Which are the best little towns to see in Ireland

[banjodeano]

I am planning to go to Ireland this summer for a week, i shall be taking the car by ferry and arriving at Dublin, and i am wanting to make my way along the south coast and up the west coast before returning, can you recommend any little non commercialised towns along the way, or even better any B&B's?

[mjw47]

I am planning to go to Ireland this summer for a week, i shall be taking the car by ferry and arriving at Dublin, and i am wanting to make my way along the south coast and up the west coast before returning, can you recommend any little non commercialised towns along the way, or even better any B&B's?

 

On the way down the east coast call in at Wicklow town, Dunmore East in Waterford and Cork City.

 

Wexford is worth a visit, see the statue of Commodore John Barry founder of the US Navy on the waterfront.

 

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDsQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ushistory.org%2Fpeople%2Fcommodorebarry.htm&ei=9H_iVIqsLeL-7Abro4GYCA&usg=AFQjCNG9pQXJ71dAKtIrluv2HEn99_cH1w&bvm=bv.85970519,d.ZGU

 

Make sure you stay at least one night in Kinsale a small fishing village that has more Michelin starred restaurants than most major cities.

 

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=kinsale&biw=1024&bih=617&noj=1&site=webhp&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=cn3iVNGACMeV7Aa554DQBQ&ved=0CDgQsAQ

 

It may be commercialized but only in the Irish way which is a lot more laid back.

 

When you start around the Southern coast Cobh - last berthing of the Titanic - and Cork city itself are worth a visit.

 

Then call in at Glengarrif before doing the drive around the Beara Peninsula.

 

Take the coast road up to Kerry and stay at Kenmare which is a lovely town.

 

Surprisingly there is no mention or plaque in the town of the fact that the great grandmother of a British Prime Minister was born nearby and emigrated to Britain in the early 1800's.

 

Still I suppose Margret Thatcher would prefer not to have too much fuss made about Catherine O' Sullivan her close ancestor.

 

Bit like Hazel Elizabeth Rosaleen Corscaden born in Ballyshannon Ulster in the Irish Republic not being celebrated as the mother of Tony Blair.

 

Once you start up the West coast take the Killimer ferry from Kerry to Clare.

 

Call in at Lahinch in Clare and then take the coast road to Ballyvaughan, when you leave Lahinch and before you get to the cliffs of Moher stop at Liscannor the birthplace of the man who invented the working metal submarine. His memorial donated by the USN is not as impressive as the one to John Barry.

 

Try to arrange to stop at Ballyvaughan at lunch time and have lunch at the Monks pub, best seafood available.

 

Keep on the coast road and you will arrive at Kinvarra.

 

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=kinvarra&biw=1024&bih=617&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=4YfiVOfYE6i17gaQqICoCw&ved=0CCwQsAQ

 

Where the man that wrote Galway Bay was born.

 

Further on north bound you will come to Galway City and beyond into Mayo Westport which is a terrific town.

 

Hope that helps have a great time.

[banjodeano]

thats a great help thanks, i will have a good look at those and pick the best, we are going over the Wicklow mountains on our way down

[mjw47]

thats a great help thanks, i will have a good look at those and pick the best, we are going over the Wicklow mountains on our way down

 

While your there call in at Johnnie Fox's the highest pub in Ireland. A few days before my wife and I visited Meryl Streep had been thrown out and barred.

 

I asked the barman what she'd done and he - quite rightly - refused to say, on the grounds that customers should expect some confidentiality.

 

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&sqi=2&ved=0CCQQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jfp.ie%2F&ei=bxzjVMWTM6S67gbqtICYDw&usg=AFQjCNEwOLvWCu668arbftJAyaOP4lytBw

[GLASGOWOODS]

On the way down the east coast call in at Wicklow town, Dunmore East in Waterford and Cork City.

 

Wexford is worth a visit, see the statue of Commodore John Barry founder of the US Navy on the waterfront.

 

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDsQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ushistory.org%2Fpeople%2Fcommodorebarry.htm&ei=9H_iVIqsLeL-7Abro4GYCA&usg=AFQjCNG9pQXJ71dAKtIrluv2HEn99_cH1w&bvm=bv.85970519,d.ZGU

 

Make sure you stay at least one night in Kinsale a small fishing village that has more Michelin starred restaurants than most major cities.

