BellaOnline Forums Travel and Culture Irish Culture Favorite Landscape of Ireland

What's your favorite landscape in Ireland? It seems like they have so many types, from the barren burren to the mountains in the northwest, to the greens of the fields and the small forested streams.

I love the rough ocean rocks of the southwest. That's where we spent the most time when we visited, I kept going back there when I had free time.

Lisa the West is my favorite, Clare in particular. I too love that burren rough look. Kerry is beautiful too with the shades of green however it is a tourist trap

hmm this is old but i say Mountains In the northwest Im from there <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Donegal, where they eat potatoes skins and all.<G>

I only traveled from about Kilarney through Blarney, Cork, Waterford, and Dublin. from that experience, I can say that I liked Cork the best. but the whole trip was amazing! I just love the country side and all of the lush green that is all over the place!

I can't say I have a favorite, since I loved being "there", wherever I was. But my dream is to live near the water, so right now I'd say the SW, because of Dingle and Kenmare areas. But, hey, that's the cool thing about a small island....you are near water pretty much anywhere, right?
I met an older (than me) woman a couple of years ago at a conference, who had relocated from the Midlands (?) of Ireland to the Boston area. I told her about my dream to move to Ireland after I retire, and she looked at me as if I'd lost my mind and said "WHY???". Then she went on to complain about the weather. Well, I'm from MN...I'm used to all kinds of weather. So I don't get why that seemed like such a crazy idea??? Are there other things I should be warned about?

I suppose the weather is a major concern, while I was there (only two weeks) I had rain about five of the days. And alot of the locals said that I was lucky, that it usually rained more. . . other than that, I don't think there is much more to be concerned about (then again, I don't live there <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> )

What a wonderful bunch of dreamers we are! As I read all your posts I see the ocean, the hillsides, the rocks, the barrens (what's a burren?). I'd better get my arthritic butt over there whilst I can still walk--a little. Ho, now I am getting the smell of the air from the sea...it's mixed with other unidentifiable odors, all pungent and exciting.

well, it's hard to pick one spot as a fav...the whole place is so absolutely beautiful!!!

i was particularly struck by the Cliffs of Moher. got some great pics...have to get a scanner so i can post them.

and yes, as much as i loved my visit, the weather IS an issue. i got really lucky when i was there - it rained almost every day but in the morning only. sky's were clear by noon so i really had a wonderful time (only one day where it rained all day & that was okay, too. what's a trip to ireland without the typical rainy/mysty mess?)

Do you mean not everyone eats potato skins? Incredible. Who knew?

You must've met a real cranky character! Yes, it rains, more in winter than summer, but without the rain the fields wouldn't be that famous 40 shades of green, your complexion wouldn't be famous, and there wouldn't be a rainbow nearly every day. I like rain.
The biggest problem over there now is finance. Since the "Celtic Tiger" struck, everything is very expensive. This puts a hurting on those who weren't prepared with University degrees and such, but I know my countrymen, and they'll get around it. They managed with a Third World economy for 400 years. They'll be able to manage affluence, but will the tourists?
Mary Ellen

She was a rather cranky old thing...I certainly took her with a grain of salt, as both times I visited the weather was spectacular. She gave me a good quote about the wind though...I'll have to find it and post it.
I'm wondering if dunesbury has booked a trip yet??
I think it's so cool that they passed a smoking ban there. I left a jacket behind the last time, because it was so "pubified" (i.e. reeked of smoke and beer) that I didn't want to pack it and haul it back home.

I have great difficulty choosing just one, or two, or three. Each place surpasses the next, from the Wicklow Mountains to the Mountains of Mourne, the Aran Islands off the west coast of Galway, (Inishmore, Inishmaan & Inishheer) and the Dingle Peninsula, to................just about everywhere is heven on earth. <img src="/images/graemlins/beamedup.gif" alt="" />

There is one landscape that is dear to my heart. Errigal mountain in Donegal. I have spent many holidays there at the foot of Errigal and loved to watch it when the mists close over or disappear. The hills of Donegal are Beautiful

Hello Aine!
From our family's home first you see Crockhoggy, then Erigal, then Muckish.
Yes, beautiful...

YAH is all that matters <img src="/images/graemlins/irish.gif" alt="" />

Hi Jeri:

It's so odd. I have been online here so many times and am just now seeing your e-mail and the other recent ones. Ah well. There had been some problems with Bella's services, but I thing the owner has them sorted now.

My John is from Dublin. The last time we were over (a couple of years ago), he was very disoriented at all the changes in
just the few years since we'd been there the time before. The other night we watched a film "Goldfish Memory," that showed "the new Dublin" very accurately, both socially and physically. It was gorgeous as far as the major landmarks are concerned, but didn't tell you you were looking at Trinity U. or Templebar or O'Connell St., but it did a great job of reorienting us to the city. It showed well what I remember most...the number of building cranes in the city skyline. The movie was nothing if not controversial, but at the same time, it showed Ireland in real time, neither sentimentally old-fashioned, nor "Up-the-IRA Boys!" It was rife with symbolism, which made it a very enjoyable film to discuss after as well.
If anyone is upset by sexual situations, it's not a film for them, but the situations were very, very well done. No porn, just the suggestion of what was happening. A lot(!) of fine humor. It makes me wish I had seen it before reviewing "Disco Pig" the other night, which was shades of "The Butcher Boy," but nowhere nearly as well done. Disturbing both, but the latter was a better film.
Ta,

Hi! Mary ellen, Nice to get a response, I don`t know crockhoggy!! If my health lets me get back over I will have to find out. I`m Scottish, my late husband was born in Dunlewey. Cheers!!

Same as most of you, my favorites are the SW & W, from West Cork up to Donegal. I've visited many places many times many years ago [is that too many? <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />] and you really can't go wrong along the West.

If I had to pick one spot, I think it would be west of Dingle. The ferocious seas on a rainy windy day are almost mystical. The whole Dingle peninsula west of Tralee is a special place I think.