Ireland suggestions?

[Infinite_Day]

We have booked our annual vacation and are headed to Ireland for two weeks this year. We'll be doing a circuit around the country including Northern Ireland. We're not leaving until the beginning of June but I like to start getting suggestions for places to visit/photograph well in advance so I can start making lists and doing research. So - does anybody have any suggestions about out-of-the-way places to go for good photography and other places to see? All suggestions are welcome and I apologize if I put this up in the wrong section. We're staying in Dublin, Belfast, somewhere around Sligo (we're still trying to decide on the hotel in this area) and Limerick and will have a rental car. Thanks in advance for any help!

 

[Tee]

I spent 4 days in Waterford with work this past summer. The train ride to Kilkenny Castle was worth it. It has a nice sleepy town feel to it, nice pubs and good food. Have fun!

 

[gsgary]

For me Northern Ireland is much nicer and friendlier

 

[Tee]

One more tip not photography related: you can buy a wicked cheap throw away phone and purchase global minutes while you're over there. I bought a $10 phone and 400 global minutes for $40 total and used it for my 5 country work trip. It came in handy for quick calls to friends and family to keep up since internet access is costly and not as readily available for free as in the U.S.

 

[PhotoTish]

Ring of Kerry Tourism - Co Kerry Ireland :thumbup:

 

[rgribbons]

For the route you are taking I would suggest the coast north of Belfast; port rush, giants causeway.For Dublin make the most of the city. For Sligo head for strand hill, mullaghmore, Downey rock woods. On your way to limerick visit Connemara in Galway and the west coast of Clare. I am from Galway so feel free to ask further.

 

[Infinite_Day]

I appreciate all the suggestions and will look into them all. As far as the cell phone - we added international calling onto ours last year in Scotland and it seemed to work OK aside from forgetting our charger cable - d'oh! Our bill was high even though we made few calls but we are still kicking around the idea of getting a throw-away phone when we get there. It might make calls a bit easier. I think all the hotels we booked have free wi-fi access. Hoping to get a decent wide angle before we go or maybe an 80-200. It's going to be a long wait. Any other suggestions are greatly appreciated!

 

[Nod]

Do NOT miss Powerscourt Estate. The gardens are beautiful. And Glendalough is a 6th century village that is well worth seeing. The Rock of Cashel is very photogenic. I wouldn't waste my time at Blarney Castle and the climb up to the Blarney stone is a waste of time. I think the Dingle peninsula is a better tour than the Ring of Kerry. Ireland is beautiful and the whole country is interesting.