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Ireland

GALLERY

It's a Celtic mystery: how can a country as small as Ireland be packed with so much majestic history, natural beauty, vibrant culture, and, of course, fun? Norman castles overlook wild, empty beaches, Georgian country houses host impromptu traditional music sessions, excited theatergoers spill out into bustling Dublin pubs. Drama and spectacle lie at every turn, with a pint of Guinness to toast it all. But the real Irish secret is the people: their unique blend of warmth, humor, and irreverence will ensure your trip to the Emerald Isle is a true adventure.

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Fodor's Essential Ireland 2026: with Belfast and Northern Ireland

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Dublin

Dublin today is very much a modern European city, with a thriving economy built on an influx of tech giants and large fincancial institutions. It...

County Clare, Galway, and the Aran Islands

The West of Ireland is the most westerly seaboard in Europe, and the part of Ireland least influenced by its neighbor to the east, England...

The Southwest

Ever since Killarney was first "discovered" by William Thackeray and Sir Walter Scott, visitors have been searching for superlatives to describe the deep blue lakes...

County Cork

With its deep-rooted history, more than a thousand kilometers of pristine coastline dotted with pretty harbor villages, and a gently lilting up-and-down accent that flows...

The Southeast

Going to Ireland for the sunshine might sound like a joke, but not if you head to the golden beaches and blue surf of the...

The Midlands

During the boom years of economic growth in Ireland, from the mid-1990s to 2008, newly built motorways bypassed many small Midlands towns. But for a...

Galway City

Galway is often said to be a state of mind as much as it is a specific place. The largest city in the West today...

Killarney

One of Southwest Ireland's most attractive locales, Killarney is also the most heavily visited town in the region (its proximity to the Ring of Kerry...

Waterford City

The largest town in the Southeast and Ireland's oldest city, Waterford was founded by the Vikings in the 9th century and was taken over by...

Oughterard

Bustling Oughterard (pronounced "ook-ter-ard") is the main village on the western shores of Lough Corrib and one of Ireland's leading angling resorts. Boats can be...

Bansha

This prosperous little farming town at the foot of the Galtee Mountains is really of interest as a base for the beautiful Glen of Aherlow...

Leighlinbridge

Sitting picturesquely on the River Barrow, Leighlinbridge boasts winding little streets, castle ruins, and a 14th-century bridge...

Bundoran

...

Letterkenny

Letterkenny, like Donegal to the south, is at the gateway to the far Northwest; you're likely to come through here if you're driving west out...

Castlepollard

A pretty village of multi-hued 18th- and 19th-century houses laid out around a large, triangular green, Castlepollard is also home to Tullynally Castle and Gardens...

Nenagh

...

Leenane

Nestled idyllically at the foot of the Maamturk Mountains and overlooking the tranquil waters of Killary Harbour, Leenane is a tiny village noted for its...

Ballyvaughan

A pretty little waterside village and a good base for exploring the Burren, Ballyvaughan attracts walkers and artists who enjoy the views of Galway Bay...

Turlough

Before the opening of the Museum of Country Life, Turlough was chiefly visited for its round tower (freely accessible), which marks the site of an...

Westport

By far the most attractive town in County Mayo, Westport is on an inlet of Clew Bay, a wide expanse of sea dotted with islands...

The North Mayo Coast

When a modest fleet of French military ships landed in this pretty bayside village to aid the Irish in their quest for freedom back in...

Roundstone

The vibrantly colored vernacular facades that follow the hilly terrain of this ocean-harbor village, nestled in the shadows of the Twelve Bens Mountains, make for...

Recess

As you continue northwest from Oughterard on N59, you'll soon pass a string of small lakes on your left; their shining blue waters reflecting the...

Killorglin

Killorglin is on top of a hill beside the River Laune. At the "top of the town" is a Continental-style piazza, with outdoor tables in...

Bunratty Castle

Bunratty was a thriving village until its population was decimated by the great famine in the middle of the 19th century. A hundred years later...

Abbeyleix

One of the most elegant small towns in Ireland, Abbeyleix has retained its Georgian feel and its broad main street, which is lined with well-appointed...

Coole Park

This nature reserve attracts William Butler Yeats fans and those seeking pleasant and easy walking trails...

Kilbeggan

...

Corofin

...

Tullamore

The county seat of Offaly, Tullamore is a bustling market town that thrived during Ireland's economic boom that lasted from the mid-1990s until 2008; like...

Craggaunowen Project

This archeological open-air museum and castle is a great way to get to grips with Ireland's Celtic past...

Gartan Lough

Gartan Lough and the surrounding mountainous country are astonishingly beautiful. St. Columba was supposedly born here in AD 521, and the legendary event is marked...

Doolin

Once an enchanting backwater of colorful fishermen’s cottages, this tiny village—set at the point where the Cliffs of Moher flatten out and disappear into the...

Sligo Town

Sligo is the best place to begin a tour of Yeats Country. Squeezed on to a patch of land between Sligo Bay and Lough Gill...

Ennis

Clare’s main town, Ennis, has a medieval layout that follows the River Fergus with a network of narrow lanes and a one-way road system. Offload...

Dungarvan

With their covering of soft grasses, the lowlands of Wexford and eastern Waterford gradually give way to heath and moorland. The mountains responsible for the...

Kylemore Valley

One of the more conventionally beautiful stretches of road in Connemara passes through Kylemore Valley, which is between the Twelve Bens to the south and...

Thomastown

Originally the seat of the kings of Ossory (an ancient Irish kingdom), Thomastown is a pretty, stone-built village on the River Nore. It takes its...

Inis Meain (Inishmaan)

The middle island in both size and location, Inis Meáin has a population of about 300 and its empty beaches and breathtaking scenery can be...

Tralee

County Kerry's capital and its largest town, Tralee (population 24,000) is the main shopping and business destination for North and West Kerry; it's a transport...

Inis Mor (Inishmore)

Dún Aengus Hillfort is the main draw to Inis Mór, the largest and most populated of Aran's three islands. Stretching more than 16 km (10...

Ballina

Ballina, with a population of around 11,000, is a busy industrial and commercial center, and the second-largest town in Mayo after Castlebar. Built on the...

Inis Oirr (Inisheer)

Inis Oírr, the smallest island, can be explored on foot in an afternoon, though if the weather is fine you may be tempted to linger...

Banagher

"Well, that beats Banagher!" This small Shannon-side town is best known in Ireland because of this common phrase, which dates from the 19th century when...

Kilkee

Kilkee is the access point to Loop Head and the only major town on the peninsula. Its faded Victorian allure is still recognizable behind the...

Clonmacnoise

Many ancient sites dot the River Shannon, but Clonmacnoise is early Christian Ireland's foremost monastic settlement and, like Chartres, a royal site. The monastery was...

Killaloe

Killaloe is separated from its sister town Ballina by an impressive 13-arch bridge across the River Shannon and a county border; a trek across the...

Moneygall

The village of Moneygall (population 320) is an unassuming place on the main N7 Dublin–Limerick road, but it was thrust into the spotlight in 2011...

Kinvara

Kinvara, with its pretty harbor and iconic ocean-edge tower house, makes for a leisurely break along the busy tourist trek between the Cliffs of Moher...

Portlaoise

Near the heart of County Laois, the rich farmland south and west of Portlaoise is one of Ireland's undiscovered gems. Golf, fishing, hiking, and horseback...

Knappogue

Knappogue is a beautiful 15th-century tower-house castle, just a short drive from Bunratty...

Ard an Ratha (Ardara)

At the head of a lovely ocean inlet, the unpretentious, old-fashioned hamlet of Ard an Rátha (Ardara) is built around the L-shape intersection of its...

Lahinch

Lahinch's promenade is milling with a mix of locals and visitors out to inhale the fresh Atlantic air at all times of year. Its golf...

Donegal Town

With a population of about 3,000, Donegal is Northwest Ireland's largest small village—marking the entry into the back-of-the-beyond of the wilds of County Donegal. The...

Newmarket-on-Fergus

A small town in County Clare, Newmarket-on-Fergus is chiefly remarkable as the village nearest the famed hotel of Dromoland Castle, formerly the home of Lord...

Glenveagh National Park

...

Quin

Quin Village has retained the essence of old Ireland despite the fact that it is only a 20-minute drive from Shannon Airport and less than...

Mullaghmore

In July and August, the sleepy fishing village of Mullaghmore becomes congested with tourists. Its main attractions: a 3-km-long (2-mile-long) sandy beach, and the turreted...

The Burren

As you travel north toward Ballyvaughan, the landscape becomes rockier and stranger. Instead of the seemingly ubiquitous Irish green, gray becomes the prevailing color. You're...

Ardmore

Historic spiritual sites, white beaches, dramatic cliff walks, local fishermen—little Ardmore is a picture-postcard Irish town that packs a whole lot of wonder into a...

Thoor Ballylee

...

Cahir

Cahir (pronounced "care") is a busy but easygoing market town with a pleasant Georgian square at its heart. It is built on the River Suir...

Foxford

As you travel from Turlough northeast to Ballina, you have a choice of two routes. The longer and more scenic is via the tiny, wooded...

Kilkenny City

Dubbed "Ireland's Medieval Capital" by its tourist board, and also called "the Oasis of Ireland" for its many pubs and watering holes, Kilkenny is one...

Bantry

The town of Bantry is at the head of Bantry Bay, between the Sheep's Head Peninsula to the southwest and the Beara Peninsula to the...

Old Leighlin

Sitting halfway between Kilkenny City and Carlow Town, this tiny farming village was built on the site of an ancient monastic settlement...

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...

Tramore

Tramore's 5-km-long (3-mile-long) beach is a popular escape for families from Waterford and other parts of the Southeast, as the many vacation homes indicate. The...

Castletownshend

Castletownshend has an unusual number of large, stone houses, most of them dating from the mid-18th century, when it was an important port. The main...

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...

Clonakilty and Nearby

Clonakilty is a small market town and famous for being the hometown of statesman and revolutionary Michael Collins. His significance still resonates throughout the town...

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...

Cork City

Cork's city center is in a valley that's spread over 13 islands where the River Lee splinters and meets again, while its suburbs are located...

The Skelligs and Valentia

In the far northwestern corner of the Ring of Kerry, across Portmagee Channel, lies scenic Valentia Island, reached by leaving the Ring of Kerry on...

Cork Harbour

On a fine day, with visitors milling along Cobh's colorful harborfront at the foot of its hilly terrain, its hard to imagine that millions of...

Castlebar

The capital of Mayo, situated on its central limestone plain, once the biggest town for miles around, Castlebar is now a commercial and shopping hub...

Fermoy

An army town dating mainly from the mid-19th century, Fermoy was a major crossroads on the Dublin–Cork road (N8). The bridge that spans the Blackwater...

Athlone

The mighty Shannon flows majestically through the heart of Athlone, yet for years it seemed as if the town was happy to turn its back...

