Under-rated places in Ireland

burnsey1987

A change from the "worst towns in Ireland" and "tidy towns in reverse" sort of threads that crop up every now and again. Where's is a place in the country that made a great impression on you when you visited? It could be a random place you decided to go one weekend, or maybe a town you just happened to be passing through. It could be an obscure town that nobody really talks much about. It could be a place that everyone disses (oh, It's a kip, there's nothing there, and so on...)

For me it'd be the Midlands, and County Laois in particular. I can't single out one particular place, but I've found Mountrath, Borris-in-Ossory, Portlaoise and Emo to be nice places in their own individual way. I just find the people there very genuine and friendly to be honest. Added to that there's beautiful scenery and lots of interesting history. Throw a great night out or two into the mix as well. Barring one great-grandparent I have no real connection with the area, but I've just really come to like it a lot and I've found myself going back there quite often.

So, what hidden gems have ye stumbled upon on your travels up and down the country?

mr_edge_to_you

Keatings Bar in Kilbaha in Co Clare is my favourite pub.

And further up the road is Loop Head - an amazing place. Despite Clare County Councils car parking taxes.

FTA69

Galtymore. I'm home on holidays and climbed it today, it's Ireland's highest inland mountain and only around 130m or so shorter than Carrauntohill which gets thousands of visitors. Galtymore was deserted, I met one auld fella up there all day. You can see into Cork, Limerick and the Gap of Aherlow and on a clear day can see as far as the Wicklow mountains in the east and even the outline of Carrauntohill in the west. There's a sheer 200ft drop on the ridge that looks into an ancient glacial lake packed full of Atlantic Char. Stunning part of Ireland that doesn't get a huge amount of visitors in comparison to other places.

burnsey1987

mr_edge_to_you wrote: »

Keatings Bar in Kilbaha in Co Clare is my favourite pub.

And further up the road is Loop Head - an amazing place. Despite Clare County Councils car parking taxes.

+1. My folks have a house in Kilkee. Driving up to Loop Head Lighthouse on a nice summer's day - bliss

Rumpy Pumpy

Monaghan is a really pretty county.

Mister Vain

Ducketts Grove is Carlow is a really cool place. Sometimes they have live music and plays and stuff.

Lough Tay in Wickow is lovely. A change from the more popular Glendalough.