Why is Ireland regarded as a scenic country?

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

I've often wondered what Ireland has a reputation as a beautiful 'Emerald Isle'. Although some areas of our country are beautiful, the majority of the landscape is quite dull and we also have a major problem with litter and poor planning, which spoil many areas with the potential to be scenic. I've been in Wales and it is a far more scenic country than Ireland, with beautiful unspoiled countryside, yet it doesn't seem to draw half the amount of tourists Ireland does. Why is this?

And before people point out areas that have great natural beauty such as Achill, West Kerry, Connemara etc, my entire point is that these areas are very rare.

GLaDOS

Well we've feck all else going for us, so may as well exaggerate what we do have.

mawk

I was out on my kayak all day.
Ireland is stunning. You're clearly just doing it wrong.

Chuck Stone

We have a beautiful little country here.

Our tourist trade speaks for itself.

NSNO

I love my area, it's brilliant. Great scenery and only 20 minutes from Dublin city centre.

Ireland IS beautiful. Must people like you begrudge everything?

Ditch

Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »

I've been in Wales and it is a far more scenic country than Ireland, with beautiful unspoiled countryside, yet it doesn't seem to draw half the amount of tourists Ireland does. Why is this?

Because it's full of hateful Welsh people .....

OPENROAD

Chuck Stone wrote: »

We have a beautiful little country here.

Our toursit trade speaks for itself.

Could be a lot lot better particularly with repeat visits

theboss80

The scenery I'd say

Ghandee

OP, the fact that your even asking this would suggest to me you haven't seen the cliffs of Moher, Giants Causeway, nor been on Lough Erne?

Get from the front of your screen, go see some of our Island ffs!:rolleyes:

Son Of A Vidic

OP - Love Wales do ya?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOZlJiOvXsU

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »

And before people point out areas that have great natural beauty such as Achill, West Kerry, Connemara etc, my entire point is that these areas are very rare.

Ghandee wrote: »

OP, the fact that your even asking this would suggest to me you haven't seen the cliffs of Moher, Giants Causeway, nor been on Lough Erne?

:rolleyes:

I've been to many different areas of our island and I've seen many beautiful sights (I havn't made it to the Giants Causeway but I've seen the other two you mentioned). However the country as a whole is not exceptionally scenic, and many countries in Europe totally outmatch us on this.

LETHAL LADY

The welsh have a bad reputation for sheep sh***ing and I would think that puts alot of tourists into scenery off.

galwayrush

Have a look around OP, lots stunning areas all around the country.

Ghandee

Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »

:rolleyes:

I've been to many different areas of our island and I've seen many beautiful sights. However the country as a whole is not exceptionally scenic, and many countries in Europe totally outmatch us on this.

Example..............?

Sticky_Fingers

Perhaps the OP should go out and see a little bit more of it. I was on holidays along the West Coast and some of the sights were spectacular, the Burren was amazing and there are places up near the 12 Pins in Galway that look like something out of Lord of the Rings and thats only a tiny fraction of what the country has to offer.

ejmaztec

OPENROAD wrote: »

Could be a lot lot better particularly with repeat visits

He might come back, you never know.:(

Conor108

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiBlmQaYpL4

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

Ghandee wrote: »

Example..............?

Wales is a very scenic nation. Many areas of England are also beautiful, such as the Lake District, Dartmoor, the Yorkshire Dales. The Scottish Highlands are stunning. France contains many absolutely stunning areas of natural beauty, as do many other continental nations such as Germany and Austria. In fact continuing to list them would be pointless as they virtually all have better scenery than Ireland.

Sticky_Fingers wrote: »

Perhaps the OP should go out and see a little bit more of it. I was on holidays along the West Coast and some of the sights were spectacular, the Burren was amazing and there are places up near the 12 Pins in Galway that look like something out of Lord of the Rings and thats only a tiny fraction of what the country has to offer.

I've been in those places on several locations and I'm well familiar with the west coast in general as I live there. Those areas are beautiful indeed, but they don't surpass what other countries have to offer.

Daegerty

Why is Ireland regarded as a scenic country?

Because it fecking is one. Maybe you're too busy moaning about how inferior we are and how much better every other place is to realise it.

I've been to Wales too. Its alright, it has scenic places and a few right dumps. Like every other place in every other country.

Chuck Stone

OPENROAD wrote: »

Could be a lot lot better particularly with repeat visits

Probably due to the cost. There is definately a problem with ppl being ripped off for sure.