Glengarriff

One of the jewels of Bantry Bay is Glengarriff, the "rugged glen" much loved by the writers William Thackeray and Sir Walter Scott. The drive...

Birr

Beautifully reminiscent of an English country town with its tree-lined malls and well-preserved houses, the heritage town of Birr has roots that date to the...

Kinsale

Foodies flock to Kinsale, a picturesque port that pioneered the Irish small-town tradition of fine dining in unbelievably small restaurants. In the early 1980s, Kinsale...

Cavan

Like all the larger towns of the region, Cavan is growing and prosperous. It is perhaps best known for its crystal factory. But as one...

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...

Fore

You've heard of the seven wonders of the ancient world, but here in the heart of the Irish Midlands is a tiny village with seven...

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 and still...

Longford Town

Longford, the seat of County Longford and a typical, small, market-town community, is rich in literary associations, though after Oliver Goldsmith, the names in the...

Skibbereen

Skibbereen is the main market town in this neck of southwest Cork. The Saturday country market and the plethora of pubs, punctuated by bustling shops...

Mullingar

The Irish are great ones for wrapping an insult up in a lyrical turn of phrase. Rather than describe a woman as overweight they'll say...

Cong

Set on a narrow isthmus between Lough Corrib and Lough Mask on the County Mayo border near Maam Cross, the pretty, old-fashioned village of Cong...

Portarlington

Built on the River Barrow in the late 17th century, Portarlington was originally an English settlement. Later, a Huguenot colony developed here, and French surnames...

Dublin Environs

Walt Disney himself couldn't have planned it better. The small counties immediately north, south, and west of Dublin—historically known as the Pale—seem expressly designed to...

Roscrea

Every corner you turn in this charming town will offer reminders of its rich and sometimes turbulent past. Ancient castles, towers, and churches dot the...

Ardee

The road from Mellifont Abbey to Ardee passes through Monasterboice, home to some of Ireland's finest medieval High Crosses. Near the village's Round Tower, you'll...

The Northwest

With its towering cliffs, secluded expanses of golden beaches, and sun-tinted waters, the Northwest is an untamed and wild part of Ireland—shaped, influenced, and tormented...

Blessington

With its wide main street lined on both sides by tall trees and Georgian buildings, Blessington is one of the most charming villages in the...

Ballyshannon

The former garrison town of Ballyshannon rises gently from the banks of the River Erne and has good views of Donegal Bay and the surrounding...

Bray

One of Ireland's oldest seaside resorts, Bray is a trim town known for its summer cottages and sand-and-shingle beach, which stretches for 2 km (1...

Carrick-on-Shannon

Carrick-on-Shannon grew up around the river that still plays an important role in the town's confidence. Its original Irish name, Cora Droma Rúisc, means "the...

Drogheda

Drogheda (pronounced "dra-he-da") is one of the most enjoyable and historic towns on the east coast of Ireland—and a setting for one of the most...

Drumcliff

W. B. Yeats lies buried with his wife, Georgie, in an unpretentious grave in the cemetery of Drumcliff's simple Protestant church, where his grandfather was...

Dundalk

Perfectly positioned as a hub to explore the region north and south of the border, Dundalk—only 9½ km (6 miles) from Northern Ireland—is the main...

Gleann Cholm Cille (Glencolumbkille)

“The back of beyond" at the far end of a stretch of barren moorland, the tiny hamlet of Gleann Cholm Cille clings dramatically to the...

Glendalough

One of Ireland's best monastic sites, Glendalough also has a stunningly photogenic lakeside setting. It's a popular destination for day trips...

Killybegs

Trawlers from Spain, Portugal, and Norway are moored in the harbor at Killybegs, one of Ireland's busiest fishing ports. Though it's one of the most...

Hill of Tara

In legends and in the popular imagination, the "seat of the High Kings of Ireland" has taken on mythic proportions. As with much of the...

Lough Gill

Lough Gill means "lake of brightness." In fine weather, the beautiful river-fed lough and its surroundings are serenity itself: sunlight on the meadows, lough-side cottages...

Kells

In the 9th century, a group of monks from Scotland took refuge at Kells (Ceanannus Mór), where St. Columba had founded a monastery 300 years...

Rosses Point

It's obvious why W. B. and Jack B. Yeats often stayed at Rosses Point during their summer vacations: glorious pink-and-gold summer sunsets over a seemingly...

Kildare Town

Horse breeding is the cornerstone of County Kildare's thriving economy, and Kildare Town is the place to come if you're crazy about horses. But, in...

Belmullet

Belmullet's unconventional streetscape skirts its waterfront and the town harbors a friendly, unpretentious attitude that harks back to an earlier time. Nestled in a quiet...

King William's Glen

...

Ballyhack

On the upper reaches of Waterford Harbour, this pretty village with a square castle keep, thatch cottages, and a green, hilly background is admired by...

Louth

Louth warrants a visit, if only for the splendidly preserved oratory here. St. Patrick, Ireland's patron saint, was reputed to have built his first church...

Birdhill

It's no coincidence that this picturesque little village in undiscovered north Tipperary always does well in the national "Tidy Towns" competition, a village beauty contest...

Maynooth

Maynooth itself is a serene university town named for a pre-Christian king of Ireland. The mighty Fitzgerald family inherited the local manor in the 12th...

Cashel

Cashel is a market town on the busy Cork–Dublin road, with a lengthy history as a center of royal and religious power. From roughly AD...

Wexford Town

This coastal town is most famed for the Wexford Opera Festival, usually held in October, which has been seducing the world with wonderful productions of...

Enniscorthy

On the sloping banks of the River Slaney and on the main road between Dublin and Wexford to the south of the popular resort of...

Adare

On the banks of the River Maigue, this once-upon-a-time-ified village dotted with thatched cottages is famed as one of Ireland's prettiest spots. It was given...

Kilmore Quay

Noted for its fishing industry, this quiet, old-fashioned seaside village of thatched and whitewashed cottages is also popular with recreational anglers and bird-watchers. From the...

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...

Lismore

Lismore is one of Ireland's grandest places to get lost in. Popular with both anglers and romantics, the enchanting little town is built on the...

Ceann Sleibhe (Slea Head)

From the top of the towering cliffs of Ceann Sléibhe (pronounced "kyeown shla-va") at the southwest extremity of the Dingle Peninsula, the view of the...

Rosslare

Sometimes called Ireland's sunniest spot, the village of Rosslare is a seaside getaway with an attractive beach. Many vacationers head here to hike, golf, sun...

Dun Chaoin (Dunquin)

Once the mainland harbor for the Blasket islanders (when there were islanders, as the Blaskets are deserted now), Dún Chaoin is at the center of...

Tipperary Town

Tipperary Town, a dairy-farming center at the head of a fertile plain known as the Golden Vale, is a good starting point for climbing and...

Clifden

With roughly 2,600 residents, Clifden would be called a village by most, but in these parts it's looked on as something of a metropolis. Clifden's...

Mellifont Abbey

On the eastern banks of the River Mattock, which creates a natural border between Counties Meath and Louth, lie the remains of Mellifont Abbey, the...

Letterfrack

This is the gateway village to the famous Connemara National Park. It also makes a handy base for those visiting spectacular Kylemore Abbey, one of...

Mount Usher Gardens

Close to both Ashford and Rathnew villages, these extensive gardens are a popular day trip from Dublin. The excellent café is run by Avoca, and...

Naas

The seat of County Kildare and a thriving market town in the heartland of Irish Thoroughbred country, Naas (pronounced "nace") is full of pubs with...

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...

Navan

Navan, at the crucial juncture of the Rivers Blackwater and Boyne, is a busy market and mining town with evidence of prehistoric settlements. It took...

Baile an Fheirteaigh (Ballyferriter)

Like the other towns at this end of the Dingle Peninsula, Baile an Fheirtéaigh is a Gaeltacht village and mainly a spot for vacationers with...

Newgrange

Expect to see no less than one of the most spectacular prehistoric tombs in Europe when you come to Newgrange. Built in the 4th millennium...

Ceann Tra (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...

Powerscourt House, Gardens, and Waterfall

One of the grandest estates and gardens in Ireland, Powerscourt is one of the main reasons that people head to Enniskerry. Within the shadow of...

Great Blasket Island

The Great Blasket, which measures roughly 3 km by 1 km (2 miles by ½ mile), has no traffic, no pub, no hotel, and no...

Roundwood

At 800 feet above sea level, Roundwood is the highest village in Ireland. It's also surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery. The Sunday afternoon market in...

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...

Slane

Slane Castle is the draw at this small Georgian village, built in the 18th century around a crossroads on the north side of the River...

The Ring of Kerry

Running along the perimeter of the Iveragh Peninsula, the dramatic coastal road from Kenmare to Killorglin known as the Ring of Kerry has long been...

Straffan

Its attractive location on the banks of the River Liffey, its unique butterfly farm, and the Kildare Hotel and Country Club—where Arnold Palmer designed the...

Cahirciveen

Cahirciveen (pronounced "cah-her-si-veen"), at the foot of Bentee Mountain, is the gateway to the western side of the Ring of Kerry and the main market...

The Curragh

The broad plain of the Curragh, bisected by the main N7 road, is the biggest area of common land in Ireland, encompassing about 31 square...

Kenmare

Located slightly inland without a clear view of Kenmare Bay, Kenmare is a natural stopover for Ring of Kerry buses and travelers as it is...

Trim

The historic town of Trim, on the River Boyne, contains some of the finest medieval ruins in Ireland. In 1359, on the instructions of King...

Sneem

The pretty little village of Sneem (from the Irish for "knot") is settled around an English-style green on the Ardsheelaun River estuary, and its streets...

Wicklow Town

At the entrance to the attractive, tree-lined Main Street of Wicklow Town sprawl the extensive ruins of a 13th-century Franciscan friary. Wicklow, from the Danish...

Waterville

Waterville, a seaside village facing Ballinskelligs Bay, is famous for its sportfishing, its 18-hole championship golf course (adopted as a warm-up spot for the British...

Connemara and County Mayo

A landscape where the thundering Atlantic forms the pounding backbeat to the most westerly seaboard in Europe, this most distinct area of Ireland has been...

Dublin

Dublin today is very much a modern European city, with a thriving economy built on an influx of tech giants and large fincancial institutions. It...

County Clare, Galway, and the Aran Islands

The West of Ireland is the most westerly seaboard in Europe, and the part of Ireland least influenced by its neighbor to the east, England...

The Southwest

Ever since Killarney was first "discovered" by William Thackeray and Sir Walter Scott, visitors have been searching for superlatives to describe the deep blue lakes...

County Cork

With its deep-rooted history, more than a thousand kilometers of pristine coastline dotted with pretty harbor villages, and a gently lilting up-and-down accent that flows...

The Southeast

Going to Ireland for the sunshine might sound like a joke, but not if you head to the golden beaches and blue surf of the...

