An Irish Roundtrip

So since I’ve just returned from Ireland I want to give you a little overlook. We (my dad, aunt, cousin and I) traveled mostly in the West of the island. We drove around for 1 1/2 weeks before my dad left and my aunt, cousin and I did a week long horse back riding trip. Here I portray you all the places we stayed at. It starts in Dublin and then will take you to the south coast and then all the way up the west coast.

1. Dublin
   Well of course the capital is on my list! But seriously Dublin has a lot of secrets ready to get uncoverd! It’s a rather small city so you can do almost everything on foot. There is a gigantic mass of pubs with live music to choose from in the eveings and during the day museums, cafés and parks will keep you busy. A big plus: It doesn’t rain so much in the east than in the west!

   

2. Cahir
   Cahir is a village. It is a bigger village than some other villages we stayed in but it is nevertheless tiny. Still for a tiny town it has a lot of things to do. For example Cahir Castle is one of Irelands biggest and best preserved castles. And  the Swiss cottage a country home from the former castle owners which is a great jewel of a house. Also the local pub is a phenomenon, if it only had enough light for you to see 😉

   

   

3. Cork
   Cork is Ireland’s secret capital. With shabby, rundown side streets and clothing boutiques with a questionable style Cork has a special atmosphere. But if you look closer you can find little (art) markets, cool shops (like a huge Topshop) and a hidden beauty in all the graffiti. So before leaving for the wild costlines of the west, stop in Cork. A tip: Most stores open on sundays but just after 12 am.

   

4. Kisale
   Kinsale is the Cote d’Azur of Ireland. A little harbour city just south-west of Cork. The houses are cute and colourful. Also there are a lot of restaurants with great food. We went to Fishy Fishy, a „serious fish restaurant„. It was really tasty but just make sure you are well dressed, we felt a little underdressed in jeans and sweater. The town has also great bookshops with second hand books as well as new ones. But Kinsale is a little expensive (exeptt the books).

   

5. Glengarriff
   This town is no bigger than 2 streets. But from here you can take a boat and visit an Italian Garden. Here Italian styled houses and an Irish watch tower mix and form a nice little park where you can relax an afternoon. Also from here various attractions are not far away, the ring of Kerry, the towns Bantry and Killarny (with it’s national park) for example.

   

6. Glinn
   Glinn is also tiny. We mostly stayed away from towns because it was easier to get a free B&B outside of the crowds. But here we had a great time in the local pub with other B&B guests from Great Britain and a local guy. We watched Rose of Tralee which is the local Miss Ireland show. „Roses“ from all over the world with Irish backround compete for the title. From here you can do the Ring of Dingle or the Cliffs of Moher.

   

7. Oughterad
   Again smaller then 1500 inhabitants but with an excellent restaurant, the Greenway Café&Restaurant served me the best fish I ate in my life. We all tried it and everybody had the same appreciative expression on his face together with a hmm. Their kitchen open for us after our B&B lady phoned and were really kind and friendly. But the place has just like 6 tables so you have to reserve. From here you can visit Connemara with it’s mossy, purple hills and deep Loughs. The landscape here was for me the most beautiful of Ireland even though it rained the whole day.

   

8. Donegal
   Donegal is a bit bigger and again has a castle. Here you can’t get a tour but they have information leaflets. And there are a view nice tea rooms and pubs to kill a rainy afternoon. But you can’t keep yourself buisy for long there.

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