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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?

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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!

Eric Cartman

feelingstressed wrote: »

Had to laugh, Gordon Gecko username thanked your post

i know, i love that lad

Truley

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.

I think that's part of what makes the area so amazing. I absolutely love living in Sligo.

A few years ago I cycled down the coast of Mayo and found it spectacular and seriously underrated county. The area around Rossport, and Belmullet/Black Sod - just, wow. A photo could never do it justice.

Rodin

Truley wrote: »

I think that's part of what makes the area so amazing. I absolutely love living in Sligo.

A few years ago I cycled down the coast of Mayo and found it spectacular and seriously underrated county. The area around Rossport, and Belmullet/Black Sod - just, wow. A photo could never do it justice.

Get any good videotape or get any hassle from the keepers of the peace?

pragmatic1

OP are you one of the landed gentry telling us about the quaint life of the Irish peasnt class.

Truley

Rodin wrote: »

Get any good videotape or get any hassle from the keepers of the peace?

Nope, place is crawling with Gardai though.

Video that captures everything I love about Sligo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1k4uK1vjzI

phasers

I don't know the name of the place, I found it by accident once on a road trip. It's somewhere in Wicklow.

Dionysus

pragmatic1 wrote: »

OP are you one of the landed gentry telling us about the quaint life of the Irish peasnt class.

Of course I am, peasant. hehe.

Rodin

Truley wrote: »

Nope, place is crawling with Gardai though.

Video that captures everything I love about Sligo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1k4uK1vjzI

hopefully moving there soon. I didn't realise it was so great

bitter

Kerry is beautiful follwed by the Glens of Antrim

Dionysus

phasers wrote: »

I don't know the name of the place, I found it by accident once on a road trip. It's somewhere in Wicklow.

That's information overload, phasers. Choose from one of the following pictures. :cool: