Favorites and Must Sees

Interesting that when you think you are finished with something how you suddenly remember things you wanted to mention. So this is what this post is for. For anyone who is considering going to Ireland or Northern Ireland, here's my 2 cents on some of the better things you should not miss - rain or shine! And plan on rain for sure.

I'm going to do this by area rather than just a haphazard list. So let's start at the beginning which is flying into Dublin.

In Dublin - Do find the Tourist Office and sign up for the Hop-on-Hop-Off day tour. The tickets are about 15 euro and last for 24 hours. Most of the well known sites are on this tour. You can choose from the green bus or the red bus. Doesn't matter which they both go the same places. Do start early in the morning to have the most time to see all the sites. You may not want to visit the Guinness Brewery too early unless you like to drink then. The self guided tour comes with a pint of the yummy black stuff in the gravity bar on the 7th floor. Very nice view of Dublin. Caution for travelers. A few of the museums are closed on Mondays. Be aware of that. Unless you really want to spend the time standing in line and pay the fee to see one page of the Book of Kells, just visit Trinity College and the gift shop for souvenirs.
All the other sites on the tour are good, but you may have to decide which to visit and which to skip. Definitely go to St. Patrick's and Christ Church (the catacombs in the basement are amazing)

You can also take one of several day tours out of Dublin. If you want to go to Knowth or New Grange this would be the way to do it. Leaves early in the morning and also includes a visit to Monastiere Boice. Great scenery too and you don't have to drive.

Outside of Dublin:

Powerscourt Gardens - beautiful
Glendalough Monastery and ruins
Kildare Stud Farm
Kilkenny area - the ancient capital of Ireland - wonderful castle tour and artists enclave across from the castle. In the same area Jerpoint Abbey and glass factory (you really have to search to find this, but the work is beautiful. Outside of Kilkenney in Bennetsbridge is Nicholas Moss Pottery factory. You can find his stuff all over, but this is where it's made and you can watch.
Hook Head Lighthouse - south of Wexford. If you have the time to drive here. Otherwise skip it. The site is beautiful on a sunny day, and you can spend lots of time looking out over the ocean, but it takes time. If you have it, all the better.

Charles Fort in Kinsale just south of Cork
Ring of Kerry - this is a standard thing for tourists. You should do it once. But if you take the bridge across from Cahersiveen you can find Ballycarberry castle ruins and also an amazing ring fort.

Dingle to me is just as good, if not better than the Ring of Kerry. Less bus traffic and lots more to see. Ancient remains and incredible views. Dingle town is full of life day and night.

Adare - the prettiest little town with the thatched roof houses. The town is mostly one main street with about 6 thatched roof houses. Make sure to check out the church and tour the castle if you have time.

Cliffs of Moher and The Burren. Both geological phenomenons. Hope for a clear day for the Cliffs. Lots of ancient stuff around here too, like the Pulnabrone dolmen (ancient table top tomb).

In 3 trips I've never really spent much time in Galway city. Unless you have the extra time, go on to the Connemara Coast and enjoy the rough and rocky scenery. If you go all the way to Clifden you can try to drive out the Sky Road at sunset. Again hoping for a relatively clear day. There is a drive called the Connemara Loop. Nice thing to do if you have the time.

Cong - I really love the abbey ruins there and Cong Wood. Nice little town.

Westport - nice port town if you have time. The Helms restaurant and bar are supposed to be really good.

Sligo - Yeats burial place in Drumcliffe, under Ben Bulben. Great scenic drive to be had here also.

Belleek pottery factory is not as busy as it once was, but the stuff is amazing once you see how it's made.

Omagh, fun town to base yourself if you spend a few days in NI. Most of the other towns are very small and working towns. So once the day is over the towns are dead. Music at some on Thursday and Sunday. More in Omagh.

Derry - do the bus tour here. Sit on the upper deck to get the best pictures and see the murals. Lively on the weekends. But also a working town. Walk the walls if you have the time. It's a little over a mile around.

Bushmills and the Causeway - definitely worth the visit. If you are driving and can take the Antrim coast road, all the better.

Belfast - Again here take the bus tour. More informative and helps you get around. Lots of places to find music around Queen's University.

The Boyne Valley with Knowth and New Grange megalithic tombs, Monastiereboice with the High Crosses and Mellifont Abbey.

That about covers the best for me. There are other places from previous trips, but I'd never finish if I wrote about all of them. For me Ireland has a lot of the best to see and short times are so rushed. Stop and savor the moments. If you spend a month you'll be able to see most everything, but not be able to savor the best coastlines, music and people.

I do have to say that I've used Rick Steve's Ireland book now for 2 trips and been very happy. I wouldn't leave home without it.

As you may have noticed I have hyperlinked a few of the initial sites. After doing so, I realized that there were way too many to link. Searches are easy, so you can handle the rest on your own. ;)

I've traveled to Ireland 3 times and 3 different ways, organized tour, self-catering cottages (a week at at time in each), and B&Bs. Each has it's advantages, but I prefer the B&Bs, especially ones located in town, or very near town. Next time, I'm going to park myself out by the west coast, or on the coast by Donegal, and just be part of the country.