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The Top 10 most romantic places in Ireland

CAHIR O'DOHERTY

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Thursday, October 8, 2009, 4:14 PM

Updated Friday, October 9, 2009, 10:18 AM

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Read more: County Donegal, Ireland, Dublin, Waterford Castle, County Limerick, Merrion Hotel, Galway (County Galway), Cliffs of Moher, County Wicklow, Adare Manor Hotel

Donegal: Get lost in the splendid isolation of Ireland's north west coast

1. County Donegal

Donegal is the most romantic county in Ireland and also the most remote. There’s the breathtakingly beautiful beaches, the great wide loughs (lakes) and the rolling hills. But there’s also the people: in surveys, over and over, the Donegal accent is voted as the most charming in Ireland. One visit to this off-the-beaten path destination will make you a convert for life (just ask Sarah Jessica Parker, a frequent visitor).

2. The Ritz Carlton, Powerscourt, County Wicklow.

This deluxe hotel has it all: a stunning location in the undeniably romantic setting of the beautiful Wicklow Hills located just a short drive south of Dublin. Amenities include golf and a world-class spa – and, most famously, the Gordon Ramsay restaurant, for dining in style. The perfect destination for a Valentine’s break – or if you’re finally ready to pop the question, the hotel offers a menu of packages involving some elaborate scene setting. It’s open all year round.

3. The Merrion Hotel, Dublin.

Dublin is a romantic city (St. Valentine himself is actually buried there) and the Merrion Hotel is the ideal base to explore it all from. Located just off a Georgian Square, the period elegance of the hotel will transport you back to an earlier more romantic time in Ireland, as will a meal at the hotel’s Cellar Restaurant and Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, still unchallenged as the country’s premier fine dining destination.

4. The Burren.

Some people suggest only an Irishman like Samuel Beckett could appreciate the stark natural beauty of this County Clare landscape, but 10 minutes after you arrive you’ll know it’s one of the most remarkable places on the earth. The name Burren is from the Irish - bhoireann meaning a stony place. Its formation has lain unspoiled since the ice age – that’s right, there are relics of human habitation dating back almost 6000 years! The landscape of the Burren is very special, and it’s a memorable place to show off to a loved one.

5. Waterford Castle

A 15th century castle, it sits on an island in the River Suir, and the castle can only be reached by its own private ferry. You’ll arrive at the landing on the other shore, to be driven up a long and winding road lined with huge ancient trees, passing the Castle golf course on the way. Just watch out that you don’t get the haunted bedroom. If you are planning a honeymoon, or you’re just a hopeless romantic, Waterford Castle is the place for you.

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One possible itinerary for an Ireland vacation is a trip along the Causeway coast from Belfast to Londonderry. Start off in Belfast, where you can visit the new entertainment complex, Waterfront Hall, as well as the Cathedral Quarter featuring St. Anne’s Cathedral. Want a little history in your Ireland vacation? When you leave Belfast, you can stop at Newtownabbey’s Loughshore Park, which is where the Titanic first sailed from the shipyards of Harland & Wolff. On an Ireland vacation, you can see sights almost a millennium old. Carrickfergus has a 12th-century Norman Castle. If you would like your Ireland vacation to have a literary theme, head to Kilroot, where Jonathan Swift, who would go on to write Gulliver’s Travels, worked as a minister. At the Glens of Antrim. Admire the waterfalls and be sure to take the Antrim Coast Road. If you are looking for some culture during your Ireland vacation, the village of Glenarm has both a castle and traditional folk music sessions. Cushendall features the red sandstone Curfew Tower, which is four stories high. The Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge spans a 24-meter chasm. Some Ireland vacations revolve around pubs. But on this itinerary, you get to go to the village of Bushmills, which is home to the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery. One of the most spectacular sights on your Ireland vacation will be the famous Giant’s Causeway, which is outside of Bushmills. Ireland vacations may also include history from other countries. Ships from the Spanish Armada sank along the rough coastline near the Giant’s Causeway. At Port na Spaniagh, divers recovered treasure from the Girona, one of the galleons of the Armada. The Mussenden Temple may have been inspired by Rome’s Temple of Vesta. Downhill, Benone and Magilligan Beaches are so long that you may find yourself alone on these dramatic beaches. Finish your Ireland vacation in Londonderry, which is the only completely walled city in the British Isles. The walls date from the 17th century.

The Top 10 most romantic places in Ireland

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