Ireland
Ireland has a special place in our hearts. We visited for the first time in 2014 and longed to go back for quite some time. We spent six weeks in Ireland in the summer of 2021, renting a house in Ardgroom on the Beara Peninsula and another in Connemara near Carna. In the summer of 2022, we rented an AirBnB on Tara Hill, just outside of Gorey in County Wexford. It had views of the Irish Sea and farmland below. It was an excellent spot for day trips to Dublin, Killarney, Powerscourt, Glendalough, Wexford, and Waterford. There are also several beaches in the area if you can stand the cold Irish Sea!
There’s just something about the natural beauty of it, the rock walls, and the skinny, windy roads. The people are friendly and if you love potatoes, well Ireland’s the place to be!
We started our first trip at Powerscourt Waterfall and Powerscourt Estate. The estate features multiple gardens along a walking path. The waterfall is a short drive away. We revisited it in 2022 with friends. The gardens were just as lovely but with a more wildflower type variety and the gift shops had expanded considerably.
Powerscourt Estate
You can’t go to Ireland and not see the Cliffs of Moher. The Cliffs of Moher are simply amazing. There’s a neat little visitor’s center built into the side of a cliff where you can learn more about the area and get a bite to eat in their snack bar. They have a really nice gift shop and other little vendors. You do have to pay for parking. There are several lookouts from which to enjoy the view! It’s a must-see, especially for a first time trip!
The Cliffs of Moher
One of our most favorite parts of Ireland is the Dingle Peninsula on the Wild Atlantic Way. I really fell in love with the area on horseback, riding with the Dingle Stables, but the drive from Killorglin past Inch Beach and into Dingle is an amazing drive. The area has become increasingly popular though since Stars Wars was filmed on nearby Skellig Michael.
The Dingle Peninsula
On our first month-long Ireland adventure, we stayed at a house called Faunleave near Ardgroom. Ardgroom is a tiny little town on the Beara Peninsula. That’s the peninsula just below Dingle on the map. The view of the farmland around was amazing and there were several hidden gems around Beara Way.
Beara Peninsula
The Republic of Ireland
The Ring of Kerry is by far the most popular drive in Ireland and for good reason. This part of the country is amazing and beautiful. It takes about 5 hours to complete the full ring.
Ring of Kerry
Kilkenny is Ireland’s ancient city. Kilkenny Castle sits in the middle surrounded by shopping, pubs, and more. Near the castle, you will find Kyteler’s Inn - the site of the first witch trial in Ireland.
Kilkenny
Located just north of Cork City, Blarney Castle is a must-see. The grounds are expansive with tons of gardens, the most interesting being The Poison Garden. As you climb to the top in tiny stairwells, you can explore the castle’s rooms, see “The Murder Hole” and finally Kiss the Blarney Stone. While it’s supposed to give you the gift of gab, it may very well help you with getting front-row parking spots. Hey, it’s just something we noticed after kissing it! We never made it there, but Blarney House is also supposed to be a worthy stop on the grounds.
Blarney Castle
Waterford is a Viking city in the south below Cork City. It is home to Waterford Crystal. We primarily went there just to see the crystal factory and take the tour. Definitely make time for this tour! It is so incredible and you get to see them making the crystal by hand.
Waterford
Giant’s Causeway is located in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland is very different from the south. We found the people weren’t quite as warm as the people we’d become friends with in the south. But, there are many beautiful sights to see, such as Giant’s Causeway’s unique rock structures.
Giant’s Causeway
Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
We crossed the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge on first trip to Northern Ireland. Our son was about 6 or 7 on that trip and was more than willing to cross the bridge. This time, he wasn’t! It is the world’s scariest rope bridge after all. As wild as it looks, it is actually quite safe and there’s a beautiful little island on the other side.
I found the Dark Hedges years ago on Pinterest, so when we planned our first trip, it was one place I just knew I had to get a picture of. This little section of road attracts a lot of attention and it wasn’t exactly easy to find, but it’s not far from Bushmills in Northern Ireland.
Unfortunately, it’s become quite touristy over the years due to them being on The Game of Thrones. There’s a parking lot, a cafe, and a ton of people. It’s nearly impossible to get the hauntingly eery photos you could once get due to the crowds.
The Dark Hedges
Dunluce Castle is located just a short drive from Giant’s Causeway. There’s not a whole lot left of the castle but the map allows you to picture each part of the castle. The cliff that it sits on the edge of is quite amazing as well.
