Lovely MNers of Ireland. Where would you suggest to visit in the ROI?

[PriamFarrl]

Hello, I’m just scoping out holiday ideas for next year and started to think about Ireland.
I don’t really fancy Dublin if I’m honest, so would you mind telling where else is worth visiting?
I’m not after parties and night life, more quiet countryside, small town, coastal, that kind of thing.
I’m thinking the hiring a car and doing a small road trip might be a plan.

Thank you for any help.

West Cork is my absolute favourite holiday destination in Ireland. Gorgeous scenery and so much to see and do.

After that it's a toss up between Connemara and west Clare.

All of these places are on the Wild Atlantic Way.

Gosh it's so depressing that NI still has that reputation. I'm English and I live here, and have never had a single problem. Also the north coast is full of English people!

Car hire is really expensive everywhere this year, maybe compare ferry/own car with flight/hire car? If you got the ferry to Rosslare you’d be straight into the kind of holiday you describe. The Wexford/Waterford coast is lovely, and relatively crowd free. A route could be Rosslare to Kilmore Quay (good food/small village), Hook Head (visit lighthouse) then take little car ferry across to Waterford and go to Dunmore East (check out the adventure centre if you’ve kids; fab. cliff walk, food). Tramore for surfing, amusements, huge beach, traditional seaside town) Kilmeaden little steam train/Mount Congreve gardens/Curraghmore House. Visit the small city of Waterford - great museums, food, Waterford Crystal visitor centre etc) Hire bikes and do part of the Greenway (start at Kilmacthomas and cycle to Dungarvan or reverse, tunnel, sea views, viaduct etc); hike up to the very cool Coumshingaun lake; West Waterford has Dungarvan which is a lovely bigger town, also nearby is Ardmore village (posh hotel there and nice craft shops, nice cliff walk). Tipperary (Rock of Cashel, Cahir castle) and Kilkenny good for day trips. It’s less than two hours via motorway from Dublin if you fly in. (Similar distance from Cork airport)
This is longer than I intended. In truth, all of the coastal counties are lovely, it depends what you like doing.

Caherdaniel in Kerry
Valentia Island also Kerry
Dingle in Kerry
Kinsale in Cork
Inchydoney Cork
The Burren and other parts of Clare
North West Donegal
Westport and Ceide Fields in Mayo
Ardmore Waterford
Galway city and county

Just a few of the wonderful places to visit.

@peachgreen I know it's so sad. Our English friends and family have visited us lots and all of them can't get over how genuinely friendly and welcoming everyone is here (compared to Kent and London).

I agree with what’s already been mentioned.

The west coast is my absolute favourite- south Kerry or the dingle peninsula (just wow), Galway, Sligo, mayo, Donegal.

Kerry is probably my winner. We’ve stayed in Sneem, a small village on the doorstep of breathtaking scenery.
Killarney & Kenmare are beautiful too but more touristy and built up.
My favourite places to stay are Parknasilla, Sneem hotel, the Lake hotel. The dingle Skellig is highly rated too. The Europe if you weren’t on a budget. Ballyseede castle, especially if you like dogs 😁
Some very affordable air bnbs or 3 star hotels dotted along everywhere too.

Driving wouldn’t be for the faint hearted though. We did the Conor pass at Easter and I was very relieved that my DH was behind the wheel !

If you go to Galway take a trip to Aaran island. On a nice day it's stunning! Hire some bikes and explore. Theres a great pub for food and drinks.

Connemara or West Cork would fit the bill.

Ballynahinch Castle and Renvyle House Hotel are both lovely.

Holidaymakers website offers nice cottages in West Cork.

West Cork is a little piece of heaven. Agree driving in Kerry not for the faint hearted!!

Kilkenny City is lovely, has a big castle and medieval bits. Waterford is nice too and the Waterford crystal tour is interesting as is the Viking museum.
I love the Rock of Cashel too.

Gutted you feel that someone English would not be welcome in NI. So welcoming across the whole area. EverOne talks about the north coast but the west of NI is beautiful. The Lakeland’s of Fermanagh gorgeous lakes and islands, a massive cave system and mountains and parklands. Enniskillen is an amazing island town with loads to do, very foodie and loads of accessible water activities. You are then very close to Donegal and the Atlantic coast to get that into a trip as well. Only a 90 min drive from Belfast airport.

I left a union jack cafe in NI. So weird. They would serve me (dublin accent)
I just left.
Of course there are still some issues.
I was sad to see the "tribalism" of union jack and teicolour phone covers.

But i felt safe. I just felt ignored.

I agree, kilkenny is nice, lots of arty type shops, i want to stay in that hotel overlooking the river

The North and the South are full of english people! :-) You’ll love the Donegal, Sligo, Mayo part its beautiful, very slow pace but absolutely stunning. An option would be Wicklow - stunning dramatic scenery, and fairly unchangeable weather on that coasts compared to the rest. Russmore House, Bray, Powerscourt Hotel/Waterfall/House and Gardens. If you base yourself there you’re no distance to visit the coastline, Kilkenny, Dublin for a day or Kildare Village.

Cong Co Mayo is absolutely beautiful.

From NI and u wouldnt have any brother what so ever. We love tourists and I'd also suggest the North then you can also include parts of donegal. Derry City is amazing and in July the clipper arrives n the city will be out in force. Also u don't need to change currency for NI

Clew Bay Archipelago, Clare Island, Iniskea Islands, Achill Island, Killary Harbour, Blacksod Bay.

The Smithsonian Channel have recently done an Ireland by air doc - you will can see it all and see what appeals to you.

North Mayo is gorgeous.
Erris Peninsula walks and beaches.
Westport is a beautiful town.
Museum of country life near Castlebar.

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