The Midlands

During the boom years of economic growth in Ireland, from the mid-1990s to 2008, newly built motorways bypassed many small Midlands towns. But for a...

Galway City

Galway is often said to be a state of mind as much as it is a specific place. The largest city in the West today...

Killarney

One of Southwest Ireland's most attractive locales, Killarney is also the most heavily visited town in the region (its proximity to the Ring of Kerry...

Waterford City

The largest town in the Southeast and Ireland's oldest city, Waterford was founded by the Vikings in the 9th century and was taken over by...

Oughterard

Bustling Oughterard (pronounced "ook-ter-ard") is the main village on the western shores of Lough Corrib and one of Ireland's leading angling resorts. Boats can be...

Bansha

This prosperous little farming town at the foot of the Galtee Mountains is really of interest as a base for the beautiful Glen of Aherlow...

Leighlinbridge

Sitting picturesquely on the River Barrow, Leighlinbridge boasts winding little streets, castle ruins, and a 14th-century bridge...

Bundoran

...

Letterkenny

Letterkenny, like Donegal to the south, is at the gateway to the far Northwest; you're likely to come through here if you're driving west out...

Castlepollard

A pretty village of multi-hued 18th- and 19th-century houses laid out around a large, triangular green, Castlepollard is also home to Tullynally Castle and Gardens...

Nenagh

...

Leenane

Nestled idyllically at the foot of the Maamturk Mountains and overlooking the tranquil waters of Killary Harbour, Leenane is a tiny village noted for its...

Ballyvaughan

A pretty little waterside village and a good base for exploring the Burren, Ballyvaughan attracts walkers and artists who enjoy the views of Galway Bay...

Turlough

Before the opening of the Museum of Country Life, Turlough was chiefly visited for its round tower (freely accessible), which marks the site of an...

Westport

By far the most attractive town in County Mayo, Westport is on an inlet of Clew Bay, a wide expanse of sea dotted with islands...

The North Mayo Coast

When a modest fleet of French military ships landed in this pretty bayside village to aid the Irish in their quest for freedom back in...

Roundstone

The vibrantly colored vernacular facades that follow the hilly terrain of this ocean-harbor village, nestled in the shadows of the Twelve Bens Mountains, make for...

Recess

As you continue northwest from Oughterard on N59, you'll soon pass a string of small lakes on your left; their shining blue waters reflecting the...

Killorglin

Killorglin is on top of a hill beside the River Laune. At the "top of the town" is a Continental-style piazza, with outdoor tables in...

Bunratty Castle

Bunratty was a thriving village until its population was decimated by the great famine in the middle of the 19th century. A hundred years later...

Abbeyleix

One of the most elegant small towns in Ireland, Abbeyleix has retained its Georgian feel and its broad main street, which is lined with well-appointed...

Coole Park

This nature reserve attracts William Butler Yeats fans and those seeking pleasant and easy walking trails...

Kilbeggan

...

Corofin

...

Tullamore

The county seat of Offaly, Tullamore is a bustling market town that thrived during Ireland's economic boom that lasted from the mid-1990s until 2008; like...

Craggaunowen Project

This archeological open-air museum and castle is a great way to get to grips with Ireland's Celtic past...

Gartan Lough

Gartan Lough and the surrounding mountainous country are astonishingly beautiful. St. Columba was supposedly born here in AD 521, and the legendary event is marked...

Doolin

Once an enchanting backwater of colorful fishermen’s cottages, this tiny village—set at the point where the Cliffs of Moher flatten out and disappear into the...

Sligo Town

Sligo is the best place to begin a tour of Yeats Country. Squeezed on to a patch of land between Sligo Bay and Lough Gill...

Ennis

Clare’s main town, Ennis, has a medieval layout that follows the River Fergus with a network of narrow lanes and a one-way road system. Offload...

Dungarvan

With their covering of soft grasses, the lowlands of Wexford and eastern Waterford gradually give way to heath and moorland. The mountains responsible for the...

Kylemore Valley

One of the more conventionally beautiful stretches of road in Connemara passes through Kylemore Valley, which is between the Twelve Bens to the south and...

Thomastown

Originally the seat of the kings of Ossory (an ancient Irish kingdom), Thomastown is a pretty, stone-built village on the River Nore. It takes its...

Inis Meain (Inishmaan)

The middle island in both size and location, Inis Meáin has a population of about 300 and its empty beaches and breathtaking scenery can be...

Tralee

County Kerry's capital and its largest town, Tralee (population 24,000) is the main shopping and business destination for North and West Kerry; it's a transport...

Inis Mor (Inishmore)

Dún Aengus Hillfort is the main draw to Inis Mór, the largest and most populated of Aran's three islands. Stretching more than 16 km (10...

Ballina

Ballina, with a population of around 11,000, is a busy industrial and commercial center, and the second-largest town in Mayo after Castlebar. Built on the...

Inis Oirr (Inisheer)

Inis Oírr, the smallest island, can be explored on foot in an afternoon, though if the weather is fine you may be tempted to linger...

Banagher

"Well, that beats Banagher!" This small Shannon-side town is best known in Ireland because of this common phrase, which dates from the 19th century when...

Kilkee

Kilkee is the access point to Loop Head and the only major town on the peninsula. Its faded Victorian allure is still recognizable behind the...

Clonmacnoise

Many ancient sites dot the River Shannon, but Clonmacnoise is early Christian Ireland's foremost monastic settlement and, like Chartres, a royal site. The monastery was...

Killaloe

Killaloe is separated from its sister town Ballina by an impressive 13-arch bridge across the River Shannon and a county border; a trek across the...

Moneygall

The village of Moneygall (population 320) is an unassuming place on the main N7 Dublin–Limerick road, but it was thrust into the spotlight in 2011...

Kinvara

Kinvara, with its pretty harbor and iconic ocean-edge tower house, makes for a leisurely break along the busy tourist trek between the Cliffs of Moher...

Portlaoise

Near the heart of County Laois, the rich farmland south and west of Portlaoise is one of Ireland's undiscovered gems. Golf, fishing, hiking, and horseback...

Knappogue

Knappogue is a beautiful 15th-century tower-house castle, just a short drive from Bunratty...

Ard an Ratha (Ardara)

At the head of a lovely ocean inlet, the unpretentious, old-fashioned hamlet of Ard an Rátha (Ardara) is built around the L-shape intersection of its...

Lahinch

Lahinch's promenade is milling with a mix of locals and visitors out to inhale the fresh Atlantic air at all times of year. Its golf...

Donegal Town

With a population of about 3,000, Donegal is Northwest Ireland's largest small village—marking the entry into the back-of-the-beyond of the wilds of County Donegal. The...

Newmarket-on-Fergus

A small town in County Clare, Newmarket-on-Fergus is chiefly remarkable as the village nearest the famed hotel of Dromoland Castle, formerly the home of Lord...

Glenveagh National Park

...

Quin

Quin Village has retained the essence of old Ireland despite the fact that it is only a 20-minute drive from Shannon Airport and less than...

Mullaghmore

In July and August, the sleepy fishing village of Mullaghmore becomes congested with tourists. Its main attractions: a 3-km-long (2-mile-long) sandy beach, and the turreted...

The Burren

As you travel north toward Ballyvaughan, the landscape becomes rockier and stranger. Instead of the seemingly ubiquitous Irish green, gray becomes the prevailing color. You're...

Ardmore

Historic spiritual sites, white beaches, dramatic cliff walks, local fishermen—little Ardmore is a picture-postcard Irish town that packs a whole lot of wonder into a...

Thoor Ballylee

...

Cahir

Cahir (pronounced "care") is a busy but easygoing market town with a pleasant Georgian square at its heart. It is built on the River Suir...

Foxford

As you travel from Turlough northeast to Ballina, you have a choice of two routes. The longer and more scenic is via the tiny, wooded...

Kilkenny City

Dubbed "Ireland's Medieval Capital" by its tourist board, and also called "the Oasis of Ireland" for its many pubs and watering holes, Kilkenny is one...

Bantry

The town of Bantry is at the head of Bantry Bay, between the Sheep's Head Peninsula to the southwest and the Beara Peninsula to the...

Old Leighlin

Sitting halfway between Kilkenny City and Carlow Town, this tiny farming village was built on the site of an ancient monastic settlement...

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...

Tramore

Tramore's 5-km-long (3-mile-long) beach is a popular escape for families from Waterford and other parts of the Southeast, as the many vacation homes indicate. The...

Castletownshend

Castletownshend has an unusual number of large, stone houses, most of them dating from the mid-18th century, when it was an important port. The main...

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...

Clonakilty and Nearby

Clonakilty is a small market town and famous for being the hometown of statesman and revolutionary Michael Collins. His significance still resonates throughout the town...

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...

Cork City

Cork's city center is in a valley that's spread over 13 islands where the River Lee splinters and meets again, while its suburbs are located...

The Skelligs and Valentia

In the far northwestern corner of the Ring of Kerry, across Portmagee Channel, lies scenic Valentia Island, reached by leaving the Ring of Kerry on...

Cork Harbour

On a fine day, with visitors milling along Cobh's colorful harborfront at the foot of its hilly terrain, its hard to imagine that millions of...

Castlebar

The capital of Mayo, situated on its central limestone plain, once the biggest town for miles around, Castlebar is now a commercial and shopping hub...

Fermoy

An army town dating mainly from the mid-19th century, Fermoy was a major crossroads on the Dublin–Cork road (N8). The bridge that spans the Blackwater...

Athlone

The mighty Shannon flows majestically through the heart of Athlone, yet for years it seemed as if the town was happy to turn its back...

Glengarriff

One of the jewels of Bantry Bay is Glengarriff, the "rugged glen" much loved by the writers William Thackeray and Sir Walter Scott. The drive...

Birr

Beautifully reminiscent of an English country town with its tree-lined malls and well-preserved houses, the heritage town of Birr has roots that date to the...

Kinsale

Foodies flock to Kinsale, a picturesque port that pioneered the Irish small-town tradition of fine dining in unbelievably small restaurants. In the early 1980s, Kinsale...

Cavan

Like all the larger towns of the region, Cavan is growing and prosperous. It is perhaps best known for its crystal factory. But as one...

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...

Fore

You've heard of the seven wonders of the ancient world, but here in the heart of the Irish Midlands is a tiny village with seven...

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 and still...

Longford Town

Longford, the seat of County Longford and a typical, small, market-town community, is rich in literary associations, though after Oliver Goldsmith, the names in the...

Skibbereen

Skibbereen is the main market town in this neck of southwest Cork. The Saturday country market and the plethora of pubs, punctuated by bustling shops...

Mullingar

The Irish are great ones for wrapping an insult up in a lyrical turn of phrase. Rather than describe a woman as overweight they'll say...

Cong

Set on a narrow isthmus between Lough Corrib and Lough Mask on the County Mayo border near Maam Cross, the pretty, old-fashioned village of Cong...

