1. The Burren, from the Irish Boíreann meaning “a rocky place,” is a limestone-laden region in northwest County Clare. The area encompasses 155 square miles, bound by the Atlantic Ocean and Galway Bay. A small portion earns the distinction as one of the Republic of Ireland’s six national parks.
In 1651, one of Oliver Cromwell’s army officers remarked, “It is a country where there is not water enough to drown a man, wood enough to hang one, nor earth enough to bury them. This last is so scarce that the inhabitants steal it from one another and yet their cattle are very fat. The grass grows in tufts of earth of two or three foot square which lies between the limestone rocks and is very sweet and nourishing.”
2. The Giant’s Causeway in Co. Antrim comprises 38,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of ancient volcanic activity throughout the area. The cliffs maintain a stepped appearance due to the succession of five or six lava flows through geological time. Their average height is 328 ft.
Currently, it ranks as the most popular tourist destination in Northern Ireland.
3. The Dingle Peninsula, located in southwest Co. Kerry, features steep, seaside cliffs, sandy beaches and rolling mountains. National Geographic Traveler once described the Dingle Peninsula as “the most beautiful place on earth,” and Trip Advisor recently ranked the locale as the second best destination in Ireland.
4. The Sperrin Mountains, sprawled across Counties Tyrone and Derry, is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. Recently, National Geographic included the location in its Top 101 Most Scenic Drives.
As one of the largest, yet least explored mountain ranges in Northern Ireland, the Sperrin Mountains provide a picturesque backdrop to many indoor and outdoor activities.
5. Binevenagh, located in Co. Derry, marks the western extent of the Antrim Plateau. Its steep cliffs, formed by molten lava, extend for six miles across the peninsula of Magilligan and dominate the horizon over villages such as Bellarena and Downhill. Like the Sperrin Mountains, it has been labeled an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It offers views over Lough Foyle and County Donegal.
It is a popular destination for hand-gliding, fishing and motorsport.
6. The Ring of Kerry, or Iveragh Peninsula, is a tourist trail that has attracted visitors for hundreds of years. It is renowned for its serene beauty and stunning views. Notable attractions include the Gap of Dunloe, a narrow mountain pass between Macgillycuddy’s Reeks and Purple Mountain.
7. The Wicklow Mountains cross over Cos. Carlow, Wexford and Dublin. Composed primarily of granite, they form the largest continuous upland are in Ireland. The Wicklow Mountains are designated as a Special Area of Conservation and as a Special Protection Area under European Union law.
8. Located in Co. Clare, the Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland’s top visitor attractions. They rise 390 feet above the Atlantic Ocean at Hag’s Head, and increase to 702 ft. just north of O’Brien’s Tower. The cliffs host approximately 30,000 birds, representing more than 20 species.
9. Co. Donegal’s Bundoran Beach experiences wild and raging waves that continuously pummel its tan, sandy banks. Its steel blue water blends seamlessly into the horizon, offset by clouds that straddle its location on the northwest coast of Ireland.
The beach has hosted the European Surfing Championships three times (as recently as 2011).
10. The Glencar Waterfall is located in Co. Leitrim, approximately 7 miles from Manorhamilton. It is 50 feet high, and flows into Glencar Lough.
Irish poet W.B. Yeats wrote of the waterfall: “Where the wandering water gushes/ From the hills above Glencar/ In pools among the rushes/ That scarce could bathe a star/ We seek for slumbering trout/ And whispering in their ears/ Give them unquiet dreams/ Leaning softly out/ From ferns that drop their tears/ Over the young streams.”
Originally published in July 2012.
10 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.hermitTalker | Sep 05, 2012, 10:24 AM EDT
It is delightful to see an article about the beauty of Ireland. I do agree that there are beautiful scenes everywhere, not all on the tourist' path. I would encourage you to consider Co Donegal, the "Inishowen 100" and all the way across the coast to Giant's Causeway. Bring Sterling for the swing into the North, aka "Ulster."
ejcphoto | Sep 02, 2012, 02:34 PM EDT
A small peninsula between the Beara peninsula and Mizen peninsula.. shhhhhh!
