Most beautiful place in Ireland?

Dionysus

First off, I'd like to apologise for starting a positive thread about Ireland in the middle of an economic recession!

Anyway....

I was listening to Miriam O'Callaghan's interview this morning on RTÉ Radio 1 with Desmond Fennell and his daughter, Natasha Fennell (Miriam Meets). For those of you familiar with Desmond Fennell's work, it is well worth listening to. At any rate, Fennell mentioned how in 1968 the local council made an order to buy his home in Dundrum, Dublin, and he and his wife thought about where to move with their young family and they decided on rural Ireland and, after a while, on Maínis island in Conamara.

My memory lit up with the name.

I've travelled the length and breadth of Ireland and in 2009 I decided to drive along the western seaboard and came across, entirely by accident, Maínis in Conamara and I've never ever ever seen a place as beautiful and isolated in this country. I never heard of it and to be very honest I had to ask a local (Dublin-born and educated Irish speaking) guy I met down on a small beach what the name of the place was. It's not a town, not a village but rather a small island linked to the mainland by a bridge. We didn't even realise it was an island, to be honest. It was so extraordinarily quiet with deep blue seas and fresh air and small cottages around the place, with many old ruined stone cottages a sign of its former glory and mass emigration. While I can't move there at this stage, I can see myself moving there in the future and I'm already planning for that life.

Other places in Ireland I've seen which struck me as amazing were Ceann Sléibhe in Corca Dhuibhne, Barleycove in south-west Cork, Alihies, in West Cork, Rathlin Island in Antrim and Dún Aonghasa all made an impression on me for their isolation and beauty. For cultural uniqueness, Doolin in Clare for its world-famous trad. music scene has secured no less than three return holidays out of me. As you can see I'm partial towards the sea in all my choices.

These are all well-known places, but the tiny island of Maínis off Conamara was so unexpected that I can see myself moving there.

What place in Ireland has been so spectacular it left a positive impression on you?

Pauleta

Ive lived in the area all my life but Killiney Bay gets me everytime. I never get sick of the moment im on the DART and exit the tunnel from Dalkey, amazing view.

chin_grin

Cool story bro.

HoneyRyder

Abra circa any Saturday at 3am

Dionysus

chin_grin wrote: »

Cool story bro.

Shíte meme, horse.

Hyperbullet

Moyross. The way the sunlight flickered on the early morning dew that had settled on a burnt out car brought a tear to my eye.



....Could have been the repeated kicks to the stomach while my wallet was being robbed that caused the tear mind....

joshrogan

the wright venue

chin_grin

Dionysus wrote: »

Shíte meme, horse.

I'm not your horse, boy.

Brenireland

Clara,great place,something their for everyone whether it be a cheap carpet or a strimmers.

Dionysus

chin_grin wrote: »

I'm not your horse, boy.

mikemac

Skellig Michael

epgc3fyqirnbsx

Keem Bay and the Atlantic Drive in Achill is one of my favourite spots. The whole drive to get there is stunning, and also a little scary. Then the beach is so sheltered that a mild day feels realy warm.

Oh_Noes

Sligo town can be a beautiful place if the weather is right. You have Benbulben on one side and Knocknarae on the other. I only lived there for a short while but I'll always want to go back.

It feels like a whole other Ireland, a little remote corner of the country that's vibrants with life, surround by mountains, the sea and the town itself has such character in its history.

bleg

Helvic near dungarvan

InTheTrees

Maínis?

near Carna? Or Lettermore? In the gaeltacht right? not further west by Clifden?

InTheTrees

no sea view but...

I always loved Glendalough. Its a very magical place, and not windswept like a lot of our other sites.

Sanjuro

Connemara is one of the most beautiful places on earth, let alone Ireland. Glenmacnass Waterfall is Wicklow is pretty freaking spectacular.

fontanalis

Being biased but parts of Donegal are beautiful when the weathers good (some even when it's not). Don't mean to bring negativity to your thread but some of the houses that were thrown up in nice places are atrocious.

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Lakes of Killarney.

Also Glendalough, the Cliffs if Moher (before the build a wall and trouristified it!) and the view from Croagh Patrick.

Dionysus

InTheTrees wrote: »

Maínis?

near Carna? Or Lettermore? In the gaeltacht right? not further west by Clifden?

It was after Carna coming from, if I recall, where we got off the boat from Oileáin Árann (I'm open to correction on this, however); we drove by the shop (on the left) and school (across the road on the right) and kept going but went down to the left to keep nearer the atlantic coast and ended up in Maínis. Got out of the car there and stayed for hours.

Pwindedd

InTheTrees wrote: »

no sea view but...

I always loved Glendalough. Its a very magical place, and not windswept like a lot of our other sites.