Portarlington

Built on the River Barrow in the late 17th century, Portarlington was originally an English settlement. Later, a Huguenot colony developed here, and French surnames...

Dublin Environs

Walt Disney himself couldn't have planned it better. The small counties immediately north, south, and west of Dublin—historically known as the Pale—seem expressly designed to...

Roscrea

Every corner you turn in this charming town will offer reminders of its rich and sometimes turbulent past. Ancient castles, towers, and churches dot the...

Ardee

The road from Mellifont Abbey to Ardee passes through Monasterboice, home to some of Ireland's finest medieval High Crosses. Near the village's Round Tower, you'll...

The Northwest

With its towering cliffs, secluded expanses of golden beaches, and sun-tinted waters, the Northwest is an untamed and wild part of Ireland—shaped, influenced, and tormented...

Blessington

With its wide main street lined on both sides by tall trees and Georgian buildings, Blessington is one of the most charming villages in the...

Ballyshannon

The former garrison town of Ballyshannon rises gently from the banks of the River Erne and has good views of Donegal Bay and the surrounding...

Bray

One of Ireland's oldest seaside resorts, Bray is a trim town known for its summer cottages and sand-and-shingle beach, which stretches for 2 km (1...

Carrick-on-Shannon

Carrick-on-Shannon grew up around the river that still plays an important role in the town's confidence. Its original Irish name, Cora Droma Rúisc, means "the...

Drogheda

Drogheda (pronounced "dra-he-da") is one of the most enjoyable and historic towns on the east coast of Ireland—and a setting for one of the most...

Drumcliff

W. B. Yeats lies buried with his wife, Georgie, in an unpretentious grave in the cemetery of Drumcliff's simple Protestant church, where his grandfather was...

Dundalk

Perfectly positioned as a hub to explore the region north and south of the border, Dundalk—only 9½ km (6 miles) from Northern Ireland—is the main...

Gleann Cholm Cille (Glencolumbkille)

“The back of beyond" at the far end of a stretch of barren moorland, the tiny hamlet of Gleann Cholm Cille clings dramatically to the...

Glendalough

One of Ireland's best monastic sites, Glendalough also has a stunningly photogenic lakeside setting. It's a popular destination for day trips...

Killybegs

Trawlers from Spain, Portugal, and Norway are moored in the harbor at Killybegs, one of Ireland's busiest fishing ports. Though it's one of the most...

Hill of Tara

In legends and in the popular imagination, the "seat of the High Kings of Ireland" has taken on mythic proportions. As with much of the...

Lough Gill

Lough Gill means "lake of brightness." In fine weather, the beautiful river-fed lough and its surroundings are serenity itself: sunlight on the meadows, lough-side cottages...

Kells

In the 9th century, a group of monks from Scotland took refuge at Kells (Ceanannus Mór), where St. Columba had founded a monastery 300 years...

Rosses Point

It's obvious why W. B. and Jack B. Yeats often stayed at Rosses Point during their summer vacations: glorious pink-and-gold summer sunsets over a seemingly...

Kildare Town

Horse breeding is the cornerstone of County Kildare's thriving economy, and Kildare Town is the place to come if you're crazy about horses. But, in...

Belmullet

Belmullet's unconventional streetscape skirts its waterfront and the town harbors a friendly, unpretentious attitude that harks back to an earlier time. Nestled in a quiet...

King William's Glen

...

Ballyhack

On the upper reaches of Waterford Harbour, this pretty village with a square castle keep, thatch cottages, and a green, hilly background is admired by...

Louth

Louth warrants a visit, if only for the splendidly preserved oratory here. St. Patrick, Ireland's patron saint, was reputed to have built his first church...

Birdhill

It's no coincidence that this picturesque little village in undiscovered north Tipperary always does well in the national "Tidy Towns" competition, a village beauty contest...

Maynooth

Maynooth itself is a serene university town named for a pre-Christian king of Ireland. The mighty Fitzgerald family inherited the local manor in the 12th...

Cashel

Cashel is a market town on the busy Cork–Dublin road, with a lengthy history as a center of royal and religious power. From roughly AD...

Wexford Town

This coastal town is most famed for the Wexford Opera Festival, usually held in October, which has been seducing the world with wonderful productions of...

Enniscorthy

On the sloping banks of the River Slaney and on the main road between Dublin and Wexford to the south of the popular resort of...

Adare

On the banks of the River Maigue, this once-upon-a-time-ified village dotted with thatched cottages is famed as one of Ireland's prettiest spots. It was given...

Kilmore Quay

Noted for its fishing industry, this quiet, old-fashioned seaside village of thatched and whitewashed cottages is also popular with recreational anglers and bird-watchers. From the...

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...

Lismore

Lismore is one of Ireland's grandest places to get lost in. Popular with both anglers and romantics, the enchanting little town is built on the...

Ceann Sleibhe (Slea Head)

From the top of the towering cliffs of Ceann Sléibhe (pronounced "kyeown shla-va") at the southwest extremity of the Dingle Peninsula, the view of the...

Rosslare

Sometimes called Ireland's sunniest spot, the village of Rosslare is a seaside getaway with an attractive beach. Many vacationers head here to hike, golf, sun...

Dun Chaoin (Dunquin)

Once the mainland harbor for the Blasket islanders (when there were islanders, as the Blaskets are deserted now), Dún Chaoin is at the center of...

Tipperary Town

Tipperary Town, a dairy-farming center at the head of a fertile plain known as the Golden Vale, is a good starting point for climbing and...

Clifden

With roughly 2,600 residents, Clifden would be called a village by most, but in these parts it's looked on as something of a metropolis. Clifden's...

Mellifont Abbey

On the eastern banks of the River Mattock, which creates a natural border between Counties Meath and Louth, lie the remains of Mellifont Abbey, the...

Letterfrack

This is the gateway village to the famous Connemara National Park. It also makes a handy base for those visiting spectacular Kylemore Abbey, one of...

Mount Usher Gardens

Close to both Ashford and Rathnew villages, these extensive gardens are a popular day trip from Dublin. The excellent café is run by Avoca, and...

Naas

The seat of County Kildare and a thriving market town in the heartland of Irish Thoroughbred country, Naas (pronounced "nace") is full of pubs with...

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...

Navan

Navan, at the crucial juncture of the Rivers Blackwater and Boyne, is a busy market and mining town with evidence of prehistoric settlements. It took...

Baile an Fheirteaigh (Ballyferriter)

Like the other towns at this end of the Dingle Peninsula, Baile an Fheirtéaigh is a Gaeltacht village and mainly a spot for vacationers with...

Newgrange

Expect to see no less than one of the most spectacular prehistoric tombs in Europe when you come to Newgrange. Built in the 4th millennium...

Ceann Tra (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...

Powerscourt House, Gardens, and Waterfall

One of the grandest estates and gardens in Ireland, Powerscourt is one of the main reasons that people head to Enniskerry. Within the shadow of...

Great Blasket Island

The Great Blasket, which measures roughly 3 km by 1 km (2 miles by ½ mile), has no traffic, no pub, no hotel, and no...

Roundwood

At 800 feet above sea level, Roundwood is the highest village in Ireland. It's also surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery. The Sunday afternoon market in...

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...

Slane

Slane Castle is the draw at this small Georgian village, built in the 18th century around a crossroads on the north side of the River...

The Ring of Kerry

Running along the perimeter of the Iveragh Peninsula, the dramatic coastal road from Kenmare to Killorglin known as the Ring of Kerry has long been...

Straffan

Its attractive location on the banks of the River Liffey, its unique butterfly farm, and the Kildare Hotel and Country Club—where Arnold Palmer designed the...

Cahirciveen

Cahirciveen (pronounced "cah-her-si-veen"), at the foot of Bentee Mountain, is the gateway to the western side of the Ring of Kerry and the main market...

The Curragh

The broad plain of the Curragh, bisected by the main N7 road, is the biggest area of common land in Ireland, encompassing about 31 square...

Kenmare

Located slightly inland without a clear view of Kenmare Bay, Kenmare is a natural stopover for Ring of Kerry buses and travelers as it is...

Trim

The historic town of Trim, on the River Boyne, contains some of the finest medieval ruins in Ireland. In 1359, on the instructions of King...

Sneem

The pretty little village of Sneem (from the Irish for "knot") is settled around an English-style green on the Ardsheelaun River estuary, and its streets...

Wicklow Town

At the entrance to the attractive, tree-lined Main Street of Wicklow Town sprawl the extensive ruins of a 13th-century Franciscan friary. Wicklow, from the Danish...

Waterville

Waterville, a seaside village facing Ballinskelligs Bay, is famous for its sportfishing, its 18-hole championship golf course (adopted as a warm-up spot for the British...

Connemara and County Mayo

A landscape where the thundering Atlantic forms the pounding backbeat to the most westerly seaboard in Europe, this most distinct area of Ireland has been...

Dublin

Dublin today is very much a modern European city, with a thriving economy built on an influx of tech giants and large fincancial institutions. It...

Galway City

Galway is often said to be a state of mind as much as it is a specific place. The largest city in the West today...

Killarney

One of Southwest Ireland's most attractive locales, Killarney is also the most heavily visited town in the region (its proximity to the Ring of Kerry...

Waterford City

The largest town in the Southeast and Ireland's oldest city, Waterford was founded by the Vikings in the 9th century and was taken over by...

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...

Rosslare

Sometimes called Ireland's sunniest spot, the village of Rosslare is a seaside getaway with an attractive beach. Many vacationers head here to hike, golf, sun...

Cashel

Cashel is a market town on the busy Cork–Dublin road, with a lengthy history as a center of royal and religious power. From roughly AD...

Killybegs

Trawlers from Spain, Portugal, and Norway are moored in the harbor at Killybegs, one of Ireland's busiest fishing ports. Though it's one of the most...

Ard an Ratha (Ardara)

At the head of a lovely ocean inlet, the unpretentious, old-fashioned hamlet of Ard an Rátha (Ardara) is built around the L-shape intersection of its...

Longford Town

Longford, the seat of County Longford and a typical, small, market-town community, is rich in literary associations, though after Oliver Goldsmith, the names in the...

Banagher

"Well, that beats Banagher!" This small Shannon-side town is best known in Ireland because of this common phrase, which dates from the 19th century when...

Recess

As you continue northwest from Oughterard on N59, you'll soon pass a string of small lakes on your left; their shining blue waters reflecting the...

Oughterard

Bustling Oughterard (pronounced "ook-ter-ard") is the main village on the western shores of Lough Corrib and one of Ireland's leading angling resorts. Boats can be...

Letterfrack

This is the gateway village to the famous Connemara National Park. It also makes a handy base for those visiting spectacular Kylemore Abbey, one of...

Leenane

Nestled idyllically at the foot of the Maamturk Mountains and overlooking the tranquil waters of Killary Harbour, Leenane is a tiny village noted for its...

