We stopped at the Cliffs of Moher on our adventurous drive from Killarney to Galway. You have to…read morepark in the lot across the street. There is a per person fee at the parking lot. It's a short walk to the cliffs. We did not go inside the shops or visitor center, based on online advise. There are very safe walkways in both directions where you can see the cliffs. The day we were there was grey and drizzly. As soon as we parked, the rain stopped and the clouds lessoned. I'm very grateful for that. That wind though, there were moments, I was almost afraid of the wind. I hadn't walked in wind that intense since a tornado when I was 5 years old. The views were breathtaking. The overall experience was exciting.

A wonderful experience on a recent trip to Ireland The cliffs are legendary for good reason. Big…read moreprops to the parks system for it's upkep and keeping this spot pristine for future generations. The stroll along the length of the cliffs is highly reccomended.

By far our favorite Neolithic structure seen during our drive through Ireland…read more The path from parking lot was gravel but to get close we had to walk over some weathered and rutted limestone. Tread carefully. The enigmatic portal has been standing for many thousands of years. Maybe a marker, a tomb or something else. A must see for those driving through the Burren.

Some 22 years, I first encountered Poulnabrone Dolmen, prior to the Cliff of Moher. I was very…read moreeager to revisit. The Poulnabrone Dolmen in the Burren, County Clare, is surely one of the most photogenic ancient sites in Ireland, with its thin limestone slabs lying elegantly atop one another. It's also the OLDEST dated megalithic monument on the island, dating back 5,800 years! But the accolades don't stop there. After the Cliffs of Moher, it's the second most visited site in the Burren.

A must see full of great stores, pubs, and street musicians. Take the time to browse around, and…read morecheck out the vintage stores if that's your thing - we found interesting items!

Completely touristy - but fun for a few hours…read more If you're in Galway a stroll in the Latin Quarter is surely on your list. And it was on ours too. It's a fun little area, very easy to navigate with countless bars, pubs and restaurants. The nicest thing about it are the colourful buildings. A feast for the eye. At around 10-12 in the morning you still have a good chance to enjoy the buildings and take good pics, since there's not much going on yet. Also a good time to check out the shops. Later in the afternoon the streets get really packed. Sometimes it's a real traffic-jam and finding a good table in a pub with music or a table outside is nearly impossible. Besides the tourists there are street artists and musicians (of different quality) lining up on the street. Most pubs and restaurants cater to tourists with mostly reasonable prices, but average food-quality. But it's still a fun place and we also dined here, even we knew the meal wouldn't be perfect. But it's a perfect place to sit at an outside table and watch the world go by.

Lots of ducking if you are over 5'0 tall, long walk down a tunnel, then many steps to the bottom,…read morethen you get to see the stalactite and it is all worth it, they give you a hard hard, not because they are nice (which they are) but because you will bump your head. Some of the passages are slightly narrow and until you get to the main cave they are very short. So walk low, make sure to wear your hard hat and you will be awed and amazed, especially when you see the tiny hole the original discoverers had to crawl though, make sure to walk around the path before or after your cave visit to see the animal the fairy village the original entrance and some beautiful scenery. Not a huge cavern but something to see when in the area. Takes about an hour down and back up, well worth the price of admission for a natural wonder,

We really enjoyed this stop. We were traveling with our 4 year old and a bit apprehensive on…read morewhether it would be manageable. Our tour guide was wonderful and really tailored his talk to things she would find interesting. There are 120 stairs to climb down (and back up!) but if a 4 year old can do it, so can you! We also had some tea and snacks at their cozy cafe. Free WIFI at the cafe. Tip: make sure you are dressed appropriately as you will get a bit muddy. There was also a nature trail to walk and lots of animals to look at.

Officially renamed in 1965 to John F. Kennedy Memorial Park, Eyre Square is a roughly rectangular…read morepark at the center of Galway. The naming is a tribute to his visit to Galway in June 1963 when he gave a speech here, stating "I must say that though other days may not be so bright, as we look toward the future, that the brightest days will continue to be those we spent with you here in Ireland." https://youtu.be/PqPlxXkcfHo Today, it is a bright and green space. Perfect for a picnic or just sitting on a blanket and watching the double decker buses as they rotate around the square. On the weekend, you can expect market vendor stalls to be set up with trinkets, coffee, pastries and much more. You'll find the sculpture of Pádraic Ó Conaire that was unveiled in 1935. It's a replica because some people suck. [Review 1944 of 2024 - 126 in Republic of Ireland - 22966 overall]

Cozy central square next to the train station, hotels, shopping and The Latin Quarter. Everything…read morerevolves around this central meeting point.

