Last week we talked all about wanderlust and all of the beautiful places in the world that are on my bucket list. Ireland is high in the ranks right now. A few weeks ago, Will and I celebrated our anniversary by seeing Riverdance when it was in town. We were excited to go, but didn’t really know what to expect, other than Irish dancing. The show was incredible and so much fun! Between the great Irish music and the amazing dancers and singers, I left the show wanting to explore Ireland even more than I did before!
Right around when we saw the show, a few bloggers I follow were on trips through Ireland. They all posted the most lush, gorgeous photos from Irish castles, ruins, cliffs, towns and countryside. Everytime I saw a new photo from their trips, the music and dancing of Riverdance would spring back and invigorate my desire to go to Ireland even more! With the inspiration from all of these blog posts and photos, I created an itinerary to follow if I make it over to the emerald isle.
Many Ireland road trips I have researched go clockwise or counterclockwise around the island. On this imaginary trip, we are going clockwise through Ireland and Northern Ireland, beginning in Dublin.
Dublin (this portion could be upon arrival to or just before departure from Ireland)
To do and see: St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin Castle, Trinity College and Trinity College Library, pubs and Guinness tasting at Guinness Storehouse
Dublin to Kilkenny
To see and do: Kilkenny Castle, Mount Juliet. Ireland has so many castles and ruins, and Kilkenny is the first one on the route. The green trees and flowers that surround the area make it even more beautiful.
Kilkenny to Cork (Cobh and Blarney)
To see and do: Stop along the journey to see the pretty painted row houses against the Cobh Cathedral in this seaside town. Cobh was the final departure point for the Titanic before the ship left for America.
Less than an hour from Cobh is Blarney, home of the famous Blarney Castle and Blarney Stone.
Blarney to Ring of Kerry
To do and see: Killarney National Park, Kenmare, Ballycarbery Castle, Kerry Cliffs, Gap of Dunloe
This is one part of the trip that I would be most excited about seeing. All of the photos are unreal, with varying shades of green mixed with rocks, stone ruins, and straight walled cliffs. It looks just like the Ireland I imagine.
Ring of Kerry to Dingle
To do and see: Take a day (or part of a day) to walk through town to see the colorful storefronts, eat some ice cream at Murphy’s and pop in the pubs that double as shops in one of Ireland’s largest Gaeltacht towns. If you drive around the surrounding Dingle peninsula, you may see potato field remnants near abandoned towns from the Irish potato famine.
Dingle to the Cliffs of Moher
To do and see: self explanatory – the Cliffs of Moher. These famous cliffs are supposed to be gorgeous and are one of the top-visited sites in Ireland. Arrive early to see them without tons of tourists!
Cliffs of Moher to Galway and nearby areas
To do and see: Town of Galway, Ashford Castle, Kylemore Abbey. Ashford Castle (pictured below) and Kylemore Abbey are about an hour away from each other, and both close to Galway. Ashford Castle has been renovated into a hotel and it is popular to see the grounds by their rental bikes or by horseback. Kylemore Abbey is stunningly gorgeous from the time you spot it through the woods.
Galway and nearby areas to Antrim Coast
To do and see: Dunluce Castle Ruins, Giant’s Causeway, the Dark Hedges, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge
This is another area that is at the top of my list for an Ireland visit. Giant’s Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede Bridge look amazing and so different from what I am used to seeing here, or anywhere else I have traveled.
Antrim Coast to Dublin
And we’re back to the starting point!
Since I haven’t been, I have no idea how this road trip is, but maybe someday I’ll report back! :) Have you been? What is the best thing to see?
Photo sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
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