Kylemore Valley

One of the more conventionally beautiful stretches of road in Connemara passes through Kylemore Valley, which is between the Twelve Bens to the south and...

Killala

...

Foxford

As you travel from Turlough northeast to Ballina, you have a choice of two routes. The longer and more scenic is via the tiny, wooded...

Tralee

County Kerry's capital and its largest town, Tralee (population 24,000) is the main shopping and business destination for North and West Kerry; it's a transport...

Belmullet

Belmullet's unconventional streetscape skirts its waterfront and the town harbors a friendly, unpretentious attitude that harks back to an earlier time. Nestled in a quiet...

Roundstone

The vibrantly colored vernacular facades that follow the hilly terrain of this ocean-harbor village, nestled in the shadows of the Twelve Bens Mountains, make for...

Cavan

Like all the larger towns of the region, Cavan is growing and prosperous. It is perhaps best known for its crystal factory. But as one...

The North Mayo Coast

When a modest fleet of French military ships landed in this pretty bayside village to aid the Irish in their quest for freedom back in...

Portarlington

Built on the River Barrow in the late 17th century, Portarlington was originally an English settlement. Later, a Huguenot colony developed here, and French surnames...

Turlough

Before the opening of the Museum of Country Life, Turlough was chiefly visited for its round tower (freely accessible), which marks the site of an...

Donegal Town

With a population of about 3,000, Donegal is Northwest Ireland's largest small village—marking the entry into the back-of-the-beyond of the wilds of County Donegal. The...

Westport

By far the most attractive town in County Mayo, Westport is on an inlet of Clew Bay, a wide expanse of sea dotted with islands...

Rosses Point

It's obvious why W. B. and Jack B. Yeats often stayed at Rosses Point during their summer vacations: glorious pink-and-gold summer sunsets over a seemingly...

Ballyvaughan

A pretty little waterside village and a good base for exploring the Burren, Ballyvaughan attracts walkers and artists who enjoy the views of Galway Bay...

Kilmore Quay

Noted for its fishing industry, this quiet, old-fashioned seaside village of thatched and whitewashed cottages is also popular with recreational anglers and bird-watchers. From the...

Bunratty Castle

Bunratty was a thriving village until its population was decimated by the great famine in the middle of the 19th century. A hundred years later...

Coole Park

This nature reserve attracts William Butler Yeats fans and those seeking pleasant and easy walking trails...

Corofin

...

Dun Chaoin (Dunquin)

Once the mainland harbor for the Blasket islanders (when there were islanders, as the Blaskets are deserted now), Dún Chaoin is at the center of...

Doolin

Once an enchanting backwater of colorful fishermen’s cottages, this tiny village—set at the point where the Cliffs of Moher flatten out and disappear into the...

Killorglin

Killorglin is on top of a hill beside the River Laune. At the "top of the town" is a Continental-style piazza, with outdoor tables in...

Ennis

Clare’s main town, Ennis, has a medieval layout that follows the River Fergus with a network of narrow lanes and a one-way road system. Offload...

Abbeyleix

One of the most elegant small towns in Ireland, Abbeyleix has retained its Georgian feel and its broad main street, which is lined with well-appointed...

Castlebar

The capital of Mayo, situated on its central limestone plain, once the biggest town for miles around, Castlebar is now a commercial and shopping hub...

Boyle

...

Gort

...

Fore

You've heard of the seven wonders of the ancient world, but here in the heart of the Irish Midlands is a tiny village with seven...

Inis Meain (Inishmaan)

The middle island in both size and location, Inis Meáin has a population of about 300 and its empty beaches and breathtaking scenery can be...

Mullingar

The Irish are great ones for wrapping an insult up in a lyrical turn of phrase. Rather than describe a woman as overweight they'll say...

Inis Mor (Inishmore)

Dún Aengus Hillfort is the main draw to Inis Mór, the largest and most populated of Aran's three islands. Stretching more than 16 km (10...

Roscrea

Every corner you turn in this charming town will offer reminders of its rich and sometimes turbulent past. Ancient castles, towers, and churches dot the...

Inis Oirr (Inisheer)

Inis Oírr, the smallest island, can be explored on foot in an afternoon, though if the weather is fine you may be tempted to linger...

Bundoran

...

Kilkee

Kilkee is the access point to Loop Head and the only major town on the peninsula. Its faded Victorian allure is still recognizable behind the...

Gartan Lough

Gartan Lough and the surrounding mountainous country are astonishingly beautiful. St. Columba was supposedly born here in AD 521, and the legendary event is marked...

Killaloe

Killaloe is separated from its sister town Ballina by an impressive 13-arch bridge across the River Shannon and a county border; a trek across the...

Lough Gill

Lough Gill means "lake of brightness." In fine weather, the beautiful river-fed lough and its surroundings are serenity itself: sunlight on the meadows, lough-side cottages...

Kinvara

Kinvara, with its pretty harbor and iconic ocean-edge tower house, makes for a leisurely break along the busy tourist trek between the Cliffs of Moher...

Cong

Set on a narrow isthmus between Lough Corrib and Lough Mask on the County Mayo border near Maam Cross, the pretty, old-fashioned village of Cong...

Knappogue

Knappogue is a beautiful 15th-century tower-house castle, just a short drive from Bunratty...

Enniscorthy

On the sloping banks of the River Slaney and on the main road between Dublin and Wexford to the south of the popular resort of...

Lahinch

Lahinch's promenade is milling with a mix of locals and visitors out to inhale the fresh Atlantic air at all times of year. Its golf...

Lismore

Lismore is one of Ireland's grandest places to get lost in. Popular with both anglers and romantics, the enchanting little town is built on the...

Mountshannon

...

Tipperary Town

Tipperary Town, a dairy-farming center at the head of a fertile plain known as the Golden Vale, is a good starting point for climbing and...

Newmarket-on-Fergus

A small town in County Clare, Newmarket-on-Fergus is chiefly remarkable as the village nearest the famed hotel of Dromoland Castle, formerly the home of Lord...

Adare

On the banks of the River Maigue, this once-upon-a-time-ified village dotted with thatched cottages is famed as one of Ireland's prettiest spots. It was given...

Quin

Quin Village has retained the essence of old Ireland despite the fact that it is only a 20-minute drive from Shannon Airport and less than...

Ceann Sleibhe (Slea Head)

From the top of the towering cliffs of Ceann Sléibhe (pronounced "kyeown shla-va") at the southwest extremity of the Dingle Peninsula, the view of the...

Thoor Ballylee

...

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...

Ballycotton

Perched on a rocky spur over the Atlantic, this pretty bayfront village with its famous lighthouse has a cliffside track that connects it to a...

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...

Bantry

The town of Bantry is at the head of Bantry Bay, between the Sheep's Head Peninsula to the southwest and the Beara Peninsula to the...

The Skelligs and Valentia

In the far northwestern corner of the Ring of Kerry, across Portmagee Channel, lies scenic Valentia Island, reached by leaving the Ring of Kerry on...

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...

Wicklow Town

At the entrance to the attractive, tree-lined Main Street of Wicklow Town sprawl the extensive ruins of a 13th-century Franciscan friary. Wicklow, from the Danish...

Castletownbere

Castletownbere is one of Ireland's busiest white fish ports and a good place to set down the anchor for touring the magnificent Beara Peninsula. The...

Athlone

The mighty Shannon flows majestically through the heart of Athlone, yet for years it seemed as if the town was happy to turn its back...

Castletownshend

Castletownshend has an unusual number of large, stone houses, most of them dating from the mid-18th century, when it was an important port. The main...

Birr

Beautifully reminiscent of an English country town with its tree-lined malls and well-preserved houses, the heritage town of Birr has roots that date to the...

Clonakilty and Nearby

Clonakilty is a small market town and famous for being the hometown of statesman and revolutionary Michael Collins. His significance still resonates throughout the town...

Castlepollard

A pretty village of multi-hued 18th- and 19th-century houses laid out around a large, triangular green, Castlepollard is also home to Tullynally Castle and Gardens...

Cobh

...

Clonmacnoise

Many ancient sites dot the River Shannon, but Clonmacnoise is early Christian Ireland's foremost monastic settlement and, like Chartres, a royal site. The monastery was...

Cork City

Cork's city center is in a valley that's spread over 13 islands where the River Lee splinters and meets again, while its suburbs are located...

Kilbeggan

...

Cork Harbour

On a fine day, with visitors milling along Cobh's colorful harborfront at the foot of its hilly terrain, its hard to imagine that millions of...

Moneygall

The village of Moneygall (population 320) is an unassuming place on the main N7 Dublin–Limerick road, but it was thrust into the spotlight in 2011...

Fermoy

An army town dating mainly from the mid-19th century, Fermoy was a major crossroads on the Dublin–Cork road (N8). The bridge that spans the Blackwater...

Nenagh

...

Glengarriff

One of the jewels of Bantry Bay is Glengarriff, the "rugged glen" much loved by the writers William Thackeray and Sir Walter Scott. The drive...

Portlaoise

Near the heart of County Laois, the rich farmland south and west of Portlaoise is one of Ireland's undiscovered gems. Golf, fishing, hiking, and horseback...

Kinsale

Foodies flock to Kinsale, a picturesque port that pioneered the Irish small-town tradition of fine dining in unbelievably small restaurants. In the early 1980s, Kinsale...

Tullamore

The county seat of Offaly, Tullamore is a bustling market town that thrived during Ireland's economic boom that lasted from the mid-1990s until 2008; like...

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...

Ballyshannon

The former garrison town of Ballyshannon rises gently from the banks of the River Erne and has good views of Donegal Bay and the surrounding...

Schull

Teeming with the brightly painted facades of craft and book stores, galleries and pubs, this pretty village is alive with schooners in season and attracts...

Carrick-on-Shannon

Carrick-on-Shannon grew up around the river that still plays an important role in the town's confidence. Its original Irish name, Cora Droma Rúisc, means "the...

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 and still...

Drumcliff

W. B. Yeats lies buried with his wife, Georgie, in an unpretentious grave in the cemetery of Drumcliff's simple Protestant church, where his grandfather was...

Skibbereen

Skibbereen is the main market town in this neck of southwest Cork. The Saturday country market and the plethora of pubs, punctuated by bustling shops...

Gleann Cholm Cille (Glencolumbkille)

“The back of beyond" at the far end of a stretch of barren moorland, the tiny hamlet of Gleann Cholm Cille clings dramatically to the...

Strandhill

...

Letterkenny

Letterkenny, like Donegal to the south, is at the gateway to the far Northwest; you're likely to come through here if you're driving west out...

Ballyhack

On the upper reaches of Waterford Harbour, this pretty village with a square castle keep, thatch cottages, and a green, hilly background is admired by...

Mullaghmore

In July and August, the sleepy fishing village of Mullaghmore becomes congested with tourists. Its main attractions: a 3-km-long (2-mile-long) sandy beach, and the turreted...

