Visit Ireland by car: ideas of road trip on the island of emerald
Whether you want a holiday with friends or family full of castles, greenery and fun adventures, or a weekend in the middle of nature to disconnect from your professional life, Ireland certainly has everything you need. The island of Émeraude can at the same time offer you a little peace and quiet in the countryside, as well as make you love the animation of its cities. And with roads in good condition and relatively easy circuits, you will not have trouble taking the road. To give you ideas of how to drive by car Ireland , here are 5 roads to explore Ireland:
1. From Dublin to Galway (208 km)
Galway Cathedral – Photo credit: Wikimedia - Thomas Gun
Fly to Dublin and take the wheel for a magical journey through Ireland, passing in front of some of the most romantic castles in the country and impressive fortresses, on their way to Galway . First stop, the Martello Tower in Dublin, which is the former home of Irish novelist and poet James Joyce. On your way to Trim, stop to see Ireland’s largest castle and most important Norman architecture complex in Europe, dating from the 13th century. Before arriving at your final destination, make a stop at the stands at the Château d’Athenry, a charming medieval town fortified.
2. From Kerry County to Cork (100 km)
Cloonee Loughs, Beara Peninsula – Photo: Wikimedia – Raúl Corral
Embrace a magical stone with your head down and you will get the gift of eloquence. This is what you can experience at Blarney Castle, located in the small town of Blarney in Cork County. Cross the County of Kerry, passing the mountains and along the rugged coast, until you reach this charming castle, the ancestral home of the McCarthy clan and the legendary Blarney stone, known as the "stone of eloquence". When you finally get to Cork , reward yourself after a hard day on the road with a pint of local beer made at the Franciscan Well brewery located in a Franciscan monastery.
3. From Dublin to Portlaoise (138 km)
Wicklow Mountains – Photo credit: Flickr – Claire Gribbin
When you're tired of partying at Temple Bar by sipping pine trees from the famous Guinness, evade the city and go to the very natural Wicklow mountains . Picnic at the foot of the Powerscourt waterfall, the highest in Ireland, in a picturesque place surrounded by oaks and pines. Walk through Wicklow National Mountain Park and stop for the night in the charming village of Laragh. Take the time to contemplate the tranquility of the Glendalough Valley, where you will find a 6th century monastic establishment founded by St. Kevin. Immerse yourself in the beautiful landscapes and you’ll feel like you’re thousands of miles from Dublin’s stronghold, yet a few tens of kilometers away.
4. From Donegal to Cork (2500 km)
Along the Wild Atlantic Way – Photo credit: Flickr – Greg Clarke
The longest coastal tourist road in the world, Wild Atlantic Way , an emblematic road that includes many points of interest and magnificent landscapes. You can rush and do the whole course in a few days, but why not take your time and spend a little more time on the road by making many stops? Visit in particular Hell’s Hole (the Trou de l’Enfer), a long, deep and narrow swell where the swell is swept, in Malin Head, Donegal County. Why not take the time to observe the Atlantic Ocean from the tip of the peninsula and the imposing Loop Head Lighthouse?
5. From Belfast to Londonderry (250 km)
Photo credit: Flickr – من ن
Spend a few days exploring the capital of Northern Ireland, the vibrant city of Belfast , before leaving on Causeway Coastal Road . Follow the giant tracks of the mythical Finn McCool, and see the famous Giant Boiler. This incredible stairway, allegedly built by McCool to defeat his Scottish rival Benandonner, includes 40,000 hexagonal basaltic columns, was actually formed by the surface cooling of the lava more than 60 million years ago. Another site that deserves a stopover is Carrick-a-Rede’s 20-metre long rope bridge to Carrick Island, where you will find the ruins of Dunluce’s medieval castle, waterfalls in Glenariff’s forest park and dazzling limestone cliffs.
6. All around Ireland as you like
A road trip in Ireland is a real adventure, and you are also free to take the route you like, for example, to make the tour of Ireland in one direction or another. But such a trip requires a minimum organization. The ideal is to rent a car in Dublin, after landing in the capital. It is by far the city where it is the easiest to arrive from France.
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