| What are the top sites in Ireland? We've talked | | | | year round, but it's got plenty of coastal scenery |
| about the variety of tourist options that make it | | | | too. Drive out to the cute town of Dingle then |
| fun to visit Ireland, but the first time you visit any | | | | take the Slea Head Drive, a circuit out along the |
| country, there are just some sites you "must | | | | Atlantic. There is an ancient church, the Gallarus |
| see", and Ireland is no exception. | | | | Oratory, and some beehive huts (called "clochans") |
| There are lots of "top ten lists" for almost any | | | | lived in by Monks in the Dark Ages. You'll also see |
| country. We do want to remind you that any list | | | | a Stone Age ring fort on the drive. Here's an |
| is always someone else's idea of what is | | | | interesting fact... Slea Head is the point in Europe |
| important.... whether it's top sites in Ireland or | | | | closest to America. |
| what you need to see before you die. Use these | | | | You really should see the Cliffs of Moher and the |
| lists, but don't define your trip by them. | | | | Burren. These natural wonders are an interesting |
| Having said that, lists are useful for research. Let's | | | | counterpoint to each other. The Cliffs of Moher |
| get to our top sites in Ireland... | | | | are topped with green and plunge hundreds of |
| The first site we'd recommend is the Bru na | | | | feet into the Atlantic. The Burren is a barren but |
| Boinne... that's Celtic or Irish for "Palace of the | | | | mesmerizing moonscape of limestone karst |
| Boyne". Sometimes this area is called the "Bend in | | | | littered with megalithic tombs and celtic crosses. |
| the Boyne..." That's a looser translation, but these | | | | For pure scenic wonder and some great Irish |
| sites ARE on the banks of the Boyne River. It's | | | | stories, you need to see the Giant's Causeway. |
| really a group of sites, which together make up | | | | It's in Northern Ireland. It's a natural wonder and a |
| an important ancient megalithic site. | | | | place full of legends. Thousands of polygonal |
| You have to see Newgrange and Knowth. They | | | | columns appear to make up a giant stairway. It's |
| are impressive prehistoric passage tombs. See | | | | great fun to let the locals tell you the various |
| the ancient stone carvings around the outside. | | | | stories about the giants that are supposed to |
| You must take a tour; you can't explore them on | | | | have built this "causeway". |
| your own. You can choose to tour one or both. | | | | Dublin is a city definitely worth seeing. We don't |
| Plan to arrive early as tours fill up in the high | | | | stay long in cities, but you should see Trinity |
| season. | | | | College to visit the Library and see the Book of |
| Most guidebooks will tell you that you should see | | | | Kells. It's a copy of the four Gospels of the New |
| the Ring of Kerry... a driving circuit that | | | | Testament, but what makes it special is that it |
| encompasses three peninsulas in southwestern | | | | was transcribed by Celtic monks in the Dark |
| Ireland. It's a great drive with lots of castles and | | | | Ages... about 800 AD. These calfskin volumes are |
| coastline and the lakes of Killarney. It's a beautiful | | | | extravagantly illustrated... true works of art. |
| drive, but it tends to get crowded. If you plan | | | | Whatever you choose, you'll find your own top |
| your trip for Spring or Fall, you can see it with | | | | sites in Ireland. Save time for just rambling |
| smaller crowds. | | | | around. The whole country is beautiful, and the |
| For a less congested alternative, consider driving | | | | people are friendly. You can't go wrong. |
| the Dingle Peninsula instead. It's got fewer crowds | | | | |