Birdhill

It's no coincidence that this picturesque little village in undiscovered north Tipperary always does well in the national "Tidy Towns" competition, a village beauty contest...

Sligo Town

Sligo is the best place to begin a tour of Yeats Country. Squeezed on to a patch of land between Sligo Bay and Lough Gill...

Clifden

With roughly 2,600 residents, Clifden would be called a village by most, but in these parts it's looked on as something of a metropolis. Clifden's...

Ardmore

Historic spiritual sites, white beaches, dramatic cliff walks, local fishermen—little Ardmore is a picture-postcard Irish town that packs a whole lot of wonder into a...

Ardee

The road from Mellifont Abbey to Ardee passes through Monasterboice, home to some of Ireland's finest medieval High Crosses. Near the village's Round Tower, you'll...

Bansha

This prosperous little farming town at the foot of the Galtee Mountains is really of interest as a base for the beautiful Glen of Aherlow...

Blessington

With its wide main street lined on both sides by tall trees and Georgian buildings, Blessington is one of the most charming villages in the...

Cahir

Cahir (pronounced "care") is a busy but easygoing market town with a pleasant Georgian square at its heart. It is built on the River Suir...

Bray

One of Ireland's oldest seaside resorts, Bray is a trim town known for its summer cottages and sand-and-shingle beach, which stretches for 2 km (1...

Dungarvan

With their covering of soft grasses, the lowlands of Wexford and eastern Waterford gradually give way to heath and moorland. The mountains responsible for the...

Drogheda

Drogheda (pronounced "dra-he-da") is one of the most enjoyable and historic towns on the east coast of Ireland—and a setting for one of the most...

Kilkenny City

Dubbed "Ireland's Medieval Capital" by its tourist board, and also called "the Oasis of Ireland" for its many pubs and watering holes, Kilkenny is one...

Dundalk

Perfectly positioned as a hub to explore the region north and south of the border, Dundalk—only 9½ km (6 miles) from Northern Ireland—is the main...

Leighlinbridge

Sitting picturesquely on the River Barrow, Leighlinbridge boasts winding little streets, castle ruins, and a 14th-century bridge...

Glendalough

One of Ireland's best monastic sites, Glendalough also has a stunningly photogenic lakeside setting. It's a popular destination for day trips...

Old Leighlin

Sitting halfway between Kilkenny City and Carlow Town, this tiny farming village was built on the site of an ancient monastic settlement...

Hill of Tara

In legends and in the popular imagination, the "seat of the High Kings of Ireland" has taken on mythic proportions. As with much of the...

Thomastown

Originally the seat of the kings of Ossory (an ancient Irish kingdom), Thomastown is a pretty, stone-built village on the River Nore. It takes its...

Kells

In the 9th century, a group of monks from Scotland took refuge at Kells (Ceanannus Mór), where St. Columba had founded a monastery 300 years...

Tramore

Tramore's 5-km-long (3-mile-long) beach is a popular escape for families from Waterford and other parts of the Southeast, as the many vacation homes indicate. The...

Kildare Town

Horse breeding is the cornerstone of County Kildare's thriving economy, and Kildare Town is the place to come if you're crazy about horses. But, in...

Wexford Town

This coastal town is most famed for the Wexford Opera Festival, usually held in October, which has been seducing the world with wonderful productions of...

King William's Glen

...

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...

Louth

Louth warrants a visit, if only for the splendidly preserved oratory here. St. Patrick, Ireland's patron saint, was reputed to have built his first church...

Baile an Fheirteaigh (Ballyferriter)

Like the other towns at this end of the Dingle Peninsula, Baile an Fheirtéaigh is a Gaeltacht village and mainly a spot for vacationers with...

Maynooth

Maynooth itself is a serene university town named for a pre-Christian king of Ireland. The mighty Fitzgerald family inherited the local manor in the 12th...

Ceann Tra (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...

Naas

The seat of County Kildare and a thriving market town in the heartland of Irish Thoroughbred country, Naas (pronounced "nace") is full of pubs with...

Navan

Navan, at the crucial juncture of the Rivers Blackwater and Boyne, is a busy market and mining town with evidence of prehistoric settlements. It took...

Newgrange

Expect to see no less than one of the most spectacular prehistoric tombs in Europe when you come to Newgrange. Built in the 4th millennium...

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...

Roundwood

At 800 feet above sea level, Roundwood is the highest village in Ireland. It's also surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery. The Sunday afternoon market in...

Cahirciveen

Cahirciveen (pronounced "cah-her-si-veen"), at the foot of Bentee Mountain, is the gateway to the western side of the Ring of Kerry and the main market...

Slane

Slane Castle is the draw at this small Georgian village, built in the 18th century around a crossroads on the north side of the River...

Kenmare

Located slightly inland without a clear view of Kenmare Bay, Kenmare is a natural stopover for Ring of Kerry buses and travelers as it is...

Straffan

Its attractive location on the banks of the River Liffey, its unique butterfly farm, and the Kildare Hotel and Country Club—where Arnold Palmer designed the...

Sneem

The pretty little village of Sneem (from the Irish for "knot") is settled around an English-style green on the Ardsheelaun River estuary, and its streets...

Trim

The historic town of Trim, on the River Boyne, contains some of the finest medieval ruins in Ireland. In 1359, on the instructions of King...

Waterville

Waterville, a seaside village facing Ballinskelligs Bay, is famous for its sportfishing, its 18-hole championship golf course (adopted as a warm-up spot for the British...

Ballina

Ballina, with a population of around 11,000, is a busy industrial and commercial center, and the second-largest town in Mayo after Castlebar. Built on the...

Dublin

Dublin today is very much a modern European city, with a thriving economy built on an influx of tech giants and large fincancial institutions. It...

Galway City

Galway is often said to be a state of mind as much as it is a specific place. The largest city in the West today...

Killarney

One of Southwest Ireland's most attractive locales, Killarney is also the most heavily visited town in the region (its proximity to the Ring of Kerry...

Waterford City

The largest town in the Southeast and Ireland's oldest city, Waterford was founded by the Vikings in the 9th century and was taken over by...

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...

Rosslare

Sometimes called Ireland's sunniest spot, the village of Rosslare is a seaside getaway with an attractive beach. Many vacationers head here to hike, golf, sun...

Cashel

Cashel is a market town on the busy Cork–Dublin road, with a lengthy history as a center of royal and religious power. From roughly AD...

Killybegs

Trawlers from Spain, Portugal, and Norway are moored in the harbor at Killybegs, one of Ireland's busiest fishing ports. Though it's one of the most...

Ard an Ratha (Ardara)

At the head of a lovely ocean inlet, the unpretentious, old-fashioned hamlet of Ard an Rátha (Ardara) is built around the L-shape intersection of its...

Longford Town

Longford, the seat of County Longford and a typical, small, market-town community, is rich in literary associations, though after Oliver Goldsmith, the names in the...

Banagher

"Well, that beats Banagher!" This small Shannon-side town is best known in Ireland because of this common phrase, which dates from the 19th century when...

Recess

As you continue northwest from Oughterard on N59, you'll soon pass a string of small lakes on your left; their shining blue waters reflecting the...

Oughterard

Bustling Oughterard (pronounced "ook-ter-ard") is the main village on the western shores of Lough Corrib and one of Ireland's leading angling resorts. Boats can be...

Letterfrack

This is the gateway village to the famous Connemara National Park. It also makes a handy base for those visiting spectacular Kylemore Abbey, one of...

Leenane

Nestled idyllically at the foot of the Maamturk Mountains and overlooking the tranquil waters of Killary Harbour, Leenane is a tiny village noted for its...

Kylemore Valley

One of the more conventionally beautiful stretches of road in Connemara passes through Kylemore Valley, which is between the Twelve Bens to the south and...

Killala

...

Foxford

As you travel from Turlough northeast to Ballina, you have a choice of two routes. The longer and more scenic is via the tiny, wooded...

Tralee

County Kerry's capital and its largest town, Tralee (population 24,000) is the main shopping and business destination for North and West Kerry; it's a transport...

Belmullet

Belmullet's unconventional streetscape skirts its waterfront and the town harbors a friendly, unpretentious attitude that harks back to an earlier time. Nestled in a quiet...

Roundstone

The vibrantly colored vernacular facades that follow the hilly terrain of this ocean-harbor village, nestled in the shadows of the Twelve Bens Mountains, make for...

Cavan

Like all the larger towns of the region, Cavan is growing and prosperous. It is perhaps best known for its crystal factory. But as one...

The North Mayo Coast

When a modest fleet of French military ships landed in this pretty bayside village to aid the Irish in their quest for freedom back in...

Portarlington

Built on the River Barrow in the late 17th century, Portarlington was originally an English settlement. Later, a Huguenot colony developed here, and French surnames...

Turlough

Before the opening of the Museum of Country Life, Turlough was chiefly visited for its round tower (freely accessible), which marks the site of an...

Donegal Town

With a population of about 3,000, Donegal is Northwest Ireland's largest small village—marking the entry into the back-of-the-beyond of the wilds of County Donegal. The...

Westport

By far the most attractive town in County Mayo, Westport is on an inlet of Clew Bay, a wide expanse of sea dotted with islands...

Rosses Point

It's obvious why W. B. and Jack B. Yeats often stayed at Rosses Point during their summer vacations: glorious pink-and-gold summer sunsets over a seemingly...

Ballyvaughan

A pretty little waterside village and a good base for exploring the Burren, Ballyvaughan attracts walkers and artists who enjoy the views of Galway Bay...

Kilmore Quay

Noted for its fishing industry, this quiet, old-fashioned seaside village of thatched and whitewashed cottages is also popular with recreational anglers and bird-watchers. From the...

Bunratty Castle

Bunratty was a thriving village until its population was decimated by the great famine in the middle of the 19th century. A hundred years later...

Coole Park

This nature reserve attracts William Butler Yeats fans and those seeking pleasant and easy walking trails...

Corofin

...

Dun Chaoin (Dunquin)

Once the mainland harbor for the Blasket islanders (when there were islanders, as the Blaskets are deserted now), Dún Chaoin is at the center of...

Doolin

Once an enchanting backwater of colorful fishermen’s cottages, this tiny village—set at the point where the Cliffs of Moher flatten out and disappear into the...

Killorglin

Killorglin is on top of a hill beside the River Laune. At the "top of the town" is a Continental-style piazza, with outdoor tables in...

Ennis

Clare’s main town, Ennis, has a medieval layout that follows the River Fergus with a network of narrow lanes and a one-way road system. Offload...

Abbeyleix

One of the most elegant small towns in Ireland, Abbeyleix has retained its Georgian feel and its broad main street, which is lined with well-appointed...

Castlebar

The capital of Mayo, situated on its central limestone plain, once the biggest town for miles around, Castlebar is now a commercial and shopping hub...

