We're just back from two weeks in Ireland/Northern Ireland, and I want to say thanks to everyone who helped me with the planning. We went from Dublin to Kilkenny to Cork to Killarney to Dun Chaoin (Dingle) to Doolin to Donegal to Malin Head to Belfast, so we saw a LOT. Highlights were the GORGEOUS beaches that we saw all along the way, most specifically but not limited to the Dingle Peninsula and Donegal. There's a beach just north of Bundoran (still part of Bundoran, actually) that is as incredible as anything I've ever seen. Another one between Malin Head and the ferry into Northern Ireland that looks like one of the beaches at the end of the road on the Big Island of Hawaii. Just incredible.

Other highlights were the Blarney Castle (this came as a surprise to me--I'd heard that it might be a disappointment), the ruins of the Abbey at Kells, a car ride through the Gap of Dunloe and on into the Black Valley at dusk, a thatched cottage (Bluebell Cottage) in the middle of nowhere. ("It's rural," said the owner when she met us in Donegal.) We were surrounded by sheep and green fields and old vacant houses for three days, and it was glorious! Slieve League cliffs, little villages at every turn, quaint cottages everywhere you went, ice cream cones with "flakes." I just kept saying, "It's so Irish!"

More highlights were several great hostels, one in Doolin (Aille River Hostel) where my kids were able to jam (guitar and harmonica) with some of the other guests. A pink beach in Dun Chaoin, rocky beaches in Malin Head with such beautiful smooth stones. Whoops, I'm back on the beaches again!

Stuff I didn't get to see that I'd planned on includes the Antrim Coastline. We did get to the Giants Causeway and the Carrick-awhatever-bridge (I didn't do this one, but my family did), but then just wore out and headed on in to Belfast. Also, I was only able to spend about four hours in Dublin. I had injured my knee a few days before, and I hobbled around as long as I could. We didn't have a rental car that day, so it took some doing to get back and forth to the hotel, which was near the airport. I did see the Book of Kells, Grafton Street, Temple Bar, St. Stephen's Green, Post Office, etc. And loved it. But just couldn't do anymore that day.

Oh, another highlight was driving around and looking at the murals of Belfast. Disturbing, sad, hopeful. We had watched the movie, "Mickie Bo and Me," or something like that, the night before. It was recommended by the video store owner in Donegal, and was great for my twelve year old to understand a little bit about the Troubles.

Just walking through fields of green, luscious, brilliant, verdant green. Oh, and picnicking by a castle ruin on a beach in Ballingskelligs.

Sitting on the beach at Inch while my boys and husband ran around in the enormous sand dunes. Sitting on another beach south of Sligo while they tackled even bigger sand dunes. Oh, I'm back to the beaches again!

Hearing all the different accents, and hearing Irish in many places. Okay, that's a shortened version. Suffice it to say that it was all just lovely, and I am grateful for all the suggestions that I read on this site. Some of you were right: I did over-plan in terms of how long it would take to get from here to there. But it's hard to think of one thing that I would have changed in terms of our agenda.

Thanks so much for that lovely little wander through Ireland!
We were planning to get to see some of the country on our UK trip but realised you need plenty of time, so are planning to go back as soon as we can - We have a customer in Kilkenny who buys haberdashery from us and wanted to call and say hi, unfortunately not this time.

What a wonderful time you had! And great experiences.

Where did you stay in Dingle?

Always glad to meet another convert to the joys and beauties of the Emerald Isle

So, now that you know how addicting the place is, when is your next trip there?

Thank you, CindyW, for the the great report. It sounds as if you had a wonderful time.
Joan

Cindy,
We were blown away by the beaches too!!
Not many people mention the beaches when they rave about Ireland....so we were surprised!!

Isn't Ireland a glorious county?

Here are a few of my photos:
http://www.pbase.com/baileyzim/irelanduk

Nice report, Cindy. Sounds like it was a wonderful trip.

LCBoniti, we stayed at the An Oige Hostel in Dun Chaoin at the very end of Dingle. It's front window looks out over the ocean. It's about a ten minute walk down a little heather-fringed road to the pinkest beach I've ever seen.

Bailey, your photos are awesome!

Thanks for listening to my rambles, everyone.

Can you share information on how you found Bluebell Cottage? Sounds like a great place to stay. Thanks.

Here's the link to the Bluebell Cottage:http://www.bluebellcottagedonegal.com/gallery.htm

We actually rented through: http://www.goireland.com/donegal/sel...egal-page1.htm

The photos were taken in the winter, I guess, because when we were there, it was just as green as green could ever be. It cost about 99 euros per night, and was very clean, and just perfect! Two bedrooms, lovely kitchen, dishwasher, picnic table outside, fields and abandoned houses to explore, hills to climb, etc.! If you're willing to hike a ways, there's a view all the way to Donegal Bay.