Ireland's picture-perfect towns and villages

[jw5]

Derrynane, County Kerry​

Derrynane is what's known as a townland, a small geographical division of land the system of which is Gaelic in origin. Located on the Iveragh peninsula, Derrynane is not much more than a cluster of cottages surrounded by the ruins of an ancient abbey and a couple of old forts. A dolmen standing nearby is believed to date back to 3000 BCE.

 

[jw5]

Portmagee, County Kerry​

Also located on the Iveragh peninsula is Portmagee, named for Captain Theobald Magee, a notorious 18th-century smuggler. During the summer, visitors to Derrynane can take boat trips to the Skellig Islands, a pair of rocky islets one of which cradles a 6th-century monastic settlement, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 

[jw5]

Sneem, County Kerry​

The charming village of Sneem is considered "the knot" in the Ring of Kerry—a 179-km-long (111 mi) circular tourist route in County Kerry that serves as a scenic bracelet enclosing a beautifully wild and stark landscape.

 

[jw5]

Leighlinbridge, County Carlow​

The ruins of the landmark Black Castle, one of Ireland's earliest Norman strongholds, loom over the Barrow river and serve as a reminder of Leighlinbridge's past as a military center for all of Leinster province.

 

[jw5]

Dunmore East, County Waterford​

Tourism in Dunmore East is ocean-centric, an industry supported by excellent boating and sailing facilities. The village is also famed for a collection of fine, sandy beaches.

 

[jw5]

Killaloe, County Clare Killaloe​

Killaloe on the Shannon river is distinguished by the Cathedral Church of St Flannan. Inside is a spectacular Romanesque doorway and the Killaloe stone, etched with an ancient runic inscription.

 

[jw5]

Aughrim, County Wicklow​

Tucked into a scenic valley in the east of Ireland where the Ow and Derry rivers meet to form the Aughrim river is Aughrim itself, a small town dotted with a number of unusual granite terraced houses and an old blacksmith's forge. Aughrim was originally built from granite, and this material is still widely used.

 

[jw5]

Doolin, County Clarea​

The coastal village of Doolin is marked by numerous archaeological sites, many dating to the Iron Age and earlier. Historical landmarks such as Doonagore Castle, a round 16th-century tower house overlooking Doolin Point, lends additional character to this popular tourist destination.

 

[jw5]

Kilkenny, County Kilkenny​

A city in fact rather than a town, Kilkenny nonetheless exudes a picturesque charm all of its own, built as it is on both banks of the Nore river and graced with Kilkenny Castle, the signature symbol of this historic medieval destination.

 

[jw5]

Kinvara, County Galway​

Ireland is peppered with dozens of old castles and forts, and at Kinvara it's Dunguaire Castle that takes the honors. It stands as a 16th-century tower house on the southeastern shore of Galway Bay, just a short drive from the village and well worth a diversion to explore.

 

[jw5]

Kenmare, County Kerry​

The bright hues of Kenmare town center lend it a sunny disposition, even in the middle of winter. Kenmare lies on two noted Irish tourist routes, the aforementioned Ring of Kerry and the Ring of Beara.

 

[jw5]

Dunfanaghy, County Donegal​

This small market town lies on Donegal's north west coast, specifically the west side of Sheephaven Bay. A long sandy beach known as Killahoey Strand serves as an alluring summertime attraction, but Dunfanaghy's 19th-century veneer makes it a year-round proposition.

 

[jw5]

Allihies, County Cork​

Revenue generated from copper mining built Allihies, a village located at the western tip of the Beara Peninsula. The Allihies Copper Mine Museum commemorates the area's mining heritage, while the engine house of the Mountain Mine (center of photograph) stands as a permanent reminder of a once-thriving industry.

 

[jw5]

Cobh, County Cork​

The lofty spire of St Colman's Cathedral dominates the Cobh skyline, the second-tallest in Ireland, behind St John's Cathedral in Limerick. Cobh, incidentally, is where Annie Moore and her brothers departed from, bound for America. She was the first immigrant to the United States to pass through federal immigrant inspection at the Ellis Island station in New York Harbor.

 

[jw5]

Clifden, County Galway​

The coastal town of Clifden actually resembles a rural destination, enclosed as it by verdant countryside. In fact, Clifden is the preferred base from which to explore Connemara National Park.

 

[jw5]

Strandhill, County Sligo​

Strandhill is known as having some of the best surfing in Ireland. Its vast beach break is capable of holding huge waves in the right conditions, which makes it perfect for hanging ten, but dangerous to swim in.

 

[jw5]

Killarney, County Kerry​

Stone-clad Killarney is a previous Best Kept Town award winner, and has also been named Ireland's tidiest town. Killarney's tourism history dates back to the mid-18th century, when it benefited greatly from the coming of the railway. Today more than one million tourists visit the destination every year.

 

[jw5]

Carlingford, County Louth​

Carlingford sits on the Cooley Peninsula, between the waters of Carlingford Lough and the mountain of Slieve Foye. The coastal town is recognized for its medieval layout, noticeable by the narrow lanes and small streets threading through it center.