Ireland: south west road trip

Ireland: south west road trip

A road trip of the south west of Ireland
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The nearest airport to the south west of Ireland is of course the Shannon Airport, but you can also arrive from Dublin Airport, it just takes a little bit more to get there.

Shannon Airport
@federicobona
You can easily reach Limerick in 30 minutes by bus, and from there in 40 minutes you are in Tipperary. By car it will take about 1 hour.
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There is also the Kerry Airport in Farranfore, in the center of the County Kerry, which can be reached in less than 1 hour from Dublin Airport.

Kerry Airport
@federicobona
You can use it as starting point if you want to do the reverse track, or at the end of the journey to fly to Dublin Aiprort. Here you can also easily rent a car.
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Killaloe, Silvermines and Nenagh

Killaloe
@federicobona
On the road to Nenagh this is your first stop. Here you can have a coffee in one of the bars. Also here you pass from County Clare to County Tipperary by crossing the Killaloe Bridge. Just stop and give a look at the broad majestic Shannon river.
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Silvermines
@federicobona
There's actually almost nothing to see in Silvermines, but it's in this guide because of its importance for the irish music. This is the village where lived the legendary Shane MacGowan, singer and leader of The Pogues, until he was 11th. You can see his old 4-bedroom house in Garryard East, sold in 2017 to other owners.
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Nenagh
@federicobona
Nenagh is the capital of the County Tipperary and it is an important market town. You can roam in the central roads of this cozy and colourful village and see its shops and restaurants. The town's historic features include Nenagh Castle, the Heritage Centre and the ruined Franciscan abbey.
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Tipperary and the Rock Of Cashel

Tipperary
@federicobona
Start your journey from Tipperary, this small village of about 5000 people. It's a medieval town with a nice center. Its central area is characterized by wide streets radiating from the principal thoroughfare of Main Street.
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Rock of Cashel
@federicobona
From Tipperary you can easily reach the town of Cashel (50 minutes by bus) to see the Rock Of Cashel. The Rock of Cashel, to which the town below owes its origin, is an isolated elevation of stratified limestone, rising abruptly from a broad and fertile plain called the Golden Vale. The top of this eminence is crowned by a group of remarkable ruins. The Rock of Cashel is now one of Ireland's most popular tourist sites. My advice is to visit it inside and then go for a walk outside all around the Rock, stop for a while and look at the beautiful foggy panorama. The town has several other attractions, including the Bolton Library, the Cashel Town Hall, the Georgian Cathedral Church of St John the Baptist and St Patrick's Rock, and the Cashel Folk Village.
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Mallow, Cork and Cobh

Mallow
@federicobona
It's a bigger city in the center of County Cork. It's nice to see and you cannot miss the Mallow Castle that hosts seasonal events, the beautiful Clock House, and the farmer's market on friday morning.
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Cork
@federicobona
In 20 minutes by bus from Mallow you can arrive in Cork, but first stop for a visit at the Blarney Castle and Gardens, on the way. Cork is nice but is very big and dispersive. First of all go down in St. Patrick Street, the main street with a lot of shops. There is The English Market, a covered food market, or The Merchants Quay Shopping Center at the beginning of the road. There is the Crawford Art Gallery, a place dedicated to the modern irish art, and if you go to the southern branch of the River Lee you can find the Cork Eye Ferry wheel and give a look at the National Monument of Cork. On the north side you can go up on Patrick's Hill and have the best view of the city.
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Cobh
@federicobona
Known from 1849 until 1920 as Queenstown, is a very colourful seaport town on the south coast of County Cork. You can reach it in 25 minutes from Cork. Is the last port where departed the Titanic before taking the ocean. You can go visit the Titanic Experience where you can play as a passenger on the ship and see replicas of the interior of the Titanic. Or you can go in the Heritage Center, a beautiful, informative and sometimes emotive Exhibition that allow you to learn about the story of Irish Emigration. Go visit the St. Colman's Cathedral, climb uo the road and watch the coloured houses known as the "Deck Of Cards". From there you can also have a beautiful view of the town and the port.
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Mizen Head, Portmagee and Skelling Michael

Mizen Head
@federicobona
Mizen Head is a famous point 2 hours driving from Cobh, on the south west of the island. It's traditionally regarded as the most southerly point of mainland Ireland although Brow Head is the actual southernmost point. Mizen Head is one of the extreme points of the island of Ireland and is a major tourist attraction, noted for its dramatic cliff scenery. One of the main transatlantic shipping routes passes close by to the south, and Mizen Head was, for many seafarers, the first (or last) sight of Europe. The tip of the peninsula is almost an island, cut off by a deep chasm, now spanned by a bridge; this gives access to an old signal station, a weather station, and a lighthouse. The signal station, once permanently staffed, is now a museum housing displays relating to the site's strategic significance for transatlantic shipping and communications, including the pioneering efforts of Guglielmo Marconi. The "99 steps" which formed part of the original access route have been supplemented by a series of paths and viewing platforms, and a full range of visitor facilities is available at the entrance to the site.
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Portmagee
@federicobona
Going to Portmagee we finally enter in County Kerry. The village is located on the Iveragh peninsula south of Valentia Island, and is known locally as 'the ferry', in reference to its purpose as a crossing point to the island. The village serves as a departure point for tourists travelling to visit 'Skellig Michael'.
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Great Skellig
@federicobona
Skellig Michael, also called Great Skellig, is a twin-pinnacled crag west of the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry. The island is named after the archangel Michael, with "Skellig" derived from the Irish language word sceilig, meaning a splinter of stone. Its twin island, Little Skellig (Sceilig Bheag), is smaller and inaccessible (landing is not permitted). Skellig Michael consists of approximately 22 hectares of rock, with its highest point, known as the Spit, 218 m above sea level. It is best known for its Gaelic monastery, founded between the 6th and 8th centuries, and its variety of inhabiting species, which include gannets, puffins, a colony of razorbills and a population of approximately fifty grey seals. The monastery can be approached by narrow and steep flights of stone steps which ascend from three landing points. The hermitage on the south peak contains a dangerous approach and is largely closed to the public. Because of the often difficult crossing from the mainland and the exposed nature of the landing spots, the island is accessible only during summer months. UNESCO designated Skellig Michael a World Heritage Site in 1996.
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Killarney