Boyle

...

Gort

...

Fore

You've heard of the seven wonders of the ancient world, but here in the heart of the Irish Midlands is a tiny village with seven...

Inis Meain (Inishmaan)

The middle island in both size and location, Inis Meáin has a population of about 300 and its empty beaches and breathtaking scenery can be...

Mullingar

The Irish are great ones for wrapping an insult up in a lyrical turn of phrase. Rather than describe a woman as overweight they'll say...

Inis Mor (Inishmore)

Dún Aengus Hillfort is the main draw to Inis Mór, the largest and most populated of Aran's three islands. Stretching more than 16 km (10...

Roscrea

Every corner you turn in this charming town will offer reminders of its rich and sometimes turbulent past. Ancient castles, towers, and churches dot the...

Inis Oirr (Inisheer)

Inis Oírr, the smallest island, can be explored on foot in an afternoon, though if the weather is fine you may be tempted to linger...

Bundoran

...

Kilkee

Kilkee is the access point to Loop Head and the only major town on the peninsula. Its faded Victorian allure is still recognizable behind the...

Gartan Lough

Gartan Lough and the surrounding mountainous country are astonishingly beautiful. St. Columba was supposedly born here in AD 521, and the legendary event is marked...

Killaloe

Killaloe is separated from its sister town Ballina by an impressive 13-arch bridge across the River Shannon and a county border; a trek across the...

Lough Gill

Lough Gill means "lake of brightness." In fine weather, the beautiful river-fed lough and its surroundings are serenity itself: sunlight on the meadows, lough-side cottages...

Kinvara

Kinvara, with its pretty harbor and iconic ocean-edge tower house, makes for a leisurely break along the busy tourist trek between the Cliffs of Moher...

Cong

Set on a narrow isthmus between Lough Corrib and Lough Mask on the County Mayo border near Maam Cross, the pretty, old-fashioned village of Cong...

Knappogue

Knappogue is a beautiful 15th-century tower-house castle, just a short drive from Bunratty...

Enniscorthy

On the sloping banks of the River Slaney and on the main road between Dublin and Wexford to the south of the popular resort of...

Lahinch

Lahinch's promenade is milling with a mix of locals and visitors out to inhale the fresh Atlantic air at all times of year. Its golf...

Lismore

Lismore is one of Ireland's grandest places to get lost in. Popular with both anglers and romantics, the enchanting little town is built on the...

Mountshannon

...

Tipperary Town

Tipperary Town, a dairy-farming center at the head of a fertile plain known as the Golden Vale, is a good starting point for climbing and...

Newmarket-on-Fergus

A small town in County Clare, Newmarket-on-Fergus is chiefly remarkable as the village nearest the famed hotel of Dromoland Castle, formerly the home of Lord...

Adare

On the banks of the River Maigue, this once-upon-a-time-ified village dotted with thatched cottages is famed as one of Ireland's prettiest spots. It was given...

Quin

Quin Village has retained the essence of old Ireland despite the fact that it is only a 20-minute drive from Shannon Airport and less than...

Ceann Sleibhe (Slea Head)

From the top of the towering cliffs of Ceann Sléibhe (pronounced "kyeown shla-va") at the southwest extremity of the Dingle Peninsula, the view of the...

Thoor Ballylee

...

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...

Ballycotton

Perched on a rocky spur over the Atlantic, this pretty bayfront village with its famous lighthouse has a cliffside track that connects it to a...

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...

Bantry

The town of Bantry is at the head of Bantry Bay, between the Sheep's Head Peninsula to the southwest and the Beara Peninsula to the...

The Skelligs and Valentia

In the far northwestern corner of the Ring of Kerry, across Portmagee Channel, lies scenic Valentia Island, reached by leaving the Ring of Kerry on...

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...

Wicklow Town

At the entrance to the attractive, tree-lined Main Street of Wicklow Town sprawl the extensive ruins of a 13th-century Franciscan friary. Wicklow, from the Danish...

Castletownbere

Castletownbere is one of Ireland's busiest white fish ports and a good place to set down the anchor for touring the magnificent Beara Peninsula. The...

Athlone

The mighty Shannon flows majestically through the heart of Athlone, yet for years it seemed as if the town was happy to turn its back...

Castletownshend

Castletownshend has an unusual number of large, stone houses, most of them dating from the mid-18th century, when it was an important port. The main...

Birr

Beautifully reminiscent of an English country town with its tree-lined malls and well-preserved houses, the heritage town of Birr has roots that date to the...

Clonakilty and Nearby

Clonakilty is a small market town and famous for being the hometown of statesman and revolutionary Michael Collins. His significance still resonates throughout the town...

Castlepollard

A pretty village of multi-hued 18th- and 19th-century houses laid out around a large, triangular green, Castlepollard is also home to Tullynally Castle and Gardens...

Cobh

...

Clonmacnoise

Many ancient sites dot the River Shannon, but Clonmacnoise is early Christian Ireland's foremost monastic settlement and, like Chartres, a royal site. The monastery was...

Cork City

Cork's city center is in a valley that's spread over 13 islands where the River Lee splinters and meets again, while its suburbs are located...

Kilbeggan

...

Cork Harbour

On a fine day, with visitors milling along Cobh's colorful harborfront at the foot of its hilly terrain, its hard to imagine that millions of...

Moneygall

The village of Moneygall (population 320) is an unassuming place on the main N7 Dublin–Limerick road, but it was thrust into the spotlight in 2011...

Fermoy

An army town dating mainly from the mid-19th century, Fermoy was a major crossroads on the Dublin–Cork road (N8). The bridge that spans the Blackwater...

Nenagh

...

Glengarriff

One of the jewels of Bantry Bay is Glengarriff, the "rugged glen" much loved by the writers William Thackeray and Sir Walter Scott. The drive...

Portlaoise

Near the heart of County Laois, the rich farmland south and west of Portlaoise is one of Ireland's undiscovered gems. Golf, fishing, hiking, and horseback...

Kinsale

Foodies flock to Kinsale, a picturesque port that pioneered the Irish small-town tradition of fine dining in unbelievably small restaurants. In the early 1980s, Kinsale...

Tullamore

The county seat of Offaly, Tullamore is a bustling market town that thrived during Ireland's economic boom that lasted from the mid-1990s until 2008; like...

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...

Ballyshannon

The former garrison town of Ballyshannon rises gently from the banks of the River Erne and has good views of Donegal Bay and the surrounding...

Schull

Teeming with the brightly painted facades of craft and book stores, galleries and pubs, this pretty village is alive with schooners in season and attracts...

Carrick-on-Shannon

Carrick-on-Shannon grew up around the river that still plays an important role in the town's confidence. Its original Irish name, Cora Droma Rúisc, means "the...

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 and still...

Drumcliff

W. B. Yeats lies buried with his wife, Georgie, in an unpretentious grave in the cemetery of Drumcliff's simple Protestant church, where his grandfather was...

Skibbereen

Skibbereen is the main market town in this neck of southwest Cork. The Saturday country market and the plethora of pubs, punctuated by bustling shops...

Gleann Cholm Cille (Glencolumbkille)

“The back of beyond" at the far end of a stretch of barren moorland, the tiny hamlet of Gleann Cholm Cille clings dramatically to the...

Strandhill

...

Letterkenny

Letterkenny, like Donegal to the south, is at the gateway to the far Northwest; you're likely to come through here if you're driving west out...

Ballyhack

On the upper reaches of Waterford Harbour, this pretty village with a square castle keep, thatch cottages, and a green, hilly background is admired by...

Mullaghmore

In July and August, the sleepy fishing village of Mullaghmore becomes congested with tourists. Its main attractions: a 3-km-long (2-mile-long) sandy beach, and the turreted...

Birdhill

It's no coincidence that this picturesque little village in undiscovered north Tipperary always does well in the national "Tidy Towns" competition, a village beauty contest...

Sligo Town

Sligo is the best place to begin a tour of Yeats Country. Squeezed on to a patch of land between Sligo Bay and Lough Gill...

Clifden

With roughly 2,600 residents, Clifden would be called a village by most, but in these parts it's looked on as something of a metropolis. Clifden's...

Ardmore

Historic spiritual sites, white beaches, dramatic cliff walks, local fishermen—little Ardmore is a picture-postcard Irish town that packs a whole lot of wonder into a...

Ardee

The road from Mellifont Abbey to Ardee passes through Monasterboice, home to some of Ireland's finest medieval High Crosses. Near the village's Round Tower, you'll...

Bansha

This prosperous little farming town at the foot of the Galtee Mountains is really of interest as a base for the beautiful Glen of Aherlow...

Blessington

With its wide main street lined on both sides by tall trees and Georgian buildings, Blessington is one of the most charming villages in the...

Cahir

Cahir (pronounced "care") is a busy but easygoing market town with a pleasant Georgian square at its heart. It is built on the River Suir...

Bray

One of Ireland's oldest seaside resorts, Bray is a trim town known for its summer cottages and sand-and-shingle beach, which stretches for 2 km (1...

Dungarvan

With their covering of soft grasses, the lowlands of Wexford and eastern Waterford gradually give way to heath and moorland. The mountains responsible for the...

Drogheda

Drogheda (pronounced "dra-he-da") is one of the most enjoyable and historic towns on the east coast of Ireland—and a setting for one of the most...

Kilkenny City

Dubbed "Ireland's Medieval Capital" by its tourist board, and also called "the Oasis of Ireland" for its many pubs and watering holes, Kilkenny is one...

Dundalk

Perfectly positioned as a hub to explore the region north and south of the border, Dundalk—only 9½ km (6 miles) from Northern Ireland—is the main...

Leighlinbridge

Sitting picturesquely on the River Barrow, Leighlinbridge boasts winding little streets, castle ruins, and a 14th-century bridge...

Glendalough

One of Ireland's best monastic sites, Glendalough also has a stunningly photogenic lakeside setting. It's a popular destination for day trips...

Old Leighlin

Sitting halfway between Kilkenny City and Carlow Town, this tiny farming village was built on the site of an ancient monastic settlement...

Hill of Tara

In legends and in the popular imagination, the "seat of the High Kings of Ireland" has taken on mythic proportions. As with much of the...

Thomastown

Originally the seat of the kings of Ossory (an ancient Irish kingdom), Thomastown is a pretty, stone-built village on the River Nore. It takes its...

Kells

In the 9th century, a group of monks from Scotland took refuge at Kells (Ceanannus Mór), where St. Columba had founded a monastery 300 years...

Tramore

Tramore's 5-km-long (3-mile-long) beach is a popular escape for families from Waterford and other parts of the Southeast, as the many vacation homes indicate. The...

Kildare Town

Horse breeding is the cornerstone of County Kildare's thriving economy, and Kildare Town is the place to come if you're crazy about horses. But, in...

Wexford Town

This coastal town is most famed for the Wexford Opera Festival, usually held in October, which has been seducing the world with wonderful productions of...