 

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=kinsale&biw=1024&bih=617&noj=1&site=webhp&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=cn3iVNGACMeV7Aa554DQBQ&ved=0CDgQsAQ

 

It may be commercialized but only in the Irish way which is a lot more laid back.

 

When you start around the Southern coast Cobh - last berthing of the Titanic - and Cork city itself are worth a visit.

 

Then call in at Glengarrif before doing the drive around the Beara Peninsula.

 

Take the coast road up to Kerry and stay at Kenmare which is a lovely town.

 

Surprisingly there is no mention or plaque in the town of the fact that the great grandmother of a British Prime Minister was born nearby and emigrated to Britain in the early 1800's.

 

Still I suppose Margret Thatcher would prefer not to have too much fuss made about Catherine O' Sullivan her close ancestor.

 

Bit like Hazel Elizabeth Rosaleen Corscaden born in Ballyshannon Ulster in the Irish Republic not being celebrated as the mother of Tony Blair.

 

Once you start up the West coast take the Killimer ferry from Kerry to Clare.

 

Call in at Lahinch in Clare and then take the coast road to Ballyvaughan, when you leave Lahinch and before you get to the cliffs of Moher stop at Liscannor the birthplace of the man who invented the working metal submarine. His memorial donated by the USN is not as impressive as the one to John Barry.

 

Try to arrange to stop at Ballyvaughan at lunch time and have lunch at the Monks pub, best seafood available.

 

Keep on the coast road and you will arrive at Kinvarra.

 

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=kinvarra&biw=1024&bih=617&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=4YfiVOfYE6i17gaQqICoCw&ved=0CCwQsAQ

 

Where the man that wrote Galway Bay was born.

 

Further on north bound you will come to Galway City and beyond into Mayo Westport which is a terrific town.

 

Hope that helps have a great time.

 

Love Westport and the Atlantic drive. I lived not too far from Westport. Little place called Bunnafinglas. About halfway between Ballina and Foxford.

[Dark Night]

The towns where the 'Little People' live.

[mjw47]

Love Westport and the Atlantic drive. I lived not too far from Westport. Little place called Bunnafinglas. About halfway between Ballina and Foxford.

 

Mayo is a lovely county alright, if you lived there I suppose you managed to have the odd drink in Matt Molloy's?

[GLASGOWOODS]

Mayo is a lovely county alright, if you lived there I suppose you managed to have the odd drink in Matt Molloy's?

 

I'm not sure? Will have to google that one.

 

I've actually just looked around the area on google street maps for a bit of nostalgia. The river Moy flowed by the bottom of our garden, it's famous for Salmon fishing. In fact Jack Charlton fished it often, as he was given a house in Ballina, for his services to Republic Ireland footie team.

[mjw47]

I'm not sure? Will have to google that one.

 

I've actually just looked around the area on google street maps for a bit of nostalgia. The river Moy flowed by the bottom of our garden, it's famous for Salmon fishing. In fact Jack Charlton fished it often, as he was given a house in Ballina, for his services to Republic Ireland footie team.

 

It's in the main street of Westport on the right as you walk uphill and is called after its owner Matt Malloy of the Chieftains.

 

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&sqi=2&ved=0CC0QFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mattmolloy.com%2Fpub_about.html&ei=ipLjVN3WBYis7AbAh4CYDQ&usg=AFQjCNGHiwAjdnm3z0IpdPTZ69OUwRSbsw&bvm=bv.85970519,d.ZGU&cad=rja

 

Been in a few times as the atmosphere is genuine and the music is great.

[Boginspro]

My favourite places are Clifden, County Galway / Westport and Ballina, County Mayo.

If you get to Clifden be sure to go up the Sky Road for a view of the islands and visit the village of Gleggan. In Mayo don't miss Clew Bay and Croagh Patrick. There are so many great driving routes and lovely places in both County Galway and Mayo the list could go on forever.

It is a long time since I have been to the southern counties of Ireland but I shall never forget Cahersiveen and Valentia Island in County Kerry.

 

There are some great Irish websites like - http://www.ireland.com/en-gb/ - http://www.connemara.net/ and http://www.connemara.ie/en/

 

You will have noticed that I favour the Connemara and Mayo area but there are sites like this for all ares of Ireland to give you an idea of what to expect.