Whether you arrive by air or by ferry as soon as you touch land you will feel the warm scented air wrap around you. There are palm trees and red fuchsia hedges. Hard to believe you are only a one-hour flight from London. It feels more like the Mediterranean.
The climate in the southwest is mild and balmy for most of the year, with the air heated by the Gulf Stream and when it does rain it comes down as an ‘Irish Mist’ -- soft and gentle and very good for the complexion.
Exploring Eire
The best way to explore Eire is by car. Roads are good and it is easy to get around.
The counties of Cork and Kerry form the jagged coastline of the southwest, their peninsulas sticking out into the Atlantic with nothing between them and America. Tiny fishing villages are scattered along the coast, many offering bed and breakfasts. The FIB (full Irish breakfast) is a sight to behold. I thought I’d never be able to finish it but you probably will.
Blarney Castle
This 600-year-old castle is on everyone’s list and kissing the Blarney Stone is said to give you the gift of eloquence. You will need a head for heights as the Stone is set in the parapet of the castle, 120 feet above the ground. Originally, visitors had to be held by the ankles and lowered head first over the battlements. Not for the faint-hearted! The Stone itself is still set in the wall below the battlements. To kiss it, one has to lean backwards (holding on to an iron railing) from the parapet walk.
Bantry Bay
Make your way to Bantry Bay which has one of the largest natural harbours in the world, stretching for 25 miles. In the immediate surroundings are woods with delightful walks and waterfalls and one of the attractions is Bantry House with its elegant gardens. The house is open to the public.and is one of the finest historic houses in Ireland. There are a number of award-winning restaurants in the Bantry town centre.
Garinish Island
About a 10-mile drive around the head of Bantry Bay is Glengariff where you can take a short boat trip to nearby Garinish Island, known for its outstanding Italian Gardens -- a semi-tropical paradise of giant ferns, 25-foot high fuchsia trees, and all kinds of exotic shrubs and flowers from around the world, planted at the turn of the century.
Killarney
It's a bit touristy but the famous lakes are just outside the town. There are three of them, surrounded by Killarney National Park. You can spend a whole day boating here.
Dingle Peninsula
After the bustle of Killarney it is bliss to walk on the long, sandy beaches of the Dingle Peninsula. This wild, beautiful place has more historic sites than any other part of Ireland. Dingle itself is the most westerly town in Europe, with steep picturesque streets and lots of pubs with live music on offer.
Getting There
The only way to get to Ireland is by flight or ferry. The flight from London takes one hour.
Cathy Smith - I have Miss McGinn to thank for my becoming a writer. I was in her class for only two years from age nine to eleven. In what we called ...
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