I knew it was only a matter of time before Glendalough appeared, I've only been once but it leaves a lasting impression. It's like something out of lord of the rings/harry potter/labyrinth - behind every tree there could be a troll or fairy - must go back soon.

fontanalis

Pwindedd wrote: »

I knew it was only a matter of time before Glendalough appeared, I've only been once but it leaves a lasting impression. It's like something out of lord of the rings/harry potter/labyrinth - behind every tree there could be a troll or fairy - must go back soon.

Come on Wicklow people have feelings too!

later12

A lot of it is subjective. The best view of ever had of Ireland was probably one at home in the rural midlands, sat upon a roundbale of straw on one of those hazy August evenings, drinking cider with the sheepdog, listening to the birds warbling in bogland, cows moseying along a grassy road out of the farmyard...

And now excuse me while I break into the chorus of Slievenamon...

Dionysus

InTheTrees wrote: »

no sea view but...

I always loved Glendalough. Its a very magical place, and not windswept like a lot of our other sites.

I went hillwalking by An Spinc a few years ago and came across literally hundreds of wild deer (and many goats) up there. For a hugely tourist area, Glendalough still has enormous appeal for people who love isolation and natural beauty. Speaking of which, the Wicklow Way, which I finally walked in its entirety (to Carlow) last summer, is well worth doing. My only complaint was that there wasn't enough water taps along the way (your 2-litre supply runs short quite quickly). But I'd strongly recommend the Wicklow Way for anybody who wanted to get away from things.

Kidchameleon

Chapelizod. No place like home.

Mint Sauce

Stayed outaside a Village near Skibberenn many years ago, think it was called Castletownend. Was late at night when we arrived, so pitch dark, knew we were near the coast but didn't realise quite how near. Opened the curtains the next morning to one of the best views in the county I have seen, overlooking the bay, the hills and the cliffs on the far side, gutted didn't have the camera.

Slieve Leauge in Donegal is worth a huge mention, driving round a narrow lane up to the car park, is one thing, once you hit the walk along the top its almost breath taking.

Oh_Noes wrote: »

Sligo town can be a beautiful place if the weather is right. You have Benbulben on one side and Knocknarae on the other. I only lived there for a short while but I'll always want to go back.

It feels like a whole other Ireland, a little remote corner of the country that's vibrants with life, surround by mountains, the sea and the town itself has such character in its history.

The views from the top are preety special as well.

SEPT 23 1989

Certain parts of Town are beautiful

El Weirdo

Oh_Noes wrote: »

Sligo town can be a beautiful place if the weather is right. You have Benbulben on one side and Knocknarae on the other. I only lived there for a short while but I'll always want to go back.

It feels like a whole other Ireland, a little remote corner of the country that's vibrants with life, surround by mountains, the sea and the town itself has such character in its history.

Whilst I don't particularly agree with you on Sligo Town itself being beautiful, there are some lovely parts of the surrounding area.

Actually, the whole of the North West has some stunning scenery that would rival anything in the likes of Kerry. The Tourist Board seems to have a hard-on for the South West though and the NW seems to be forgotten about when it comes to promoting tourism.

fontanalis

El Weirdo wrote: »

Whilst I don't particularly agree with you on Sligo Town itself being beautiful, there are some lovely parts of the surrounding area.

Actually, the whole of the North West has some stunning scenery that would rival anything in the likes of Kerry. The Tourist Board seems to have a hard-on for the South West though and the NW seems to be forgotten about when it comes to promoting tourism.

Enniscrone is lovely.

El Weirdo

fontanalis wrote: »

Enniscrone is lovely.

Indeed it is. It would be more lovely if it wasn't for all the empty holiday homes.

Dionysus

Kidchameleon wrote: »

Chapelizod. No place like home.

Chapelizod is easily one of the most underrated places in Dublin. With the Liffey flowing through it and the massive Phoenix Park next to it, and the long walk by the Angler's Rest and Liffey valley (as in the valley of the Liffey - not the shopping centre!) on your left, Chapelizod is great for those of us who love the water and to roam through hundreds of hectares of land. Walking by the Strawberry Beds is like walking in the countryside.

My favourite place in all of Dublin still has to be Howth/Binn Éadair. Unlike Dún Laoghaire or other places it still retains a strong fishing village sense to its identity and heritage.

Rodin

fontanalis wrote: »

Enniscrone is lovely.

The view from the top of Donard, or Errigal

Machaire Rabhtaigh and Bloody Foreland

fontanalis

Rodin wrote: »

The view from the top of Donard, or Errigal

Machaire Rabhtaigh and Bloody Foreland

Rossnowlagh, and the beach just outside Bundoran. I remember a lovely summer evening looking over the water from the cliff; stunning.
The drive from the Sligo side of Bundoran can give a great view of Slieve League aswell.

