Galway girl

So now we visit another famous songs landmark, the fields of Athenry, Galway. A beautiful area, surrounded by … you guessed it, fields! This is truly a breathtaking area of the Country, quiet, peaceful yet as you can imagine gets a lot of visitors. Well worth the trip as it will be enroute to Galway city itself and won’t take you off the beaten track too much. Athenry castle is a must see, take a trip into the little down then for a good Irish cooked meal or a bowl of hot soup with homemade soda bread. There are quite a few little restaurants here and most of the bars offer good honest pub grub.
If you get a chance while in Galway, either get the plane or ferry over to the Arran Islands and spend a night there. The locals are friendly, the landscape untouched and as the other song goes “ you’ve never seen anything like a Galway girl” so lads enjoy the scenery!

Cliffs of Moher

Today’s a day for County Clare, the home of the Cliffs of Moher. Wow is all I can say…. This place takes your breath away. On a clear day you can see the Arran Islands from here in Galway bay as well as the hills of Connemara. 
But Clare has so much to offer besides this, there’s the Knappogue Castle & Gardens, The Ailwee caves, The Burren centre, Caherconnell Stone fort, Biddy Early’s Brewery and the infamous Bunratty Castle and Folk Park.
I’d advise taking your time in Clare, there really is a lot to see and do here. If you’re taking a trip to Bunrattty Castle, before you go home, go to “Dirty Nellys” pub across the road. This place is notorious for its lively trad sessions.

Tipperary- Most luscious green counties

As the song goes ‘It’s a long way to Tipperary’ but many a heart lies there. By far one of the most luscious green counties in the Country. If you’re an outdoor person then this is the place for you. I’ve spent a lot of time here in the past, just walking… yep, I know it doesn’t sound like the most adventurous of pursuits but it really is here. The river ‘suir’ and ‘Knockmealdown Mountains’ offer a walkers paradise and some challenging mountain treks. 
Cashel is probably one most visited towns in Tipperary and you’ll see why when you get there. The town is built around the central focal point which is the ‘Mount of Cashel’ on which is situated the most beautiful Castle…. Please make this one of your stop off points and you won’t be dissappoined. 
Thurles, another busy town in the affectionately named “Tipp” is the home of Irelands greatest sports the G.A.A., incorporating ‘hurling’ and Gaelic football’ if you get a chance to fit a game in then the atmosphere in Semple Stadium will blow you away.

Tough roads to Limerick

The next County on my Journey is Limerick, tough roads here but an enjoyable drive all the same. Limerick has a bit of a reputation in Ireland as being a rough City but this is changing thankfully, as it’s a City that has so much to offer.
When you’re here make sure you check out the Foynes Flying boat museum, Foynes is a little town that used to be the fulcrum point for air traffic between Europe and the United States during the 1930’s and 1940’s. So if you’re tracing family routes then this is a great place to start. 
My favourite place in Limerick though has go to be the “lough Gur Neolithic Settlement and stone age centre”. A wealth of old artefacts and historical information. 
Make sure you visit Limerick City also and soak up what is a great atmosphere. Limerick offers a wealth of Bars and restaurants and is a lively and vibrant town, especially during the summer months.

Kerry

To make things easier on yourself I’d recommend going to Kerry next, it’s the County next to Cork and will be an enjoyable 2 hour trip. If you get a chance to rent a car then I would recommend it. The scenery in this part of the Country is amazing. There are trains and buses you can take as well, but it’s always great to be able to stop along the way and take in the mountain scenery and monasteries that you’ll pass on the way.
The main town in County Kerry is Killarney, where you will find a wealth of traditional Irish bars and restaurants. However to get here, you will first have to pass through Tralee, home of the famous ‘Rose of Tralee festival’, normally in the 3rd week of August. So if you can plan your trip t coincide then it will definitely be something to remember. I was at it last year, and I swear I needed a week to recover from it but it was absolutely fantastic and well worth the trip.
When you’re moving on from Killarney, take a trip out to Dingle where you’ll meet the resident Dolphin – “Fungi” he’s probably more like a pet to the locals now he’s been there so long and if you have kids with you they’ll love it!

Start your journey in Cork

So I reckon the best place to start is Cork, situated on the South coast of Ireland and easily accessible through Cork International Airport and by Ferry port. Also my home County, so there’s a lot to tell. 
No doubt one of Corks main attractions is the infamous ‘Blarney Stone’ which is said to give you ‘the gift of the gab’ once you have journeyed up to the roof of the castle and kissed it. The queues here can be huge during peak season, so make sure you turn up early. 
Fota Wildlife park is also a must see attraction when you’re in this area of the Country, the only wildlife park in Ireland. It differs massively from any type of zoo as the animals are left to ramble freely around the park. 
About a 10-minute drive from Fota is the beautiful harbour town of Cobh (pronounced Cove), the last port of call for the HMS Titanic and host to the most beautiful Cathedral in the Country – bar none. 
My advice start your Journey in Cork, and end it in Cork…. There’s so much to see you’ll need to come back.