DRIVING BEAUTY IN IRELAND NOW

Driving along the picturesque roads of Ireland is a beautiful magical experience. Our favorite drive traverses the whole emerald isle, from east to west.

Begin at St. Patrick's Cathedral, in Dublin, and end at the spectacular Cliffs of Moher!

Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral, built in 1191, is the largest church in Ireland. It sits in the middle of a 260-acre estate.

Quench your thirst for Irish whiskey at the Jameson Distillery, founded in 1780.

Grab some sustenance for your body and soul at a local pub, before you head to Malahide Castle.

One of the oldest castles in Ireland, Malahide is worth a visit. Since it was built, in 1175, the castle has been host to many of its own IRL Games of Thrones. It was the Talbot family home for over 800 years. Set on 260 acres, the castle grounds are planted in extraordinary gardens.

Onward to Galway. Check out the remnants of the thick medieval town walls. Shop for  traditional handmade Aran sweaters and handcrafted Claddagh rings. Peruse through stacks at dozens of secondhand booksellers and we bet you will find some treasures.

Next, drive west to Killarney, on the southern coast of Ireland, to see the region’s natural and historic highlights. The Ring of Kerry is a touring route that brings you to ancient castles and monasteries.

Killarney National Park encompasses over 102.89 km2 (25,425 acres) of diverse ecology, including the Lakes of Killarney, oak and yew woodlands of international importance. It is home to Ireland's only native herd of red deer.

Designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the park is of high ecological value because of the quality, diversity, and extensiveness of many of its habitats and the wide variety of species, some of which are rare.

Then, stop for a quaint shopping jaunt in the neighboring town of Dingle.

Drive on to Laois, a region first inhabited by bands of hunters and gatherers who passed through the county about 8,500 years ago. The next residents were Ireland’s first farmers (Neolithic period :4000 to 2500 BC). You can see their ancient burial mounds along with a sampling of medieval castles, forts and estates.

Finally, the Cliffs of Moher is a magnificent end to a beautiful driving adventure. This is one of the most popular natural attractions in Ireland. Made of layered Namurian shale and sandstone, they rise to a maximum height of 214 metres (702 ft) above the Atlantic Ocean, offering a home to over 30,000 birds.

Stand atop O'Brien's Tower, and you can see the Aran Islands in Galway Bay, the Maumturks and Twelve Pins mountain ranges, and the beautiful Loop Head peninsula.

You will mainly travel via routes M4, M3, M6, N63 and R339.

Read more about Beautiful Drives in Beautiful Drives Through Americana Now, Drive The Road To Beauty Now, Get Lost In A Beautiful Corn Maze Now, Eggleston’s Beautiful Drives, Drive On The Edge Of Nordic Bliss Now and Beautiful Ideas & Images About Beautiful Drives Now.

And check out more beautiful things happening now in BN Arts/Design, Nature/Science, Food/Drink, Place/Time, Mind/Body, and Soul/Impact Daily Fix posts.

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IMAGE CREDITS:

1. Image: by Olivier Bruchez. “Connor Pass.” Kerry, Ireland.
2. Image: by Loïc Lagarde. “Ballynahinch Lake under a cloudy sky near Connemara National Park.” Galway, Ireland.
3. Image: by Aaron Fellmeth Photography.“United Kingdom - Dublin - St Patrick’s Cathedral.” Dublin, Ireland.
4. Image: by Andy Stevens. “Jameson Distillery, Middleton.” Cork, Ireland.
5. Image: by William Murphy. “Blessington Street Basin.” Dublin, Ireland.
6. Image: by William Murphy. “Malahide Castle.” Dublin, Ireland.
7. Image: by Loïc Lagarde. “Ireland - Galway.” Galway, Ireland.
8. Image: by ritesh3. “The Valley Road, Killarney.” Killarney, Ireland.
9. Image: by Dan Noon. “Boat.” Killarney National Park, Ireland.
10. Image: by Selma Broeder. “Relaxation.” Killarney National Park, Ireland.
11. Image: by Robert Linsdell. “Dunamase Castle, Co. Laois.” Laois, Ireland.
12. Image: by Jennifer Boyer. “Cliffs of Moher.” County Clare, Ireland.
13. Image: by Graham Higgs. “Looking toward Salthill.” Galway, Ireland.
14. Image: by Martin Abegglen. “Cliffs of Moher.” County Clare, Ireland.
15. Image: by Keith Ewing. “Rock of Dunamase.” Barbican Gate. Rock of Dunamase. Laois, Ireland.
16. Image: by BN App - Download now!
17. Image: by Tom Fahy. “Maam Valley.” Galway, Ireland.