PatsytheNazi

Dionysus wrote: »

Chapelizod is easily one of the most underrated places in Dublin. With the Liffey flowing through it and the massive Phoenix Park next to it, and the long walk by the Angler's Rest and Liffey valley (as in the valley of the Liffey - not the shopping centre!) on your left, Chapelizod is great for those of us who love the water and to roam through hundreds of hectares of land. Walking by the Strawberry Beds is like walking in the countryside.

My favourite place in all of Dublin still has to be Howth/Binn Éadair. Unlike Dún Laoghaire or other places it still retains a strong fishing village sense to its identity and heritage.

Yes it's quite nice out by the Strawberry Beds and nip in for a pint. Howth is lovely as well, sometimes go for a walk around the cliffs and then fish and chips down at the pier

mattjack

portmagee/valentia island.....sunshine and bulmers

PatsytheNazi

fontanalis wrote: »

Being biased but parts of Donegal are beautiful when the weathers good (some even when it's not). Don't mean to bring negativity to your thread but some of the houses that were thrown up in nice places are atrocious.

The Inishowen pennisula is gorgeous.

W.Shakes-Beer

Donegal is beautiful, up around Carrigart.

Love Clifden out in Galway, very nice.

shane_rafferty

wicklow/dublin mountains or ring of conomar even doe it was sheeps and rocks was nice :P

Dangerous Man

Dionysus wrote: »

Chapelizod is easily one of the most underrated places in Dublin. With the Liffey flowing through it and the massive Phoenix Park next to it, and the long walk by the Angler's Rest and Liffey valley (as in the valley of the Liffey - not the shopping centre!) on your left, Chapelizod is great for those of us who love the water and to roam through hundreds of hectares of land. Walking by the Strawberry Beds is like walking in the countryside.

My favourite place in all of Dublin still has to be Howth/Binn Éadair. Unlike Dún Laoghaire or other places it still retains a strong fishing village sense to its identity and heritage.

I've always loved Chapelizod. I would love to live there. It has everything. One of my favourite rehearsal spaces in Dublin is there too - Muzzle studios.

PatsytheNazi

Pauleta wrote: »

Ive lived in the area all my life but Killiney Bay gets me everytime. I never get sick of the moment im on the DART and exit the tunnel from Dalkey, amazing view.

You should get off the DART and take a walk up Vico Road. The view of Dublin bay to the left and the Wicklow mountains to the right is spectaculiar.

Eric Cartman

the IFSC - cold hard capitalism at work, so beautiful

saywhatyousee

Best view in Ireland is right before you come into Strandhill looking over Coney island, Rosses point,Benbulben stunning even on a rainy day.It was that view that made me say to myself ill never live anywhere else again . The views from rosses point beach are nice aswell except i am not a millionare:P

the groutch

Vale of Avoca

http://memory.loc.gov/pnp/ppmsc/09900/09942v.jpg

Dionysus

I almost forgot, Carlingford in Co Louth is one of the nicest and most romantic villages in Ireland, and very close to Dublin so ideal for a weekend getaway.

It has great, high quality restaurants and, by all accounts, a very good adventure centre. There's also a good medieval festival in the summer and regular mountain walks of Sliabh Feá/Slieve Foy.

Rodin

Dionysus wrote: »

I almost forgot, Carlingford in Co Louth is one of the nicest and most romantic villages in Ireland, and very close to Dublin so ideal for a weekend getaway.

It has great, high quality restaurants and, by all accounts, a very good adventure centre. There's also a good medieval festival in the summer and regular mountain walks of Sliabh Feá/Slieve Foy.

Nice place alright. Bit expensive, and a little too built up over time though

Redr

Inch Beach, Co Kerry is sublime. So too are the views as you climb up towards Carrauntohill Mountain in Kerry. Heart -stopping ...

PS - I'm not from Kerry ...

Dudess

Limerick. She's a lady.

mikemac

Eric Cartman wrote: »

the IFSC - cold hard capitalism at work, so beautiful

Had to laugh, Gordon Gecko username thanked your post

mikemac

Dangerous Man wrote: »

I've always loved Chapelizod. I would love to live there. It has everything.

Well Islandbridge I suppose but on St Laurence Rd in Chapelizod there is a walkway by the Liffey, under 3km long I think. You see all the rowers and you'll end up in the War Memorial Gardens which are fantastic

Rodin

Redr wrote: »

Inch Beach, Co Kerry is sublime. So too are the views as you climb up towards Carrauntohill Mountain in Kerry. Heart -stopping ...

PS - I'm not from Kerry ...

Cars should be banned from Inch Beach. It's a disgrace to allow cars onto it

cute_cow

AH Answer? My bedroom

Proper Answer? Either Glendalough or Gougane Barra, love them both. The peace and tranquility that you get there is amazing. Must head to both soon!