Magnificent scenery has attracted visitors to this region since Victorian times. Rocky headlands jut out into the Atlantic and colorful fishing villages nestle in the shelter of the bays. County Kerry offers dramatic landscapes and a wealth of prehistoric and early Christian sites, whereas County Cork's gentle charm has enticed many a casual visitor into becoming a permanent resident.
Kildare - Wicklow - Carlow - Kilkenny - Waterford - Wexford
Blessed with the warmest climate in Ireland, the Southeast has always presented an attractive prospect for settlers. Landscapes of gently rolling hills have been tamed by centuries of cultivation, with lush farmland, imposing medieval castles and great houses enhancing the regionŐs atmosphere of prosperity.
Clare - Limerick - Tipperary
In the tree counties that flank the lower reaches of the Shannon, Ireland's longest river, the scenery ranges from the rolling farmland of Tipperary to the eerie limestone plateau of the Burren. The Shannon's bustling riverside resorts draw many visitors, and there are medieval strongholds and atmospheric towns of great historic interest. The region also boast a vibrant music scene.
Mayo - Galway - Roscommon
This is the heart of Connaught, Ireland's historic western province. The West lives up to its image as a traditional, rural, sparsely populated land, with windswept mountains and countryside speckled with low stone walls and peat bogs. Yet it also encompasses Galway, a fast-growing university town whose youthful population brings life to the medieval streets and snug pubs.
Donegal - Sligo - Leitrim
Towering cliffs, deserted golden beaches and rocky headlands abound along the rugged coast of Donegal, which incorporates some of Ireland's wildest scenery. To the south, Sligo is steeped in prehistory and Celtic myth, with its legacy of ancient monuments and natural beauty enriched by associations with the poet, WB Yeats. By contrast, Leitrim is a quiet county of unruffled lakes and waterways.
Cavan - Monaghan - Louth - Longford - Westmeath - Meath - Offaly - Laois
The Cradle of Irish civilization and the Celts' spiritual home, the Midlands encompass some of Ireland's most sacred and symbolic sites. Much of the region is ignored, but the ragged landscapes of lush pastures, lakes and bogland reveal ancient Celtic crosses, gracious Norman abbeys and Gothic Revival castles.
Londonderry - Antrim - Tyrone - Fermanagh - Armagh - Down
Northern Ireland has sights from every era of Ireland's history as well as magnificently varied coastal and Lakeland scenery. In the past, it has received fewer visitors than the Republic as a result of the "Troubles." Following the cease-fire of 1994, there seems every chance that this area will at last attract the attention it deserves.
