If you’ve never traveled west Ireland, or you have but it’s been too long, be prepared to fall in love again with Ireland. The best thing about Ireland is its accessibility to England. From London, you can fly to into the west of Ireland in a short time and for a great value price. This means it’s quite easy to visit on weekends and cheap enough for extended visits.
Whatever you do, make sure you dedicate a portion of your visit to the west coast to see its own beauty.
1. Cliffs of Moher
It soon becomes clear why these cliffs are the nation’s most highly visited natural attraction. The stunning and rugged coastline is best experienced with the gloomy sky that perfectly sets off the emerald green sea below. Whether you stop by for a while or decide to take one of the walks to see more coastlines, these cliffs must be seen. Get here with Irish Airports, such as https://irelandwestairport.com/
2. Happy dancing in Galway
From the moment you drive to Galway you won’t be able to pull ‘Galway Girl’ from your mind – whether it’s the original or the latest hit from Ed Sheeran. The winding, cobbled streets are very pleasant during the day, but for the top spots for getting your groove on, visit O’Connors in the Salthill area – with its dazzling interior decor and live music. It was also the place where Sheeran’s music video for the ‘Galway Girl’ was filmed.
3. Drive the Wild Atlantic Way
The best way to see the west coast is to drive along the Wild Atlantic Way. This will take you from the tip of Malin Head whipped by the wind to the stunning port city of Kinsale in Co. Cork. If you lack time, start in Limerick and follow the Moher Cliff, to Galway and to Westport before heading back to Dublin. If you have the time, try to include everything there is to see such as private, secluded beaches and all the charming Irish towns and villages along the way.
4. Have a drink in Limerick
Not known for being a tourist spot, Limerick is coming into its own and is certainly worth a visit. A few years ago, it was the first Cultural City in Ireland and now offers a number of street and art food festivals along with luxury and electric nightlife.
5. Visit some amazing castles
Following the Wild Atlantic Way, you will find Dunguaire Castle – which has been standing on its site since the 7th century. Another castle that will amaze you is Ashford Castle in Co. Mayo – which has welcomed a number of celebrity visitor in recently– as well as Ballynahinch Castle in Galway County, that is now a four-star hotel.
6. Escape to the Connemara Hills
Do you want to see the ‘the real beauty of Ireland’? According to Galway Tourism, these rocky, rugged and windswept landscapes highlight the majesty of the towering mountains that protect the Loughs below.
7. Take a trip to the Aran Islands
The Aran Islands are a group of three islands located at the mouth of Galway Bay. Residents, like many on the west coast, mainly speak Irish but are also fluent in English. The Dun Aonghasa is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located on the edge of a breath-taking 300-foot cliff face where you will also discover a series of Celtic church buildings. You can get to the islands via ferry from Rossaveal. You can also get a ferry from Doolin which is close to the Cliffs of Moher in Co. Clare.
