I learned about W.B. Yeats in an Irish Literature class in college and have been obsessed with…read morevisiting this place. This tower and visitor center are located out in the beautiful countryside on a quiet lane. The staff was welcoming, even setting up the Yeats video for us to watch before our tour. Walking around the spaces that he wrote many of his best poems was inspiring, especially since they have some of the original furniture around. The stairs to head up the tower are steep and slim, so that's good to keep in mind. They do allow you on the roof, which I would recommend because we got to take in the countryside that Yeats would often view.

Open May through September, I was too early to get into the building. This tower castle was owned…read moreby the family of W.B. Yates. The poet spent a great deal of time living here throughout his life.When the building suffered flood damage several years ago, a group of W.B.Yates enthusiasts came together to raise funds to restore the tower house. It reopened in the summer 2015. This location is also famous for fans of John Wayne and specifically fans of the movie 'The Quiet Man' which was filmed in many locations around Co. Galway. Although now overgrown, Maureen O'Hara took off her stockings in what was a field behind the building, and ran across the (very low at the time) river with John Wayne not far behind. Attached to the tower is a low, thatched roof building and across the way is a low walled garden with a bridge over a stream. The path from the bridge leads to a dead end which makes me believe it is a good fishing spot just there. There is a small high walled garden at the end of the thatched structure. It's a nice drive out, and the property is quite nice to visit. There is a large parking lot on the left, just before you reach to the tower and tour buses come this way. If you are a fan of Yates, Wayne, or like to fish, take the drive through lovely countryside and visit Thoor Ballylee.

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.

If you are a lover of James Joyce's writings, you might want to stop here and visit his wife and…read moremuse's childhood home. Nora Barnacle met Joyce in Dublin on June 10, 1903 and arranged to go on a date on 14th, but she blew him off saying she couldn't get away. Never a quitter, Joyce arranged for a follow up on June 16th and this time went to pick her up. For readers of Joyce's classic tome "Ulysses", June 16th will forever be known as Bloomsday. Nora's famous quote of Joyce lives on: "I mistook him for a Swedish sailor - His electric blue eyes, yachting cap and plimsolls. But when he spoke, well then, I knew him at once for just another Dublin jackeen chatting up a country girl." Though it should be noted, it took them 28 years to tie the knot and it annoyed Joyce that the media of the day made such a big deal of it. But they never got tired of celebrating June 16th! True love, eh?

Fantastic little museum! Very personal, detail oriented, with a generous guide. Highly recommend…read morevisiting for a quick stop to learn more about an interesting lady and her family!

The castle was technically closed when I visited (August 2026), but the outer gate was still open…read moreand visitors were able to walk up to the castle, enjoy the views of the swans in the water, and appreciate the castle from both up close and from afar. The parking lot is located down the street. If time allows, I would still recommend checking out this castle and capturing some nice photos.

Wow! What a pretty…read morecastle!! It's stunning! In person it is such an amazing site. You see the castle on the mountain, and it's really pretty. I didn't have time to go close up to it. I wish we did. But we got to see it still. It's just picturesque with the backdrop. The complete package you could say.

One of the things we noticed during our visit to Ireland was that almost every pub and hotel we…read morewalked into had a photo of American President John Kennedy and First Lady Jackie Kennedy somewhere. Here are some examples: The Brazen Head Pub https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/the-brazen-head-dublin?select=W0wqZDK-ZZ5NCCSuNfngdQ&userid=cVrM2BvOvPV0Vi_rC8kepQ McGann's Pub https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/mcganns-pub-doolin?select=bzAc4kUINNs6t-4Q-GJZ8g&userid=cVrM2BvOvPV0Vi_rC8kepQ Our Irish tour guide told us that growing up, there were two photos on a wall in his house - the Pope's and John Kennedy's. Our guide explained that to the Irish, JFK was a hero, for his success in America as an Irish American Catholic. In June of 1967, JFK visited Ireland to meet his relatives in Dunganstown, County Wexford. This was the town his great-grandfather Patrick Kennedy left behind when he emigrated to America in 1848. The next day, the great-grandson of that peasant farmer addressed the Irish Parliament in Dublin. Ireland lavished JFK with love and affection, and treated him as the returning prodigal son. When he was killed less than four months later, our tour guide told us that "every heart in Ireland was broken". The JFK memorial in Eyre Square features a stylized bust of Kennedy's profile on a stone base. In 1965, Eyre Square was officially renamed "Kennedy Memorial Park".

"To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all." -Oscar Wilde…read more Sitting on a bench in front of shop in Galway's city center, you'll find statues of Oscar Wilde and Eduard Vilde. They are posed to be looking at each other, perhaps caught in the middle of a philosophical conversation about current events though they never met in real life. Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) was an Irish poet, playwright, and novelist known for his satirical works including The Importance of Being Earnest and The Picture of Dorian Gray. He was also a controversial figure at the time, due to his homosexuality and imprisonment for gross indecency. Eduard Vilde (1856-1933) was an Estonian journalist, critic, and novelist regarded as one of the pioneers of Estonian literature. He authored realistic books about the social and political issues of his time, such as The War of Mahtra and The Milkman of Verona. He was also a diplomat and an advocate of Estonian independence. The statues were created by Estonian sculptor Tiiu Kirsipuu in 1999, as a tribute to the two writers and their cultural connections. The original sculpture is located in Tartu, Estonia, while a replica was gifted to Galway by Estonia when it joined the European Union in 2004. [Review 1941 of 2024 - 123 in Republic of Ireland - 22963 overall]

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.

I booked a tour via Viator for the Cliffs of Moher, and it included a stop at Corcomroe Abbey. This…read more13th century abbey is now in ruins, but still maintains some of its charm. My visit was on a particularly gloomy and rainy day in July, which added to the mystery of it all. If you have an active imagination, you can envision what it looked like in its glory days. As with most ruins, it is now mainly a skeleton of its former self. Airy corridors, separated by stone walled archways, and a real graveyard, complete with a bishop's tomb effigy. There isn't a lot to see here; you won't need more than 1/2 hour to explore and take photos. If you're traveling from Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher, it's along the way and worth the quick stop to appreciate the history and what once was. However, please be respectful, as this is a final resting place for many souls.

Made a small stop here while on a tour. A very nice place to explore. Nice little abbey with a…read moregraveyard. The place is basically a ruin. Seems to be in good repair and maintained, but would love to see it fully restored. Interesting piece of history. Good photo opportunities. Wouldn't come by here just for its own sake though.