DUNDALK

 The cradle of Irish civilization and the Celts’ spiritual home, the Midlands encompass some of Ireland’s most sacred and symbolic sites. Situated at the head of broad Dundalk Bay this is the principal town and administrative capital of Co. Louth. Dundalk has a great historical past and is closely associated with Cuchulainn, hero of the legendary Red Branch Knights. Today the town is busy and progressive manufacturing centre. Dundalk's amenities include a racecourse, greyhound track and an 18-hole golf course at the seaside suburb of Blackrock 5 km south of the town.

Dundalk once marked the northernmost point of the Pale, the area controlled by the English during the Middle Ages. Now it is the last major town before the Northern Irish border. Dundalk is also a gateway to the magnificent countryside of the Cooley Peninsula. The County Museum is housed in an 18th-century distillery in the town. In three exhibition galleries it gives an imaginative history of the county, from the Stone Age to the present day.  

LOUGH KEY

 LOUGH KEY, FOREST PARK, CO. ROSCOMMON: is pleasantly situated near Boyle with its magnificently wooded shores, intended coastline and many lovely islands rising from the blue waters. On one of the islands are the ruined remains of the Abbey of the Trinity, founded by the White Canons. Here were compiled the Annals of Loch Ce which are now preserved in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin. Lough Key is often called the loveliest lake in Ireland. It is popular with anglers, and offers relaxing cruises. The woods by Lough Key also provide good walking territory.

Lough Key, Forest Park, near Boyle, Roscommon, Ireland

The island-studded lake and surrounding woodland make a glorious setting for the Lough Key Forest Park. The 320-ha park formed part of the Rockingham estate until 1957, when Rockingham House, a John Nash design, burned down. The woods were added by 18th-century landlords. The Lough Key Experience takes visitors on an audio journey through the 19th-century underground tunnels, up to the Moylurg viewing tower and along Ireland’s first Tree Canopy Trail. There are also several ring forts, a river jetty and an adventure playground providing entertainment for children of all ages.

TRALEE

Host to the renowned Rose of Tralee International Festival (end August), Tralee has made great strides in promoting its cultural and leisure facilities. Bands, processions, dancing and selection of the “Rose”. The town’s main attraction is Kerry County Museum. Its theme park, “Kerry the Kingdom”, offers a show on Kerry scenery and a display of archaeological finds. The “Geraldine Experience” brings one back to medieval times. 

The Siamsa Tíre National Folk Theatre of Ireland is a great ambassador for Irish culture. Traditional song and dance performances take place here throughout the summer. The Barn, in Bunratty Folk Park, is the setting for a traditional Irish night during the summer months. Just outside Tralee is the authentic Blennerville Wind mill. Opposite the windmill is the Lee Valley Park, where a wetlands centre and eco-park opened in 2012. The Steam Railway connects the park with Tralee along a narrow gauge track. 

CAUSEWAY COAST

 Northern Ireland's north coast has something for everyone: the Giant's Causeway, impressive cliffs, beaches, and the cheerful resorts of Portstewart and Portrush. This is the most exciting place to walk in Northern Ireland. The shorter of two circular walks takes you up the cliffs, above the Giant's Causeway, from where a great view of the columns clearly show in fact three causeway, the largest looking like a crocodile's snout.

ANTRIM COAST A drive of over sixty miles from Larne to Portrush offers one of the most spectacular scenic routes to be found anywhere, one of nature's displays of unspoiled beauty. The road weaves around the coastline with side roads leading off to the famed Glens of Antrim. Clearly visible, the Scottish coast and Rathlin Island rise from the sea, while the peculiar regular sided columns of the Giant's Causeway appear as stepping stones to these places.

WATERFORD

 Waterford, Ireland’s oldest city, was founded by Vikings in 914. Set in a commanding position by the estuary of the River Suir, it became southeast Ireland’s main seaport. From the 18th century, the city’s prosperity was consolidated by local industries, including the glassworks for which Waterford is famous. The strong commercial tradition persists today and Waterford’s port is still one of Ireland’s busiest. Following extensive archaeological excavations in the city centre, a new heart and atmosphere has been put into the old city with the creation of pedestrian precincts in the historic quarter and along the quays.

 Within the city of Waterford there is an abundance of interesting places to visits which has made WATERFORD CITY a mecca for the tourist. Waterford City has fast become an attractive tourist spot for holidaymakers who wish to enjoy the hustle and bustle of Waterford's popular night life and who also enjoy travelling around the County by day savouring the many historic sites and buildings which has made Waterford so popular.

