favorite places/areas in Ireland
 

Please list your top 5 (and only 5)places or areas in Ireland. Feel free to list why and tell us how extensively you've traveled the country.

dingle peninsula and town, via connor pass (only cars and sheep allowed :))

1. Cashel - amazing when you see it! Loads of history!<BR>2. Kinsale - cutest town! Lots of shops and restaurants and history!<BR>3. Slea Head Drive - you stop every few minutes for incredible history and/or an incredible view<BR>4. Breakfast at Greenmount House in Dingle - can't even count all the "points" (Weight watchers jargon!)<BR>

1. Malin Head/Inishowen Penisula in Donegal--heaven on earth. Scenery is unbelievable. I never even try to take pictures there, because you just can't do it gorgeous.<BR><BR>2. Mourne Mountains, N. Ireland-tremendous hiking, breathtaking gorgeous.<BR><BR>3. Connemara region--wild, rugged, and incredibly beautiful.<BR><BR>4. Wicklow Mountains-great hiking (just don't rely on the sign posts to be accurate).<BR><BR>5. Belfast-lived there for a couple of years, and have spent enough time there to realize what a great city it is.<BR><BR>Since 1990, I've been to Ireland 17 times, I think. 18th time will be in August. Lived in Belfast for two years. Driven around the whole country. Have spent less time in the very south, but still have down some traveling down there.

1. Murlough Bay, outside Ballycastle, NI<BR>2. Torrhead, NI<BR>3. Giants Causeway all these within the same County & probably fall under the "Glens of Antrim" banner. Wonderful scenery.)<BR>4. Kinsale, touristy but great vibe <BR>5. Glandore, Co Cork, blink and you miss it but it's really pretty on a sunny day. <BR>Fermanagh lakes are also nice.<BR>I'm from the North of Ireland as you may have guessed and am happy to "plug" it as we so often get a bad press due to our political problems. However, speak to anyone who's ever been and you'll only hear good things about the welcome - and yes, it's perfectly safe.<BR>Although I've travelled to Donegal, Sligo, Dublin, Kerry & Cork and love to visit "the South" I guess there's nowhere like home.

So many places and areas, it would take a few pages. Ireland is my Magnificant Obsession! But, some of the favorites are:<BR> 1- Looking over the edge of the Cliffs of Moher<BR> 2- The Dingle (Peninsula)<BR> 3- the Connamara<BR> 4- Southwest Cork and Inchigeelagh, home of the Leary/OLeary Clan <BR> 5- Killaloe on the Shannon, home area of Brian Boru (tenth century Irish King)<BR> So much to see, so little time! We will be there next May, and are already planning the trip!<BR> Helen<BR><BR> Helen

I would go for Killarney National Park,Dingle Peninsula,Cliffs of Moher,Connemara and Sligo (the latter because I have an obsession with anything to do with W.B.Yeats)

It's been ten years since I've been to Ireland (returning next year!) but the Sligo area, the Burren, and the Aran Islands are what I remember most vividly.

1. Ballycotton, Co. Cork. Quiet, scenic, WELL off the beaten track. Stay at SPANISH POINT for B&B accommodations with views of Atlantic and world class cuisine. Prepare to be treated very well!<BR>2. Galway. Lively, young, energetic. Lived there for a summer. Met my husband there! Check the hostels in town for central, cheap accommodation.<BR>3. Dublin, in small doses. Avoid driving at all costs. Spend the extra money to be close to town or public transportation. Accommodation has gotten outrageously expensive, unfortunately.<BR>4. Southwest Co. Cork. A bit too quiet at the wrong time of year, but beautiful coastline.<BR>5. Dingle Peninsula, if the weather holds up! So beautiful, rolling hills, peaceful, beach and country horseback riding. Nice.<BR><BR>How extensively I've traveled the country: very! Lived in Dublin for 1 summer and in Galway for another. Visited on several occasions, first as a tourist and later to visit in-laws with my Irish hubby. Have traveled all over by car, bus and train on different trips.<BR>

1. Burrens - stayed at a wonderful farm and breakfast there<BR>2. Aran Islands (and Aran sweater)<BR>3. Driving around Connemara - peat bogs, Connemara marble and ponies<BR>4. Waterford Factory tour<BR>5. Dingle Penisula (and my pottery souvenirs from a small shop)<BR>6. Staying in B&B's and/or Farms & B's