TisEyerish | Sep 02, 2012, 10:15 AM EDT
I would not want the job of having to decide the 10 most beautiful places in Ireland. All of Ireland is beautiful, especially those places untainted by trying to "lure" the tourists in. One doesn't have to try to do that; Ireland speaks for itself as far as beautiful scenery goes. There is barely a place where the eye lands and doesn't see beauty...whether it's sheep grazing on a hillside, the sun reflecting on one of her many rivers or loughs, or a rowboat tied to the shore. Some of the most beautiful places I saw in Ireland were not listed in any tour books, nor mentioned as "must see." That's why renting a car and just taking off, no destination in mind, is the best way to see the country, and meet the wonderful local people wherever you stop for a meal or to find lodging for the night.
Tom Mo | Sep 01, 2012, 10:23 PM EDT
Wonderful article by Brendan Charles. Ireland is indeed a beautiful place to visit. Killarney is my favorite, "the eden of the West," as the great tenor John MacCormack put it. The people of Ireland, as I remember, were always friendly, cortious, and obliging to the stranger. Even though "Ireland's voice was ever heard among the world's applause," reading Irish Central these days, there seems to be a certain harshness, an animosity towards America that I have never witnessed before. IC has taken the side of the socialists in America. IC's writers, for the most part, are Obama's water carriers. That is wrong. And that is a pity.
Mairin67 | Sep 01, 2012, 04:14 PM EDT
Agree with all of you. Reading these incredibly frequent "10 best places in Ireland" posts, it's easy to compare one to the to other and see that the Irish Central writers don't seem smart enough to change it up a bit. They just copy and paste most of the same stuff over and over again. However, I was shocked to see Derry mentioned...not becuase it's not beautiful, because it is, it was just such a new and interesting place..I didn't realize Irish Central ever ventured outside of the tourist books. The sad thing about Bundoran in Donegal is that it is usually as far as most tourists will go and it is barely inside Donegal. The rest of Donegal is magnificently beautiful and unfortunate that most do not get to see it because they are steered toward the tourisd traps.
ewmooney | Sep 01, 2012, 02:58 PM EDT
I think the Delphi Valley in Mayo/Galway is one of the most beautiful places in the world.
katieherk | Sep 01, 2012, 10:54 AM EDT
Just got back from 3 weeks in Northern Ireland/Ireland and agree with some of the above but missing are some spectacular sites... Carrick-a-Rede (rope bridge from one mountain to another), 9 Glens of Antrim, especially Glen Arriff, castles (Kinbane, Duneluce, Scrabo Towers, etc.). There is beauty on the entire Island, never lack for places to visit.
joannemoran | Sep 01, 2012, 10:12 AM EDT
Can't wait for next visit to Ireland/111
RockNReel | Sep 01, 2012, 10:08 AM EDT
Typically no mention of Sligo. Anyone who thinks Bundoran beach deserves being mentioned as one of the most beautiful spots in Ireland needs to do some proper research before writing articles like this. Is this the same beach where young ladies ply their trade as ladies of the night to unsuspecting tourists recently--check the newspapers !! Oh, and take some time to stay in Sligo first as its probably one of the most beautiful counties in Ireland but so far unspoilt by slot machines and los vegas type entertainment like Bundoran is famous for. I love Donegal as a county but can do without the commercialism of places like that.
carrickcourt | Sep 01, 2012, 09:53 AM EDT
One my favorite places is the lakes/loughs region of eastern Co. Cavan. The hills here remind me of the Litchfield Hills of Connecticut, where I live, minus the trees of course. Have spent a good bit of time in this area of Cavan as some of my ancestors came from this area. Bailieborough in Co. Cavan can be one of the coldest and snowiest places in the Republic in the winter at times.