Trip IdeasThe Southwest Places
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Adare
A once-upon-a-timefied spot with several thatched cottages amid wooded surroundings on the banks of the River Maigue, Adare is famed as one of Ireland's prettiest villages. Perhaps it's more correct to... (more) -
Annascaul
An important livestock center until the 1930s, this village near the junction of the Castlemaine and Tralee roads has a wide road, as cattle trading was once carried out in the streets. The town also has... (more) -
Baile an Fheirtéaigh (Ballyferriter)
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Bantry
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Blarney
"On Galway sands they kiss your hands, they kiss your lips at Carney, but by the Lee they drink strong tea, and kiss the stone at Blarney." This famous rhyme celebrates one of Ireland's most noted icons—the... (more) -
Cahirciveen
Cahirciveen (pronounced cah-her-sigh-veen), at the foot of Bentee Mountain, is the gateway to the western side of the Ring of Kerry and the main market town for southern Kerry. Following the tradition... (more) -
Castletownshend
This town has an unusual number of large, gracious stone houses, most of them dating from the mid-18th century, when it was an important trading center. The main street runs steeply downhill to the 17th-century... (more) -
Ceann Sleibne (Slea Head)
From the top of the towering cliffs of Ceann Sleibne at the southwest extremity of the Dingle Peninsula, the view of the Blasket Islands and the Atlantic Ocean is guaranteed to stop you in your tracks... (more) -
Ceann Trá (Ventry)
The next town after An Daingean along the coast, Ceann Trá has a small outcrop of pubs and small grocery stores (useful, since west of Dingle Town you'll find few shops of any kind), and a long... (more) -
Cork City
The major metropolis of the south, Cork is Ireland's second-largest city—but you have to put this in perspective. It actually runs a distant second, with a population of 123,000, roughly one-tenth... (more) -
Cork Harbour
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An Daingean (Dingle Town)
Backed by mountains and facing a sheltered harbor, An Daingean, the chief town of its eponymous peninsula, has a year-round population of 1,400 that more than doubles in summer. Although many expect Dingle... (more) -
Dún Chaoin (Dunquin)
Once the mainland harbor for the Blasket islanders, Dún Chaoin is at the center of the Gaeltacht, and attracts many students of Irish language and folklore. David Lean shot Ryan's Daughter hereabouts... (more) -
Fermoy
An army town dating mainly from the mid-19th century, Fermoy was a major crossroads on the Dublin-Cork road (N8), but nowadays most through traffic uses the bypass; the east-west road that passes through... (more) -
Glenbeigh
The road from Cahirciveen to Glenbeigh is one of the Ring's highlights. To the north is Dingle Bay and the jagged peaks of the Dingle Peninsula, which will, in all probability, be shrouded in mist. If... (more) -
Glengarriff
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Glin
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In and Around Killarney
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Kenmare
A lively touring base, this market town is set at the head of the sheltered Kenmare River estuary. It's currently a matter of lively debate as to whether Kenmare has displaced Kinsale as the culinary capital... (more) -
Killorglin
Killorglin is on top of a hill beside the River Laune. Walk up to the "top of the town" to discover a new Continental-style piazza, with outdoor tables in good weather. (This is also the location of the... (more) -
Kinsale
Foodies flock to Kinsale, a picturesque port that pioneered the Irish small-town tradition of fine dining in unbelievably small restaurants. Back in the early '80s, Kinsale had a village-size population... (more) -
Limerick City
Before you ask, there's no direct connection between Limerick City and the facetious five-line verse form known as a limerick, which was first popularized by the English writer Edward Lear in his 1846... (more) -
Listowel
The small, sleepy market town of Listowel comes alive for its annual horse-racing festival during the third week of September. Writers' Week in June attracts international names for a more restrained but... (more) -
Midleton
Midleton is famous for its school, Midleton College, founded in 1696, and its distillery, founded in 1825 and modernized in 1975, which manufactures spirits—including Irish whiskey—for distribution... (more) -
Shanagarry
There are three reasons to come to Shanagarry, a farming village known chiefly for its Quaker connections: Ballymaloe House, one of Ireland's first country-house hotels; Ballymaloe Cookery School and Gardens... (more) -
The Skelligs
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Skibbereen
Skibbereen is the main market town in this neck of southwest Cork, and a good base for nearby sights. The Saturday country market and the plethora of pubs punctuated by bustling shops and coffeehouses keep... (more) -
Sneem
The pretty village of Sneem (from the Irish for "knot") is settled around an English-style green on the Ardsheelaun River estuary, and its streets are filled with houses washed in different colors. The... (more) -
Timoleague
The romantic silhouette of its ruined abbey dominates the view when you're approaching Timoleague, a village of multicolored houses on the Argideen River estuary. The town marks the eastern end of the... (more) -
Tralee
County Kerry's capital and its largest town, Tralee (population 21,000) has long been associated with the popular Irish song "The Rose of Tralee," the inspiration for the annual Rose of Tralee International... (more) -
Waterville
Waterville is famous for its sportfishing, its 18-hole championship golf course (adopted as a warm-up spot for the British Open by Tiger Woods, who was a big hit with the locals), and for the fact that... (more)
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