Beleek Woods are situated just off the Killala Road on the banks of the River Moy. It was part of…read morethe estate of Beleek Castle (which is now a hotel). The woodland was quite overgrown but extensive work is being done to bring Beleek back to its former glory. There are many trails for walking and cycling. Many locals use it for sports training or walking their dogs. There are some lovely view of the River Moy and the pretty houses on the other side of the river. there is an abundance of wildlife in Beleek.There are red squirels in the woods. I heard them but did not see them. However I did spot some bluetits bringing food back to their young in one of the nesting boxes in the trees. Also in the woods is a Lime Kiln and an amazing memorial to one of the owners of the castle who is buried there with his horses! A really nice place to spend some time if the day is fine.Pack a picnic :-)

Cafe was amazing! Black Pudding with egg sandwich was delicious. All the elements went so well…read moretogether. Other people I dined with has the toastie and the aubergine. Rave reviews for all!

Ate at cafe Quiche of the day 12e. Sweet potato ,…read morecaramelized onion, roast pepper , and cream sauce. Vegtable soup 5.50e. Carrot, sweet potato and thyme All of the food was very tasty. And beautifully presented. Evan the side salad was made up of 5 different types of veggie salads. Toured the garden. Very nice walk

Located about 15 miles east of Galway off the M6, the Athenry Castle dates back to the 13th…read morecentury. Stone walls, a keep and the restored hall are impressive and a fabulous opportunity to look back into medieval life. Check the doorways and arches and battlements and enjoy the castle's impressive artistry. The structure stands at a ford on the Clareen River. After the castle, walk the grounds. Impeccably maintained and there is free parking. Lots of opportunity for photo ops. The Priory down the street is also impressive. If you stop and listen carefully, maybe you can hear the voices of those who were here before? [Review 1966 of 2024 - 147 in Republic of Ireland - 22988 overall]

I could not get enough of Athenry Castle. I am from Chicago, where we have 150ish years of history…read more Ireland has thousands of years of history. Athenry Castle brought history classes to life for me. When I talked with locals, they said the castle has always been there for them so they take it for granted. I walked the grounds on more than one occasion and simply could not get enough of this seemingly ancient building with so much history and energy surrounding it. Athenry Castle is worth a stop, not just for the castle, but the town arch and fences which were all part of the original layout. You can also walk the grounds, check out the cemetery and let the kids burn off any energy in the playlot that is right there.

True 5 star visit…read more Nestled in the heart of Connemara, on the Wild Atlantic Way, Kylemore Abbey is a haven of history, beauty and serenity. Home to a Benedictine order of Nuns for the past 100 years, Kylemore Abbey welcomes visitors from all over the world each year to embrace the magic of the magnificent 1,000-acre estate.

Overall this is a beautiful place, however we attended a lecture within the Abbey and were totally…read moredisgusted with the older gentleman who gave the lecture. Despite a request to "slow down" his speech so we could understand him, he ignored the request and in essence gave a 20 minute lecture in 10 minutes. At least 5 people out of 12 lingered afterwards and complained to each other about his arrogance.

It was a fine summer day and we'd driven from Bangor Erris through the most stunning scenery…read moreimaginable on some of the worst narrow roads imaginable. We crossed the Michael Davitt bridge onto Achill island and drove past a mobile Ulster bank van. We had Keel as our destination as we negotiated the narrow roads and meandering sheep who were everywhere and who see tourists as an inconvenience. The entire experience was a tad spooky as despite being a fine day in early summer the entire island was shrouded in mist the whole time we were there and we were there about three hours. We chose Keel as my wife used to holiday here as a child. Her family arrived with a tent to a caravan park and pitched up 15 yards from the wild Atlantic. Travelling west from here the next land is the USA. We got to Keel and the caravan park and we walked along the beach with the mighty blue/green Atlantic Ocean roaring at us as my wife relived fond memories of a stark, haunting very beautiful wilderness. Hard to believe that this stark, rugged island has been continuously inhabited from 4,000 years BC. Wow now that's impressive.