999fa3dc!3m4!1m2!1d-7.6424712!2d55.1415647!3s0x485ff169c73efbc3:0x4591cd68a39e7878!3m4!1m2!1d-6.4550323!2d55.2256268!3s0x48602c0eed0baf85:0xb4cd36aa06ac2d71!3m4!1m2!1d-6.2060494!2d55.2011304!3s0x4861d175f0236bbf:0x6205895f5df8b030!3m4!1m2!1d-5.981521!2d55.0574716!3s0x4861c694c3d9d6ad:0xe97793d2acb7784f!1m5!1m1!1s0x4860fffdd7d08a3b:0x2e57162cefc7c531!2m2!1d-5.93012!2d54.597285!3e0

Yes, what tractionman said

https://www.wildatlanticwayonline.com/

Just to pull the nayslayers on the rain thing, it didn't rain today. Tomorrow...I've brought my road bike so optimistic.

Donegal or sligo would be my thoughts for this. Take goretex, possibly some nikwax too. It’s green for a reason.

I'd agree re: travel times, some parts take long time get short distances, so itinerary will depend on how long going for. Example- travelling 95 miles from in-laws in North to my folks in centre of Republic can take 2hrs to 3 1/2 hrs, some great roads linked with terrible roads amd rural traffic.
Some great suggestions above

My late partner lived in Schull, down near Cork, for a while, and she loved it down there. We had a plan to go back there, but we just couldn’t afford the ferry, and she had real issues being a car passenger, for a number of reasons, so it didn’t happen. Sadly, it never will, but if I could have got her certain treatments, then it may have happened - it’s a beautiful part of the world, I’ve always wanted to go there, and to be able to share the trip with her would have been amazing, as she knew it pretty well.
As northshoreniall says, “some great roads linked with terrible roads amd rural traffic.”, I’d be driving from Chippenham in North Wiltshire, right across to Fishguard, then the ferry, then down to Schull, so quite a long drive. Especially with someone who’d have a panic attack while driving the 35 miles back home from Salisbury!
Maybe, sometime, I’ll get to explore down there - just to see where Jo lived for some time, and possibly meet people she knew would be very fulfilling. Fingers crossed 🤞🏼

Here are a few nice places to visit, have a google and see what takes your fancy:

Dingle, Slea Head Drive, Inch beach,
Skelligs Islands

Clare Burren National Park,
Doolin,
Don Aonghasa on the Aran islands
Clifden and Sky Road,
Leenane,
Achill Island (there a bridge!)

Brú na Bóinne, Trim Castle

Slieve League, Glenveagh & Kylemore abbey
Donegal coast & beaches

Causway costal route (Derry to Belfast),
Belfast to Newcastle to Rostrevor
Rostrevor to Carlingford (via the short ferry)

Failing that just follow the Wild Atlantic Way!

Can I suggest you add Star Wars Locations to that googling list?

The last few films and series have made use of various places in Ireland from Malin Head in the north of donegal to the skellig islands in the south.

Gratuitous 2022 holiday photos on behalf of the Kerry tourist board

Kayaking to Waterville for Mrs Kilo

Star Wars

Our nearest town, Caherciveen,from a distance.

Always tipping it down

And one for the Donegal fans, the historical element being this is my family’s house rather than any Spanish Armada stories.

We had an amazing holiday this summer in West Cork staying near Skibberean. The coast and landscape is absolutely stunning (hot & sunny weather helped). The Beara and Sheeps Head peninsulas were especially beautiful. Lovely villages and towns.

We used Tesco clubcard vouchers to pay for both ferry crossings - Irish Ferries from Pembroke to Rosslare and return journey on Stena Line from Rosslare to Fishguard.

Definitely be going back to Ireland soon - so much more to explore.

Westport is v nice if you're in the area, particularly Matt Molloy's for music.

We cycle toured around donegal then headed down to sligo and galway. Donegal was certainly quieter, but perhaps a bit less impressive. Its the bit where NI ers holiday. It was fantastic my only criticism was thatvits not very outdoorsy. There are no footpaths which feels a bit weird. Didnt worry us on the bikes but would of us if we weren't. Loads of little harbours.

The footpath problem in RoI is a long standing issue related to liability and land owners being sued 'cos somebody sprains an ankle walking across the field (or some such nonsense)

Basically, avoid the middle it's flat, boring bog.

Connemara [img] [/img]

Wicklow mountains
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Connemara has, probably the widest range of scenery in Eire - mountains, hills, coastline, heaths, peat bogs, lakes.

Lots of rocks and rhododendrons as I recall, would hate to live there but it's kinda pretty.

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Wicklow coast lets it down a bit in comparison but it's mountains are class and 30 mins from the ferry.

The trouble with Connemara is that if you want to get to the foot of a mountain, you always need to traverse a bog! Lovely part of the world otherwise, unless you're bringing mountain bikes (which you're aren't thankfully) in which case it's shite. My favourite bits are the doolough valley road between Louisburgh and Leenane linked into the nafooey valley it's either an epic road ride or drive.
Achill is lovely as is the Burren, it's starkness compared to the green, boggy rest of the west coast deserves a visit.

Eire

It’s ok, you can just call it Ireland.

OP, do you plan to do a few days here, a few days there or would you prefer to be in one spot and just do stuff local to that for a few weeks?

My preference would be SW - so West Cork or Kerry. There’s so much to see around that area that would do you for a whole summer, let alone a few weeks. Connemara is beautiful but getting from place to place can be hard work. It’s definitely worth a visit though. Overall, I’d just say “head west” and then decide whether you go S, Mid or N.

What's wrong with Eire? That was how my mother referred to it.