Look at this

http://irishflyfisher.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/gougane-barra-lake.jpg

http://www.destination360.com/europe/ireland/images/s/ireland-cliffs-of-moher.jpg

http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/walshphotos/walshphotos0803/walshphotos080300004/2825871-early-morning-in-kerry-mountains.jpg

http://thenonbeliever.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/giants-causeway.jpg

http://en.structurae.de/files/photos/2025/mizen_bridge.jpg

http://www.veryhappypig.com/blog/021ShaneMcGowanDM_468x644.jpg

ejmaztec

It would have been a lot better if some fuckers hadn't stolen all the trees.:(

squod

Chuck Stone wrote: »

We have a beautiful little country here.

Our tourist trade speaks for itself.

in 2003. US$17.2 billion was spent in the UK by tourists

Disagree. Tourist numbers are falling here. The OP has a point, access to many scenic areas is at best hit n' miss. The UK have many tourists visiting and spending in centres like Oxford, Nottingham, Cambridge. We seem to have Dublin CC, Galway and Kerry.

Bit of joined up thinking could turn a weekend traveller to a two week tourist if the prices, location(s) and events were right.

Daegerty

Chuck Stone wrote: »

Probably due to the cost. There is definately a problem with ppl being ripped off for sure.

Indeed with places like the ould cliffs of moher charging entry fees and the tourist tax

There should be a fella standing at the airport handing out 100 euro notes to any tourist who can reasonably prove he's staying for a few days saying "We know this place is a rip off here's a few bob to help you along". Trains and stuff should also be free

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

NSNO wrote: »

I love my area, it's brilliant. Great scenery and only 20 minutes from Dublin city centre.

Ireland IS beautiful. Must people like you begrudge everything?

It appears anyone who expresses a critical opinion of anything is a "begrudger" these days.

Daegerty wrote: »

Because it fecking is one. Maybe you're too busy moaning about how inferior we are and how much better every other place is to realise it.
.

Yes, except I never do this, and actually like Ireland as a country. I just don't think its a very scenic one. But hey, don't let that get in the way of your stereotyping of me as self-hating Irishman who constantly runs the country down!

Snowie

Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »

I've often wondered what Ireland has a reputation as a beautiful 'Emerald Isle'. Although some areas of our country are beautiful, the majority of the landscape is quite dull and we also have a major problem with litter and poor planning, which spoil many areas with the potential to be scenic. I've been in Wales and it is a far more scenic country than Ireland, with beautiful unspoiled countryside, yet it doesn't seem to draw half the amount of tourists Ireland does. Why is this?

And before people point out areas that have great natural beauty such as Achill, West Kerry, Connemara etc, my entire point is that these areas are very rare.

are you blind?

take a walk along a small country lane in the height of summer..
Take a walk along any of the costline we have ever noticve the countless hades of green we have here...

then go live in some dessert state in america and youle suddenly apricate what we have here !

Daegerty

squod wrote: »

Disagree. Tourist numbers are falling here. The OP has a point, access to many scenic areas is at best hit n' miss. The UK have many tourists visiting and spending in centres like Oxford, Nottingham, Cambridge. We seem to have Dublin CC, Galway and Kerry.

We're fecked so because people go to Cambridge for the beours. The amount of fine beours in that place is unreal.

All our fine beours with a millimeter of thread left on the tyres has left for "Oz". If I run into one more beour saying she's leaving for "Oz" I'm going to blast her with piss

Lapin

squod wrote: »

Disagree. Tourist numbers are falling here. The OP has a point, access to many scenic areas is at best hit n' miss. The UK have many tourists visiting and spending in centres like Oxford, Nottingham, Cambridge. We seem to have Dublin CC, Galway and Kerry.

Bit of joined up thinking could turn a weekend traveller to a two week tourist if the prices, location(s) and events were right.

Nottingham

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

Snow-Monkey wrote: »

are you blind?

take a walk along a small country lane in the height of summer..
Take a walk along any of the costline we have ever noticve the countless hades of green we have here...

then go live in some dessert state in america and youle suddenly apricate what we have here !

I regularly walk through Irish country lanes. And they're not filled with awe-inspiring beauty. Funny you should mention America, its filled with much greater natural beauty than Ireland. I can never understand Americans visiting Ireland when they have unbelievable scenery throughout their own nation.

It wasn't me!

