Top 10 Scenic Attractions of Ireland

Killarney National Parkmost about the place is the utter peace and
Mountains and woodlands surrounding the lakes astranquillity it seems to radiate.
well as the Three Lakes make up the vast areaOne gets the feeling after a while of walking
that is Killarney National Park. The Lakes ofaround the tower and other buildings that it might
Killarney are renowned worldwide. They consist ofseem a good idea to stay here indefinitely and
three lakes - Lough Leane, Muckross Lake (alsoget away from all the distractions and illogical rush
called Middle Lake) and Upper Lake and are allof life. The place imposes on you that sense of
close to the town of Killarney.attachment and serenity, as though it were
Located on the N22, 25 kilometres south of thetransmitting the feelings of St. Kevin through the
county town of Tralee, they present a stunningcenturies from the time he lived and prayed
vista to the visitor of lakes, woods and mountainsthere.
merging together as though they were a painting.The Glens of Antrim
Killarney National Park includes the peaks ofCounty Antrim in the north east corner of Ireland
Mangerton, Torc, Shehy and the Purple Mountainsbristles with contrasting scenery from coastal to
while just to the west of the Park, rise thepastoral views. The Glens of Antrim are the
majestic Macgillycuddy Reeks, the highestcounty's most spectacular and beautiful sight.
mountain range in Ireland.Located to the north east of Belfast City, the
Situated amidst the spectacular scenery ofnine Glens of Antrim which make up the
Killarney National Park, Muckross House is acompilation are beautiful lush green, wooded and
magnificent Victorian mansion, which relives a lifebogland valleys. They sweep down to the Irish
of majestic splendour and is the centre piece ofsea between rugged headlands along the Antrim
the many aspects of Muckross. Muckross FriaryCoast Road. Cushendall Village is considered to be
was a 15th century Franciscan foundation with athe capital of the Glens and sits at the head of
south transept added around 1500.Glenballyeamon, Glenaan and Glencorp valleys.
The Ring of KerryGlenariff is the best glen to visit for the casual
The Ring of Kerry is a spectacular tourist trail inwalker as it has been made into a forest park,
County Kerry that starts in the town of Killarneycomplete with a wooden boardwalk around its
and covers the 170 kilometre circular road headingwaterfalls.
around the Iveragh Peninsula and passing throughThe Burren
Kenmare, Sneem, Waterville, Cahirciveen andThe Burren is a unique lunar type landscape region
Killorglin.in northwest County Clare and is one of Irelands
Popular stopping points include Muckross Housemost visited attractions. The unique Burren is a
(near Killarney) and Derrynane House, thebarony, most of which is a 100-square-mile
ancestral home of Irish statesman, Danielplateau of lunar-like limestone. Although it supports
OConnell.a sparse population in modern times, the Burren is
Just south of Killarney, Ross Castle, Lough Leane,home to a profusion of flowers and plants not
and Ladies View (a panoramic viewpoint), allfound elsewhere in Europe. Also to be found there
located within Killarney National Park, are majorare hundreds of ruined forts, megalithic tombs,
attractions located along the Ring. The town ofcaves, and underground streams.
Kenmare, halfway through the journey, is aThe landscape is actually called a Karst area and
picture postcard place with many restaurants andthe Burren is one the largest in Europe.
designer shops and notable hotels such as theThe region is enclosed roughly within the circle
5-star Park Hotel. Allow a full day to explore allcomprised by the villages Ballyvaughan, Kinvara,
the attractions on the Ring in comfortTubber, Corofin, Kilfenora and Lisdoonvarna.
Cliffs of MoherThe Dingle Peninsula
In the list of places that one must see on a visitFor rugged beauty and awesome natural
to Ireland, the Cliffs of Moher must surely rankphenomena there is little to compare to the Dingle
very close to the top and I place them atPeninsula situated in the south-west of County
number 3 only because of the merit of the firstKerry in the deep south of Ireland.
two.This is a spectacular landmass jutting out into the
The Cliffs are 214m high at the highest point andAtlantic Ocean giving off the impression to the
range for a distance of eight kilometres over thefirst time visitor that they are entering another
Atlantic Ocean on the western seaboard ofcountry such is the diversity and harshness of its
County Clare.natural beauty. The peninsula is also noted for the
They are located in the parish of Liscannor at theancient monuments and prehistoric sites that are
south-west edge of the Burren area near thescattered across its landscape.
town of Doolin, which is famous for the musicThere are two main roads into the peninsula: The
sessions that take place there throughout theN86 which runs from Tralee, along the south
summer. O' Brien's Tower stands proudly on thecoast of Tralee Bay, through Camp village, then
northerly headland of the majestic Cliffs.over the mountains to Annascaul, Lispole and
From the Cliffs, one can see the Aran Islands,Dingle.
Galway Bay, as well as The Twelve Pins, theBen Bulben
Maum Turk Mountains in Connemara and LoopLocated in County Sligo, in the north west of the
Head to the South.country, Ben Bulben is Ireland's most distinctive
Connemara National Parkmountain and known in some parts as Ireland's
Connemara National Park covers some 2,000version of Table Mountain in South Africa.
hectares of scenic mountains, expanses of bogs,It is the result from the different responses to
heaths and grassland and wonderful wildlife anderosion of the limestone and shale of which the
includes the beautiful towns of Cliden and Leenanemountain is formed.
on the west coast of County Galway.A hard and resistant limestone forms the upper
The evolvement of the Connemara landscapecliffs and precipices. Ben Bulben was formed
over 10,000 years is exhibited in the visitor centreduring the Ice Age, when large parts of the Earth
with excellent 3D models and large scale displays.were under glaciers. The poet, William Butler
There is simply so much to see in ConnemaraYeats, had such a love affair with the area that
that it needs at least week take it all in.he wrote many poems and prose about Ben
Jaw dropping beauty overcomes you as youBulben and the Sligo area, hence, the nickname of
explore the diverse vistas it has to offer.the county as The Yeats County. The poet is
Some of the highlights include Ballynahinch Castleburied in Drumcliff Cemetery, at the foot of this
which is steeped in a wealth of tradition and hasunique mountain which is a short drive from Sligo
been intertwined in the history of Connemara andTown.
its people for many centuries.Mountains of Mourne
The Twelve Pins is a stunning mountain range inThe beautiful Mountains of Mourne are situated in
south Connemara, reached via Barna and Spiddalthe north east of Ireland in County Down,
from Galway City. /Northern Ireland. The Mourne Mountains are still
Kylemore Abbey, one of the premier landmarksrelatively untouched by humans, with a number of
of Connemara, is now a private school set intowns and villages surrounding the range, but
heavenly and serene surroundings with inspiringvery little in the way of inhabitants populating the
design.granite slopes from which it is composed. Several
Glendaloughof its peaks are accessible for climbers, however,
Glendalough in south County Wicklow is awith the most popular being Slieve Donard, which
stunningly a beautiful place; it is the location of anat 848 metres, is the highest in the range and
ancient monastic settlement, founded by St. KevinUlster's highest peak. At the foot of this
in the sixth century, together with two clearmagnificent mountain stands the lovely coastal
water lakes beneath the sheer cliffs of a deeptown of Newcastle, famous for being the home
valley. Glendalough is only about an hour southof the Royal County Down Golf Club, one of the
from Dublin City centre. What strikes the visitorfinest links golf courses in the world.