We had an amazing holiday this summer in West Cork staying near Skibberean. The coast and landscape is absolutely stunning (hot & sunny weather helped). The Beara and Sheeps Head peninsulas were especially beautiful. Lovely villages and towns.

A mate got married in the area. We had short break. Just incredible!

We also did The Dingle peninsula on another trip. Again just stunning.

The Dingle peninsula

A friend was visiting there for a few days back in September as part of a road trip. I insisted they took the Conor Pass, promising all kinds of amazing views as they came over the top and the ocean came into sight. They sent a photo from the top. They could hardly see their hands in front of their faces. 😂

That sounds like my last trip to Beara

Drank my body weight in Guinness to make up for the disappointment. 😎

What’s wrong with Eire? That was how my mother referred to it.

If you want to refer to Ireland as gaeilge, then the word is Éire, note the fada over the first E. the word eire is a different word and a very different meaning.

The other issue is do you say La Suisse, or Deutschland, etc. Or do you say Paris or Pari? It's the use or a name out of its own language.

My good lady wife has expressed an interest in holidaying in Ireland and I have no clue.

Just go... Amazing country! You won't fail to have an incredible time...

History

Yup, there's plenty of that... Not much of it will be true mind, but the phrase don't let truth get in the way of a good story was pretty much invented by the Irish, and my god they can tell a story! 👍🏻

Beautiful coast lines

To rival, if not beat Scotlands coast lines... Seriously! Absolutely epic scenery...

Jumping off harbour walls

Didn't do any of that myself, but saw plenty of lovely harbours, and the Irish have got a much more laissez fare attitude towards health and safety than we have in the rest of the UK... So knock yourself out!

Did a 9 day tour of the West Coast, all the way from Cork up to Derry, on motorbikes back in September with friends... We dipped in and out of the Wild Atlantic Way on our way up (following the whole thing can be a bit laborious and take a very long time on slow roads apparently) but got to see some absolutely incredible sights, enjoyed some amazing roads, stayed in some brilliant places and enjoyed fantastic food and entertainment and mostly exceptional hospitality too.

I can't wait to go back, on a bike again, by car, on foot, cycling, whatever... Ireland is just a stunning country with something for everyone (well, as long as you like being outside), and I'm lucky that work will be taking me there a fairly significant amount of time in the medium term future.

One thing I'd say is that don't worry too much about where you go... You'll want to go back and visit more anyway ASAP, and there's far too much to see in any typical length holiday... You'll have more trips to go and visit other parts and fill in bits you didn't see before long anyway!

I'd move there tomorrow (in case you hadn't guessed) if I had the opportunity...

+1 on the "not calling in Eire" bandwagon; it's the kind of thing that pulled-up white-socked American tourists would do so unless you want to be put into that catagory then it's just Ireland when speaking in English.

As a Dub, living in Wicklow I would say to go North West to Sligo and Donegal, in particular the very north of Donegal. The south west Kerry and West Cork is a serious drive vs say getting off the ferry in Belfast and heading west for 90 minutes .

The south west Kerry and West Cork is a serious drive vs say getting off the ferry in Belfast and heading west for 90 minutes

TBF it also depends where in the UK you are starting from. My last drive to Sligo, from SW London, was a two day epic (which I shan’t ever repeat), mainly a miserable drive getting to Holyhead. Whereas Kerry/ Cork is a fair bit easier via South Wales.

South West or North east.

south West prettier but further away. North East is easy to get to (literally a few miles from the ferry into Larne is the start of the good part of the coast.)

North West (and West,) colder, wilder, harder to get to, but would be good too.

South East, nice, but coast isn't as nice.

The Burren and Cliffs of Moher - jeysus they're big (don't pay for the visitor experience)

As above. We stayed in a place that had superb restaurants a small drive away, neolithic dolman a walk away, the most haunted castle in Ireland next door and the nearest pub was in father Ted.

The drives not that bad. Get a cabin as it helps. My drive Saturday was 4 hours from home to Holyhead; 4 hours on the boat; 4 hours Dublin to Kerry.

If you go to the burren don't forget to go to father ted's parochial house

If you go to the Giant's causeway don't be conned into paying. The payment is for the visitor centre, the causeway itself is free

History

Yup, there’s plenty of that…

..in which the English were very much the baddies though I'm hoping we're more international figures of ridicule these days.

The drives not that bad. Get a cabin as it helps. My drive Saturday was 4 hours from home to Holyhead; 4 hours on the boat; 4 hours Dublin to Kerry.

You could be somewhere nice in France in that amount of time.

I've flown and hired a car to shorten things. Not great for carbon footprint, but on the upside I learned that there are two airports in Belfast (I must have managed to rebook as I've no memory of hiking across town).

I've been a bit, approaching double figures maybe staying with irish friends in and around dublin, a week touring the west years ago, couple of work trips, three or four surf trips. But I'd really not want to go for a proper holiday. The scenery is okay but there are a lot of breezeblock bungalows plonked about. Access issues also - foot never mind bike. I'm probably influenced by the cheapskate places I've stayed when surfing - pebbledash houses in slightly sad rundown bundoran. Amazing wave out front mind.

Also: some pubs should have a diddly dee warning for those of us who are allergic.

there are two airports in Belfast

But, as the Belfast tour bus driver said, there’s only one of them that’s named after an alcoholic wife-beater.

Isn’t the other one somewhere in the sticks near Antrim?

..in which the English were very much the baddies though I’m hoping we’re more international figures of ridicule these days.

Nope

some pubs should have a diddly dee warning for those of us who are allergic.

Also: some pubs should have a diddly dee warning for those of us who are allergic

They're easy to avoid unlike acerbic English wit.

I'd much rather have a trad session (including accordionists) than country music, which can often be the alternative in village pubs.