MONAGHAN

 The spruce and thriving town of Monaghan is the urban highlight of the northern Midlands. Planted by James I in 1613, it developed into a prosperous industrial centre, thanks mainly to the local manufacture of linen. Monaghan centres on three almost contiguous squares. The main attraction in Market Square is the 18th-century Market House, a squat but charming building with the original oak beams still visible. To the east lies Church Square, very much the heart of modern Monaghan and lined with dignified 19th-century buildings, such as the Classical-style courthouse. The third square, which is known as the Diamond, was the original marketplace.

 SWAN LAKE, MONAGHAN

The variety of holiday activities offered by Monaghan, the most northern county town in Lake Land leaves nothing to be desired. Shooting, swimming, water-skiing, golf and angling facilities all abound within easy reach of the town. Outside Monaghan is one of the countys most beautiful lakes, Swan Lake. Here the visitor can find the quiet peaceful atmosphere so typical of Ireland.

SLIGO

 Sligo, well situated on a wooded plain between Lough Gill and the sea, is north-west Ireland's most important town. The port of Sligo sits at the mouth of the River Garavogue, sandwiched between the Atlantic and Lough Gill. The appearance of Sligo today is mainly the result of growth during the late 18th and 19th centuries. Sligo is perfectly situated for touring the ravishing countryside nearby, and it is also a good centre for traditional music. While at first sight it can seem a bit sombre, the town is thriving as the arts capital of Northwest Ireland.

 

1973

Sligo’s link with the Yeats family is the main source of the town’s appeal. Yeats Memorial Building houses the Yeats Society, who are dedicated to commemorating the life of the poet. The town’s sole surviving medieval building is Sligo Abbey, founded in 1253. A short distance west from the abbey is O’Connell Street, with the town’s main shops and Hargadon’s bar – an old Sligo institution complete with a dark, wooden interior, snugs and a grocery counter.

LAHINCH

 CLARE: This western county, known traditionally as Thomod, is mostly flat, and occupies the area from the River Shannon estuary, guarded by Loop Head, to the broad waters of Galway Bay. Amongst its many outstanding tourist attractions are the Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, and the amazing limestone district called the Burren, with its many caves, underground streams and rare flora.
Edna O'Brien an Irish novelist, memoirist, playwright, poet and short-story writer described as "the most gifted woman writing in English" was born in County Clare.

Lahinch, fronted by a mile long sandy beach fringing Liscannor Bay is a popular resort for bathing and golf. The golf course (18 holes) is situated in the sand dunes backing the beach. There is good coastal scenery on either side of the town and inland are some pretty glens, including the glen of the Cullenagh River to Ennistymon. Across the bay is the fishing village of Liscannor where John P. Holland (1841-1914), the inventor of the submarine was born.

Visit Clare

BRAY

 The thriving town of Bray is situated approximately 20 kms south of Dublin. Backed by the Wicklow Mountains which rise in great heather-clad masses behind the town, Bray is the gateway to the Garden of Ireland - Wicklow. Bray's sandy beach and esplanade are popular with both tourists and locals alike. Once a refined Victorian resort, Bray is nowadays a brash holiday town, with amusement arcades and fish and chip shops lining the sea front. Its beach attracts large crowds in summer, including many young families. The annual mid-summer seaside festival attracts thousands of visitor every year.

BRAY, CO. WICKLOW, IRELAND

The fine expanse of sandy beach, mile-long esplanade, charming harbour and variety of recreational and entertainment amenities make the name of Bray renowned throughout Ireland. The resort is enclosed at the southern end by Bray Head which rises boldly to a height of nearly 800 feet, and from whose summit, partly reached by an aerial chair-lift, spectacular panoramic views are obtained of the district.

GALWAY

 City of the Tribes

Galway is noted as the principal city of Connacht. It is situated on the northern shore near the head of famous Galway Bay.  With a character all its own, Galway is a city where modern development blends pleasantly with winding narrow streets that were old centuries ago. The history of this City of the Tribes can be traced back to the 13th century and the Anglo-Normans, and its many ancient buildings bear testimony to the many influences, including Spanish, which marked its life.  The streets and buildings of this ancient town have many interesting features and its position on the fringe of the Western Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking area) make it obvious gateway to Connemara, an entrancing countryside where the ancient language and customs of Ireland are preserved. 

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Galway is one of the most exciting of Irish cities, gateway between the Old World and the New. Columbus prayed in St. Nicholas' Church before setting out on his voyage of discovery. The short river Corrib flows through Galway city to enter the Atlantic. Salthill, the seaside suburb, is one of the most fashionable and up-to-date resorts in Ireland. Its fine promenade is equipped with a swimming pool and there is an 18-hole golf course close beside it. Salthill has the best of both worlds. It adjoins an ancient and historic city, fascinating to explore.