You know, any time I've gone abroad, I've been rocked by the breathtaking spectacle of some of the scenery I've witnessed. However, when I come home, and if I'm out early, in November, shooting, snow and frost on the ground, crackling underfoot like thunder in the still morning, and a snipe breaks underfoot and rises over the hedge, backlit by a red sky over pines, I realise this place is special. And there are a thousand other images like that that make this country unique. It's not about being better; it's about offering something absolutely unique.

kippy

People tend to not appreciate something when it's on their doorstep.
I know for a fact that despite some of the negatives the OP choses to dwell on we still have one of the nicest countries in the world with some of the most scenic areas I have ever seen.
Granted I probably dont appreciate it as much as I should either.

We've some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe, with fantastic mountains, cliffs and bogland.
The only thing that takes me away from this country is my wife - who, like a lot of people, loves to get a bit of sun. I would never leave here were it for the weather, the scenery is second to none in this part of the world.

ejmaztec

It wasn't me! wrote: »

You know, any time I've gone abroad, I've been rocked by the breathtaking spectacle of some of the scenery I've witnessed. However, when I come home, and if I'm out early, in November, shooting, snow and frost on the ground, crackling underfoot like thunder in the still morning, and a snipe breaks underfoot and rises over the hedge, backlit by a red sky over pines, I realise this place is special. And there are a thousand other images like that that make this country unique. It's not about being better; it's about offering something absolutely unique.

I notice things like old cars rusting away after being dumped in the river, and once scenic areas being destroyed by some arsehole who slipped a few quid to the local planning department, so that he could quarry the guts out of the place.:mad:

ronano

Chuck Stone wrote: »

We have a beautiful little country here.

Our tourist trade speaks for itself.

er hasnt it decreased by 33 percent in a few years?

Ireland is lovely though once you get out into the country,wales is stunning too,both have their faults but both

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

ejmaztec wrote: »

I notice things like old cars rusting away after being dumped in the river, and once scenic areas being destroyed by some arsehole who slipped a few quid to the local planning department, so that he could quarry the guts out of the place.:mad:

I've a feeling this is a major part of the problem and our country would look a lot nicer if it was better taken care of.

For Forks Sake

Lapin wrote: »

Nottingham

Highest ratio of women:men in britain, fact fans

It wasn't me!

ejmaztec wrote: »

I notice things like old cars rusting away after being dumped in the river, and once scenic areas being destroyed by some arsehole who slipped a few quid to the local planning department, so that he could quarry the guts out of the place.:mad:

Yeah, but the place has never been pristine since it was inhabited by humans. Granted, there are hideous things, but when I see something like that, the bad aspects couldn't be further from my mind.

Lapin

For Forks Sake wrote: »

Highest ratio of women:men in britain, fact fans

Ah.

I thought it might have been the jukebox in the Sal that drew the crowds there.

Crackin pub.

Dyr

Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »

I've often wondered what Ireland has a reputation as a beautiful 'Emerald Isle'. Although some areas of our country are beautiful, the majority of the landscape is quite dull and we also have a major problem with litter and poor planning, which spoil many areas with the potential to be scenic. I've been in Wales and it is a far more scenic country than Ireland, with beautiful unspoiled countryside, yet it doesn't seem to draw half the amount of tourists Ireland does. Why is this?

And before people point out areas that have great natural beauty such as Achill, West Kerry, Connemara etc, my entire point is that these areas are very rare.

Most countries on earth are fairly scenic in some way...except kips like chad. Ireland is pretty around the edges but once you move inland its just fields, cows and boggers.

Snowie

Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »

I regularly walk through Irish country lanes. And they're not filled with awe-inspiring beauty. Funny you should mention America, its filled with much greater natural beauty than Ireland. I can never understand Americans visiting Ireland when they have unbelievable scenery throughout their own nation.

ahhh so maybe you should look at ireland in the same light might unturn your thoughts

kippy

Bambi wrote: »

Most countries on earth are fairly scenic in some way...except kips like chad. Ireland is pretty around the edges but once you move inland its just fields, cows and boggers.

I completely disagree. There's plenty ares around the shannon and the lakes that are part of it, as well as parts of Sligo and Leitrim that are as scenic as anywhere.
It's all relative I suppose.

ArtSmart

Daegerty wrote: »

We're fecked so because people go to Cambridge for the beours. The amount of fine beours in that place is unreal.