King William's Glen

...

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...

Louth

Louth warrants a visit, if only for the splendidly preserved oratory here. St. Patrick, Ireland's patron saint, was reputed to have built his first church...

Baile an Fheirteaigh (Ballyferriter)

Like the other towns at this end of the Dingle Peninsula, Baile an Fheirtéaigh is a Gaeltacht village and mainly a spot for vacationers with...

Maynooth

Maynooth itself is a serene university town named for a pre-Christian king of Ireland. The mighty Fitzgerald family inherited the local manor in the 12th...

Ceann Tra (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...

Naas

The seat of County Kildare and a thriving market town in the heartland of Irish Thoroughbred country, Naas (pronounced "nace") is full of pubs with...

Navan

Navan, at the crucial juncture of the Rivers Blackwater and Boyne, is a busy market and mining town with evidence of prehistoric settlements. It took...

Newgrange

Expect to see no less than one of the most spectacular prehistoric tombs in Europe when you come to Newgrange. Built in the 4th millennium...

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...

Roundwood

At 800 feet above sea level, Roundwood is the highest village in Ireland. It's also surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery. The Sunday afternoon market in...

Cahirciveen

Cahirciveen (pronounced "cah-her-si-veen"), at the foot of Bentee Mountain, is the gateway to the western side of the Ring of Kerry and the main market...

Slane

Slane Castle is the draw at this small Georgian village, built in the 18th century around a crossroads on the north side of the River...

Kenmare

Located slightly inland without a clear view of Kenmare Bay, Kenmare is a natural stopover for Ring of Kerry buses and travelers as it is...

Straffan

Its attractive location on the banks of the River Liffey, its unique butterfly farm, and the Kildare Hotel and Country Club—where Arnold Palmer designed the...

Sneem

The pretty little village of Sneem (from the Irish for "knot") is settled around an English-style green on the Ardsheelaun River estuary, and its streets...

Trim

The historic town of Trim, on the River Boyne, contains some of the finest medieval ruins in Ireland. In 1359, on the instructions of King...

Waterville

Waterville, a seaside village facing Ballinskelligs Bay, is famous for its sportfishing, its 18-hole championship golf course (adopted as a warm-up spot for the British...

Ballina

Ballina, with a population of around 11,000, is a busy industrial and commercial center, and the second-largest town in Mayo after Castlebar. Built on the...

County Clare, Galway, and the Aran Islands

The West of Ireland is the most westerly seaboard in Europe, and the part of Ireland least influenced by its neighbor to the east, England...

The Southwest

Ever since Killarney was first "discovered" by William Thackeray and Sir Walter Scott, visitors have been searching for superlatives to describe the deep blue lakes...

County Cork

With its deep-rooted history, more than a thousand kilometers of pristine coastline dotted with pretty harbor villages, and a gently lilting up-and-down accent that flows...

The Southeast

Going to Ireland for the sunshine might sound like a joke, but not if you head to the golden beaches and blue surf of the...

The Midlands

During the boom years of economic growth in Ireland, from the mid-1990s to 2008, newly built motorways bypassed many small Midlands towns. But for a...

The Ring of Kerry

Running along the perimeter of the Iveragh Peninsula, the dramatic coastal road from Kenmare to Killorglin known as the Ring of Kerry has long been...

Lake Isle of Innisfree

In 1890 W. B. Yeats was walking through the West End of London when, seeing in a shop window a ball dancing on a jet...

The Northwest

With its towering cliffs, secluded expanses of golden beaches, and sun-tinted waters, the Northwest is an untamed and wild part of Ireland—shaped, influenced, and tormented...

The Curragh

The broad plain of the Curragh, bisected by the main N7 road, is the biggest area of common land in Ireland, encompassing about 31 square...

Dublin Environs

Walt Disney himself couldn't have planned it better. The small counties immediately north, south, and west of Dublin—historically known as the Pale—seem expressly designed to...

The Cliffs of Moher

One of Ireland's most breathtaking natural sights, the majestic Cliffs of Moher rise vertically out of the sea in a wall that stretches over a...

The Burren

As you travel north toward Ballyvaughan, the landscape becomes rockier and stranger. Instead of the seemingly ubiquitous Irish green, gray becomes the prevailing color. You're...

Connemara and County Mayo

A landscape where the thundering Atlantic forms the pounding backbeat to the most westerly seaboard in Europe, this most distinct area of Ireland has been...

County Clare, Galway, and the Aran Islands

The West of Ireland is the most westerly seaboard in Europe, and the part of Ireland least influenced by its neighbor to the east, England...

The Southwest

Ever since Killarney was first "discovered" by William Thackeray and Sir Walter Scott, visitors have been searching for superlatives to describe the deep blue lakes...

County Cork

With its deep-rooted history, more than a thousand kilometers of pristine coastline dotted with pretty harbor villages, and a gently lilting up-and-down accent that flows...

The Southeast

Going to Ireland for the sunshine might sound like a joke, but not if you head to the golden beaches and blue surf of the...

The Midlands

During the boom years of economic growth in Ireland, from the mid-1990s to 2008, newly built motorways bypassed many small Midlands towns. But for a...

The Ring of Kerry

Running along the perimeter of the Iveragh Peninsula, the dramatic coastal road from Kenmare to Killorglin known as the Ring of Kerry has long been...

Lake Isle of Innisfree

In 1890 W. B. Yeats was walking through the West End of London when, seeing in a shop window a ball dancing on a jet...

The Northwest

With its towering cliffs, secluded expanses of golden beaches, and sun-tinted waters, the Northwest is an untamed and wild part of Ireland—shaped, influenced, and tormented...

The Curragh

The broad plain of the Curragh, bisected by the main N7 road, is the biggest area of common land in Ireland, encompassing about 31 square...

Dublin Environs

Walt Disney himself couldn't have planned it better. The small counties immediately north, south, and west of Dublin—historically known as the Pale—seem expressly designed to...

The Cliffs of Moher

One of Ireland's most breathtaking natural sights, the majestic Cliffs of Moher rise vertically out of the sea in a wall that stretches over a...

The Burren

As you travel north toward Ballyvaughan, the landscape becomes rockier and stranger. Instead of the seemingly ubiquitous Irish green, gray becomes the prevailing color. You're...

Connemara and County Mayo

A landscape where the thundering Atlantic forms the pounding backbeat to the most westerly seaboard in Europe, this most distinct area of Ireland has been...

Glenveagh National Park

...

Glenveagh National Park

...

Great Blasket Island

The Great Blasket, which measures roughly 3 km by 1 km (2 miles by ½ mile), has no traffic, no pub, no hotel, and no...

Great Blasket Island

The Great Blasket, which measures roughly 3 km by 1 km (2 miles by ½ mile), has no traffic, no pub, no hotel, and no...

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Connemara and County Mayo

County Clare, Galway, and the Aran Islands

County Cork

Dublin

Dublin Environs

Ardee
Blessington
Bray
Drogheda
Dundalk
Glendalough
Hill of Tara
Kells
Kildare Town
King William's Glen
Louth
Maynooth
Mellifont Abbey
Mount Usher Gardens
Naas
Navan
Newgrange
Powerscourt House, Gardens, and Waterfall
Roundwood
Slane
Straffan
The Curragh
Trim
Wicklow Town

The Midlands

The Northwest

The Southeast

The Southwest

Connemara and County Mayo

Dublin

The Northwest

County Clare, Galway, and the Aran Islands

Dublin Environs

Ardee
Blessington
Bray
Drogheda
Dundalk
Glendalough
Hill of Tara
Kells
Kildare Town
King William's Glen
Louth
Maynooth
Mellifont Abbey
Mount Usher Gardens
Naas
Navan
Newgrange
Powerscourt House, Gardens, and Waterfall
Roundwood
Slane
Straffan
The Curragh
Trim
Wicklow Town

The Southeast

County Cork

The Midlands

The Southwest

Connemara and County Mayo

County Cork

Dublin Environs

Ardee
Blessington
Bray
Drogheda
Dundalk
Glendalough
Hill of Tara
Kells
Kildare Town
King William's Glen
Louth
Maynooth
Mellifont Abbey
Mount Usher Gardens
Naas
Navan
Newgrange
Powerscourt House, Gardens, and Waterfall
Roundwood
Slane
Straffan
The Curragh
Trim
Wicklow Town

The Northwest

The Southwest

County Clare, Galway, and the Aran Islands

Dublin

The Midlands

The Southeast

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Top Experiences

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The 15 Best Things to Do in Dublin (and Top Things to Avoid)

Ailbhe MacMahon

The 15 Best Things to Do in Dublin (and Top Things to Avoid)

Ailbhe MacMahon

The 15 Best Things to Do in Dublin (and Top Things to Avoid)

Ailbhe MacMahon

11 Things to Know Before Traveling to Ireland

The 15 Best Things to Do in Dublin (and Top Things to Avoid)

Ailbhe MacMahon

11 Things to Know Before Traveling to Ireland

Weddings & Honeymoons

I Was Sick of Dating Apps, So I Tried Ireland’s Wild 60,000-Person Matchmaking Festival

What Will Happen to Whale Watching? A Cautionary Tale Unfolds in Ireland

The Best Pubs in Dublin, According to Locals

Emily Cappiello

Listen up, Tourists! Stop Doing This in Dublin!

Apeksha Bhateja

Sorcerers, Giants, and … Fish?

Ronan O'Connell

Hotels & Lodging

Take This Trip: From Dublin’s Pubs to Ireland’s Small Towns

U.S. Embassy Issues Safety Warning for Ireland

Weddings & Honeymoons

I Was Sick of Dating Apps, So I Tried Ireland’s Wild 60,000-Person Matchmaking Festival

What Will Happen to Whale Watching? A Cautionary Tale Unfolds in Ireland

The Best Pubs in Dublin, According to Locals

Emily Cappiello

Listen up, Tourists! Stop Doing This in Dublin!

Apeksha Bhateja

Sorcerers, Giants, and … Fish?

Ronan O'Connell

Hotels & Lodging

Take This Trip: From Dublin’s Pubs to Ireland’s Small Towns

U.S. Embassy Issues Safety Warning for Ireland

Recent Forum Posts

Recent Forum Posts

A
Our Latest Adventure in Ireland: Two Music Festivals Be Us
AlessandraZoe started Jun 20, 2025 |Last reply 21 hrs ago View Post 54 replies 8193 views View Post
A
Always in Search of “Our Local”: 3 Days in Liverpool and 18 Days in Ireland
AlessandraZoe started Jul 22, 2023 |Last reply Apr 28, 2026 View Post 123 replies 32092 views View Post
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England and Ireland - 3.5 weeks without a rental car
Greytop13 started Oct 9, 2019 |Last reply Apr 27, 2026 View Post 39 replies 11300 views View Post
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Ireland trip in May - please help!
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