I loved my time visiting the Clifden Castle. We walked a long winding dirt path to get to it and it…read morewas a beautiful and peaceful journey. The castle is in complete ruins. It was built around 1818 and after the original owner died the estate changed hands many times. Although the life of this castle turned into a sad and greedy story there is no argument about its beauty. Even in a great state of decay it is magnificent. How anyone could have pillaged or stripped this property of its essentials is beyond my understanding. The doors, windows, flooring and roof are gone. The stables appear to have received the same treatment and stands in equal ruins. The land is rolling and tranquil. I could have stayed on the property for hours watching the sheep, horses and cows roam all around me. It's a shame that this castle is beyond restoring. If you want to visit I would say the sooner the better.

I read about this derelict castle on the tourist brochures, and thought it looked like an ideal…read moreplace to take the kids. It was a bit of a pain to find. The tourist guides tell you to take the Sky Road out of Clifden until you see an Arch on the left, and to walk from there. What causes the confusion is the sign someone has erected next to the arch to say it's a private entrance. If you ignore the sign and walk through the arch, it's a fair walk down a very rough, very narrow road to the castle. We had a buggy, and it was difficult in places to manage with the rough stone road surface. What was more difficult was trying to make room for a rather ignorant jeep driver that passed us twice forcing us up towards the barbed wire fence with a buggy and two young kids. He seemed to be a resident on that road that wasn't too happy to have tourists around. Perhaps the sign was erected by him! I don't recommend visiting the castle if have a buggy. Also, boots would be a good idea. The last stretch of road to the caste was a mixture of mud and cow pats! Not ideal for the tourist with the white shoes and trousers we met while there :-) The castle itself is quite impressive. It looks like what most kids expect a castle to look like. All entrance doors and lower floor (basement?) entrances have been blocked. However there are some windows at ground level on the outside, and a drop of about 8ft on the inside. So be careful if you have young kids. Well worth the walk to see a fairly well preserved castle, and nice views down towards the bay and beaches.

Ferry Ride I…read morevisited the largest of the islands 23 years ago Worth the ferry ride for lunch Must visit? Perhaps, maybe,.... I have experienced a number of ferry rides

Early in the 1970s, I saw an article in National Geographic about this set of 3 islands in Galway…read moreBay. "Ive got to go there someday" I swore. In less than 5 years in was on a small plane from Galway city to Inishmore, the largest of the islands. All of Ireland is beautiful, but Inishmore was absolutely stunning. We passed on the horse and buggy ride and made our way on foot to the north side. Thousands of miles of stone walls line the roads and fields. We stopped at the stone hut that was used in the filming of "Man of Aran." At this point, we realized that we had to get back to the plane, so we managed to use a crank phone to put in a request to the island's one cabbie. We had enough time to take one more walk to the cliffs on the west side of the island. In 2008, we managed to go back and see Inisheer, the smallest and most southerly of the chain. At dinner, we had the only truly great steak I'd eaten in Ireland (usually better to stick to the lamb). I'd hoped to get a sunset shot, and the one I got showed all three islands at once. High on my bucket list is visiting the third island someday.

I have to admit, I really don't know much about this place. We just happened to walk up on it while…read morewalking around in the city. That said, I was impressed by the signage that tells you what is going on, and the ability to walk through it when it is open. Definitely worth a stop if you are one of those tourists who likes to check out every nook and cranny.

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.

I fell in love with Cong the moment we arrived. Yes I am one of those who loves the quiet man but…read moreit was more than that. I could have and did spend hours just walking in the forest there, it was beautiful and peaceful.

Probably my favourite place in Ireland. The Abbey itself is interesting enough, with some really…read moreold graves and a rich history. There's no information boards so read up before you go. The best part though is the little fishing hut over the river (walk through the abbey, across the grassy square and follow the path to the river). The monks used to sit here and fish through a hole in the floor. With the water bubbling past and drowning out the other noises it's a lovely, peaceful spot. Often you can have it to yourself as you're slightly off the tourist route and any tourists who do make it to Cong get caught up in the 'Quiet Man' hype. See if you can arrange to go on a good day - with the sun streaming down through the trees this is the best place in Ireland.