All our fine beours with a millimeter of thread left on the tyres has left for "Oz". If I run into one more beour saying she's leaving for "Oz" I'm going to blast her with piss

didnt understand a word, but still LOL'd. funny stuff.

anyway, seen a beautiful sunset tonight and started thinking this very thing (OP comment) how is Ireland compared to other countries

Cornwall and Wales pretty stunning, so too is most of the planet - certainly anywhere i've been, which is quite a few places - even some city-scapes are beautiful.

i think the Irish 'scenic' thing is tied up with a lot more than actual landscape

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

Snow-Monkey wrote: »

ahhh so maybe you should look at ireland in the same light might unturn your thoughts

Ireland's mostly dull uninspiring landscape doesn't remotely compare to the varied and incredible landscape I seen in America.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

kippy wrote: »

I completely disagree. There's plenty ares around the shannon and the lakes that are part of it, as well as parts of Sligo and Leitrim that are as scenic as anywhere.
It's all relative I suppose.

Sligo and Leitrim are on the coast.

Dyr

kippy wrote: »

It's all relative I suppose.

It is in the midlands anyway

ArtSmart

It wasn't me! wrote: »

You know, any time I've gone abroad, I've been rocked by the breathtaking spectacle of some of the scenery I've witnessed. However, when I come home, and if I'm out early, in November, shooting, snow and frost on the ground, crackling underfoot like thunder in the still morning, and a snipe breaks underfoot and rises over the hedge, backlit by a red sky over pines, I realise this place is special. And there are a thousand other images like that that make this country unique. It's not about being better; it's about offering something absolutely unique.

yes, very true - but it's one's unique connection to the place one grew up. i'm sure pretty much any citizen of a country could say the same - even the Inuit. (em, That's Eskimos to the un-PC )

kippy

Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »

Sligo and Leitrim are on the coast.

Fairly muff - but for me, part of Leitrim is inland a fair part of it, same with sligo, Galway and Mayo etc.

hmmm

I've travelled quite a bit, and the scenery in most of the planet is crap. Every country has some areas that are scenic, and many places have scenic areas that outdo anything in Ireland, but usually you have to travel long distances to find them and there's a million other people there at the same time. We forget how dry, arid and flat most of the world is.

A tourist in Ireland can drive 5 minutes outside a city and be driving amongst trees, rolling green fields and little streams. If they go to the West, they can drive on little roads and have vast areas of savage and stark beauty almost all to themselves. Our coastlines are full of little areas waiting to be discovered.

I wish however we'd stop building holiday homes in random spots all over the place, and also make an attempt to build them out of local materials and not simply cheap concrete and paint them white.

Columbia

There are many, many beautiful parts of the country. From my parents' house it's about a 3-minute drive to the top of a hill. From there you can look across to the Macgillycuddy Reeks, and way off in the distance make out Carrauntoohill. You can look down to Tralee and see Tralee bay and Blennerville, and you can see the Dingle peninsula stretch away to the west. Take a 10 minute walk north and you'll be on the other side of the hill, from where you can see Kerry Head, and watch the sun set over north Kerry.

I live in Kildare now and it is more boring here, but hop in a car (or, if you're me, on a bike) and you can get to Blessington, the Wicklow mountains and Glendalough in no time. There are definitely drab parts of the country, but there are very few places in Ireland from which natural beauty is totally out of reach.

ArtSmart

hmmm wrote: »

I've travelled quite a bit, and the scenery in most of the planet is crap. Every country has some areas that are scenic, and many places have scenic areas that outdo anything in Ireland, but usually you have to travel long distances to find them and there's a million other people there at the same time. We forget how dry, arid and flat most of the world is.

A tourist in Ireland can drive 5 minutes outside a city and be driving amongst trees, rolling green fields and little streams. If they go to the West, they can drive on little roads and have vast areas of savage and stark beauty almost all to themselves. Our coastlines are full of little areas waiting to be discovered.

I wish however we'd stop building holiday homes in random spots all over the place, and also make an attempt to build them out of local materials and not simply cheap concrete and paint them white.

hmmm....





anyway, for sure, been less densely populated outside the pale is a major plus, for a Western European country. but as you say
'the scenery in most of the planet is crap. Every country has some areas that are scenic, and many places have scenic areas that outdo anything in Ireland' which em, i take to mean most places arent crap as such, just hard to access the nice scenery.

Doyler92

It has lovely roundabouts.

Daegerty

ArtSmart wrote: »

didnt understand a word, but still LOL'd. funny stuff.

Daycent

Duffy the Vampire Slayer wrote: »

Yes, except I never do this

Today doesn't count I suppose

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

Daegerty wrote: »

Today doesn't count I suppose

Try reading the rest of my post like a good lad.