Galway Tourism

ARMAGH

 One of Ireland’s oldest cities, Armagh dates back to the age of St Patrick and the advent of Christianity. The narrow streets in the city centre follow the ditches that once ringed the church, founded by the saint in 455. Two cathedrals, both called St Patrick’s, sit on opposing hills. The huge Roman Catholic one is a twin-spired Neo-Gothic building with seemingly every inch of wall covered in mosaic. The older Anglican Cathedral dates back to medieval times.  It boasts the bones of Brian Ború, the King of Ireland who defeated the Vikings in 1014, and an 11th-century High Cross. Armagh’s gorgeous oval, tree-lined Mall, where cricket is played in summer, is surrounded by dignified Georgian buildings. The Armagh Planetarium  is on College Hill in the Observatory Grounds, from where there are splendid views over the city.

The Mall showing the cricket pavilion,
St. Patrick's Cathedral (R.C.)
The Cathedral Church of St. Patrick (C. of I.)
A busy Market Street

 

 

VisitArmagh 

CORK

Cork City is now the third largest city in Ireland. It derives its name from the marshy land on the banks of the River Lee – its Irish name Corcaigh means marsh –  on which St Finbarr founded a monastery around AD 650. The narrow alleys, waterways and Georgian architecture give the city a Continental feel. Since the 19th century, the city has had a reputation for political rebelliousness. Today this mood is reflected in the city’s attitude to the arts and its bohemian spirit, much in evidence at the lively October jazz festival.

 

St. Patrick's Street, Bridge and Hall, Cork City

 

One of Cork’s great attractions is that it is a city built on water. Its heart lies on an island between two arms of the River Lee and many of today’s streets were in fact once waterways lined with warehouses and merchants’ residences. Cork city offers a more cosmopolitan atmosphere, with its art galleries and craft shops.

Official tourism website for Cork, Ireland

ENNISKILLEN

The busy tourist centre of Enniskillen occupies an island between Upper and Lower Lough Erne. The town gained fame for the wrong reason in 1987, when 11 people died in an IRA bomb attack, but it deserves a visit for its setting and sights.  At the west end of town stands Enniskillen Castle, dating from the 15th century. It houses Fermanagh County Museum and the Inniskilling Regimental Museum. Its most stunning feature, however, is the Watergate, a fairy-tale twin-turreted tower, best admired from the far bank of the river. Further west, Portora Royal School, founded in 1618, counts among its old boys the play-wrights Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett.

 

 

Enniskillen Castle seen from across the River Erne

 

enniskillencastle.co.uk

 

KILLYBEGS

Killybegs is an important centre of the fishing industry with a fine natural harbour. The Donegal carpets manufactured in the town are world famous. There is very fine scenery in the immediate vicinity of Killybegs. Carntullagh Head which can be reached by rowing across the harbour, and Drumanoo Head, should be visited. There is an extensive view from the summit of Crownarad (1,621 ft.), 3 miles to the west Fintragh Strand, a splendid beach 2 miles from the town, affords excellent bathing.

The Fishing Port of Killybegs, Co. Donegal, Ireland 

 

Narrow winding streets give Killybegs a timeless feel, which contrasts sharply with the industriousness of this small town. The sense of prosperity stems in part from the manufacture of the Donegal carpets for which the town is famous, and which adorn Dublin Castle and other palaces around the world. Killybegs is one of Ireland’s busiest fishing ports and the quays are well worth seeing when the trawlers arrive to off-load their catch: gulls squawk overhead and the smell of fish fills the air.

 

Killybegs Tourism

  

LIMERICK

The third-largest city in the Republic, Limerick was founded by the Vikings. Catholicism and nationalism are strong in the city. Limerick has a reputation for high unemployment, crime and general neglect. However, it is fast acquiring a new image as a commercial city, revitalized by new industries and restoration projects. Even so, visitors may still have to dig a little to appreciate its charm.  The most pleasant part of Limerick in which to stroll is Newtown Pery – a grid of gracious Georgian terraces focused on O’Connell Street. It has often been said that perhaps Limerick’s biggest attraction of all is the people themselves who are warm, witty and welcoming!

1972 The city of Limerick stands on the site of an important ford of ancient times, where the Shannon River meets the sea. It is one of the most progressive of Irish cities and an important transport and industrial centre

 

Limerick City

MOUNTAINS OF MOURNE

These mountains occupy just a small corner of County Down, with no more than a dozen peaks surpassing 600 m, and yet they attract thousands of visitors each year. Northern Ireland's grandest scenery  sweeps around in a great arc of granite mountains between Dundrum Bay and Carlingford Lough, a patchwork of tiny sheep-cropped fields with drystone walls lying below the peaks. As well  as being popular for rock climbing, this area can only be properly enjoyed on foot. The main recreation area is the Silent Valley with reservoirs and dams, and superb mountain panoramas. The best base for the Mourne area is the resort of Newcastle, "Where the Mountains o' Mourne sweep down to the sea". Some 35 km north of Newcastle, the Legananny Dolmen is one of the finest and most photographed ancient sites in the country.