Killarney National Park
@federicobona
It was the first national park in Ireland, created in 1932. The park encompasses diverse ecology, including the Lakes of Killarney, oak and yew woodlands of international importance, and mountain peaks. It has the only red deer herd on mainland Ireland and the most extensive covering of native forest remaining in Ireland. There is a visitor and education centre at Killarney House. Visitor attractions in the park include Dinis Cottage, Knockreer Demesne, Inisfallen Island, Ladies View, the Meeting of the Waters and the Old Weir Bridge, Muckross Abbey, Muckross House, the Muckross Peninsula, the Old Kenmare Road, O'Sullivan's Cascade, Ross Castle and Ross Island, Tomies Oakwood, and Torc Waterfall.
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Killarney
@federicobona
Killarney is a very beautiful village in the County Kerry. It's not so big, but you can find a lot of characteristic streets and places. In 2011, it was named Ireland's tidiest town and the cleanest town in the country. If you go down in College St., Plunkett St., Main St., High St. and New St. you can roam there for days and you'll always find something new to see and to enter. Of course you have to stop here at least for one night.
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Dingle

Dingle
@federicobona
I will not spend many words on Dingle, because you have to see it yourself. Personally, I think is the most beautiful town of Ireland! With its Main Street, its bay, its port, the Dingle Distillery, the Dick Mack's Pub. And many other things. Go and see it yourself!
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Dingle Lighthouse
@federicobona
If from Dingle you follow the coast heading south, you'll pass through fields and pastures. On the way you'll have nice views of the Dingle Bay and you'll see the ruins of a tower, the Hussey's Folly. And in 40 minutes walking from Dingle you'll arrive at the Dingle Lighthouse. Just dit down on the fence and enjoy the majestic view of the sea. If you don't want to pass again through fields you can return in Dingle on the road
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Slea Head, Brandon Creek and the Conor Pass

Slea Head
@federicobona
Driving west from Dingle, keeping the coast road, you arrive at Slea Head, a promontory in the westernmost part of the Dingle Peninsula. Just to the northwest of Ceann Sléibhe is Dunmore Head, the westernmost point of Ireland. They are well known and recognised landmarks and also a very scenic viewpoints, with a dramatic view of the Blasket Islands. The Slea Head Drive is one of the Dingle Peninsula's most stunning routes. En route are several famous landmarks such as Ventry Beach, Pre-historic Fort and Beehive Huts, The Dingle Famine Cottage, views of the Blaskets Islands and Coumenole Beach and Gallarus Oratory.
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Brandon Creek
@federicobona
Brandon Creek is a small village located in the north of the Dingle Peninsula. It's just a nice place to stop and chill half an hour while watching the cliffs on the northern side of the peninsula.
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Conor Pass
@federicobona
Conor Pass is one of the highest Irish mountain passes served by an asphalted road. A twisty one-lane asphalted road leads to the pass. The drive is considered one of the most beautiful in Ireland. The scenic road leading to the pass weaves its way around the sharp cliff faces and past high corrie lakes. Vehicles over two tonnes in weight are prohibited from using the road in order to avoid difficulties in passing. Bicycle ascent to the pass is one of the most famous and difficult climbs in Ireland.
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Tralee

Tralee
@federicobona
Tralee is the county town of County Kerry. The town is on the northern side of the neck of the Dingle Peninsula, and is the largest town in County Kerry. It has a nice little town center with a couple of main streets, but there also are a number of other visitor attractions in the area: Kerry County Museum, Siamsa Tíre, Blennerville Windmill, Tralee Aquadome, Ballyseedy Wood, Tralee Town Park, Tralee Bay, and Tralee Ship Canal. At the end of your journey is the perfect place to spend a couple of nights and visit the town and its suburbs.
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The End!

🌍​Here you can find my other irish guides✈️:

And remember:

🍀​GOD SAVE IRELAND🍀​

"...So I walked as the day was dawning

Where small birds sang and leaves were falling

Where we once watched the row boats landing

By the broad majestic Shannon"

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
📍Tambre, BL - Italy “You’ll never know how beautiful is to travel alone until you do it!” Yes, it’s true. There is some kind of magic about travelling alone, you have nobody with you to talk with, you are alone with yourself, with your mind and with your heart. You can feel the the freedom in everysingle thing you find on your journey, in the blowing wind that uncomb your hair, in the music coming out from a crowded pub or in the noisy main street traffic of a big city, in the silence of an empty train station of a countryside small village or in the sound of the ocean while walking on a coast path with only the seagulls over your head. When I travel I like to feel the nature and the true spirit of a place, I like to walk, to see the little streets of a town, to get into a pub and have a beer or stop for a coffee, to see every unknown corner of that place, and most of all to see places that make me feel in connection with God. From the cliffs on the ocean to the top of a hill, from the last floor of a skyscraper to an old boat moored on a river. I also like to eat and drink, I often want to try the local dishes in the day and, as for now I work as a prfessional barman, sometimes to go for a cocktail tour in the night. My favorite destinations are the main cities of the Country I'm visiting and the small villages near the ocean! I live in Tambre, a small village in the venetian Alps. I traveled a lot in Ireland and UK, but also in northern France, Lithuania, Dubai and around Italy. I speak Italian and conversational in English.
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