The Mountains of Mourne, County Down, in the south east, provide fine walking country

 

DERRY

Often called the "Cockpit of The Troubles" and Stroke City. A seminal event of the Troubles known as "Bloody Sunday" occurred in Derry on January 30, 1972, when British troops shot dead 13 Catholics during a civil rights march. Yet despite being a microcosm of Northern Ireland in its poverty and threatened violence, in its resilience, optimism, humor and joie de vivre, Derry is charming. In terms of conventional sightseeing, the city's top attraction is its 17th-century walls, some of the most complete in Europe. The city center within the walls contains old-fashioned shops and bars, as well as the spruce Derry Craft Village where you can buy crystal, linen T-towels and other local products.

The 17th-century Protestant St. Columb's Cathedral holds relics of the siege and Cecil Alexander, who wrote the famous hymn that begins, "There is a green hill far away/without a city wall" inspired by Derry's settings.

Visitor Info: Visit Derry

KILLARNEY

Located in the County of Kerry, Killarney is at the heart of the very beautiful and spectacular Southwest of Ireland. Also known as ‘The Town in the Park’, Killarney town is surrounded by 26,000 acres of National Parkland, including three stunning lakes. Killarney, one of Ireland's jewels and busiest tourist towns has many beautiful sites including Torc Waterfall, Muckross House and the Killarney National Park and is often referred to as the gateway to the Ring of Kerry.

Ross Castle is situated on the edge of Lough Leane one the lower lakes of Killarney National Park, 1.5 miles south of Killarney within the Kenmare Estate. It is a square tower house with bartizans, or overhanging turrets, on two of the tower's corners and two (of the original four) round towers. The castle is surrounded by parts of a square bawn or defensive wall. The most important room of the castle is the Great Hall situated on the top floor with large windows, fireplace, kitchen and minstrels' gallery. Ross Castle Killarney was probably built in the late 15thcentury.

Postcrossing postcard received from Brian

DUBLIN

Greetings from Ireland!

Dublin is located on the East Coast of Ireland, stretching along the Irish Sea in a half moon shape. The city is bordered to the South by the dramatic Wicklow Mountains. The language spoken in Dublin is English. Street signs and official buildings are signposted in both English and Gaelic, the indigenous Irish language. Dublin's elegant Georgian architecture makes it one of Europe's most attractive capitals. Dublin is a relatively small and accessible city, small enough and safe enough to get around on foot. It has history, charm, sights, museums, galleries, theatres, shops, pubs, restaurants and an abundance of character.

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Dublin City, colourful, vibrant, exciting. The living capital city of Ireland.

Dublin is a thriving cultural centre and boasts a great literary legacy with many luminaries of Irish literature such as Joyce, Shaw, Yeats, Wilde, Kavanagh and Beckett, being associated with the city.Famous for its easy going charm and cultural heritage, Dublin is also the capital of The Craic (pronounce 'crack'), the art of life. Although Dublin is well served by theatres, cinemas, nightclubs and rock venues, what sets the city apart from other European capitals is its pubs. It’s easy to pack a lot into a night out in Dublin. The city offers something to suit every taste and pocket: choose from world-class theatre, excellent concert venues, designer café-bars and lively or laid-back clubs hosting nights of traditional, country, jazz or rock music.

Postcrossing postcard received from Claudia

NORTHERN IRELAND

Within its compact area, encircles a wealth of surpassing scenic splendour. Vibrant, fresh and green in appearance, the natural features it encompasses are as diverse as they are exhilarating, from barren plains to expanses of lakeland, and from low-lying areas to lofty mountain ranges. Quite apart from its aesthetic charm, historic castles and ruins are scattered lavishly throughout the country, recounting tales from Northern Ireland's rich history.
The scenery is the prime allure - the Giant's Causeway, one of the wonders of the world on the Causeway Coast, the Mountains of Mourne, the Glens of Atrim, the Fermanagh Lakeland are the top districts to head for.

Not only in friendliness is Northern Ireland like the rest of Ireland. The pace of life is slow. The cuisine often lacks finesse, but comes in mammoth portions. In the bars the Guiness and the "crack - as the repartee is called - are great, as are the "sing-alongs". Some would say that the most significant differences between the two neighbors are that it is cheaper in the north and the roads are better.