"Eire - Ireland +++ A lovestory..." Ireland by sabsi

Ireland Travel Guide: 18,988 reviews and 33,398 photos

Ireland boasts to have 40 shades of green ... ... in fact there are 41! I read this in an Aer Lingus ad ages ago and wanted to find out whether it is true.

So I went here first in 1990 on an Interrail trip (find out on this page why Interrail definitely isn't an option in Ireland ;). I was 18 years old, it was my first "big" holiday abroad without parents - and what a holiday it was! We were on a very small budget (back then it was still possible to travel Ireland with little money!) and many disasters and adventures turned our trip into memories we will never forget!

And I found out that it might be true! I have only been to Dublin, Galway and Dingle on this trip and I haven't counted the shades of green but I can tell you there's many of them ... everywhere!

I fell in love with this island but it took me 7 years to return here. I spent a week in Dublin in 1997 to visit friends and in winter 1999/2000 I came back for ten days for the "millennium".

On these trips I saw the cities (e.g. Cork and Belfast) but still I hadn't seen all the shades of green. I wanted to see the most beautiful parts - the west coast!

In 2001 I finally made it here: On a two week road trip along the west coast with my Irish boyfriend I saw all the spectacular coast lines, islands and scenic routes I have been dreaming of - the best holiday I have ever spent, it was absolutely wonderful!

During this holiday I found new shades of green I had not seen before!

I can't wait to go again and to see more!

Let's see what else I can tell you about my travels to the Emerald Isle...

Enjoy
Sabsi

Poulnabrone Portal Dolmen, Co. Clare

Sometimes when I leave my flat in the morning of a sunny summer day after a rainy night it feels like a morning in Ireland. It's fresh and cool and green. These are the days when I'd like to drive to the airport instead of driving to work...

I miss Ireland - the people, the wild landscapes, the sea, the atmosphere, the smells, the little villages, the beer - the 'craic' (as they call it)!

For me Ireland still is the best place for a unforgettable holiday. If you are thinking about going .... Just go!

Don't believe the people who claim it rains all the time. It does rain a lot but Irish rain is different from other rain. It rains for a few minutes and the sun is out the next second. There's not many days with neverending rain luckily. And after all it's the rain which makes Ireland so green so it can't be that bad.

Don't believe the people who say Ireland has changed and lost its unspoilt character. OK it has changed, the 'Celtic Tiger' economical boom of recent years and tourism turned it into a wealthier, more modern country than it used to be. But if you rent a car and drive along the countryside you won't find much evidence of this. It is still quiet here and it still feels as if somebody has stopped the time ages ago.

My Ireland Pages

Puffin on Skellig Michael, Co. Kerry

This is just a general overview - I will have more detailed information on my other Ireland pages!

There is my Co. Mayo page with pics and information about Clew Bay and Croagh Patrick - including one travelogue about the adventure of climbing Ireland's holy mountain.

If you are looking for information about Galway, Connemara or the Aran Islands you will find them on my Co. Galway page as well as on my Galway town and Inishmore page.

For pics and stories from the Burren, the Cliffs of Moher and Co. Clare go to my Co. Clare page.

My favourite page is my Co. Kerry page with pictures and stories from The Skelligs, Rind of Kerry and Dingle peninsula. I have moved travelogues about Dingle Peninsula from there to my Dingle page.

Of course there is also a big Dublin page with lots of stuff there.

And I have some smaller pages about Cork, Cobh, Wicklow, Shannon, Ballyvaughan, Doolin, Dalkey, Howth, Murrisk, Portmagee and a page about my favourite place in Ireland and one of the best days of my life, Great Skelligs

Anyway, I hope you will find what you are looking for.

Enjoy!

Pros and Cons

Pros:Friendly people, beautiful scenery, hills, fields, sea, beaches...
Cons:I can't think of ANYTHING here!
In a nutshell:My favourite place on earth!

Last visit to Ireland: Jul 2001
Intro Updated Jul 31, 2003
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Reviews (58)

Strange speed limits Warnings Or Dangers (3)

Ireland changed speed limits from miles per hour to kilometres per hour recently (2005). Now they made a very funny... more travel advice

Walk along the coast road from Dalkey to... Things to Do (18)

Lovely scenery, gorgeous villas... this is Dublin's Hollywood ;) A lot of celebrities live here and it's a very nice... more travel advice

Shopping Paradise Shopping (1)

If you are into shopping Dublin is the place for you. There are hundreds of good shops, nice shopping malls and shopping... more travel advice

Go to a football match Sports & Outdoors (2)

We went to a match in Dublin once, Bohemians were playing UCD. It was an experience of a lifetime to see the old... more travel advice

Favorites (6)
See All Millennium celebrations
Tourist Traps (2)
See All Cliffs of Moher in Foot and Mouth Days
Local Customs (8)
See All Soft Drinks
Transportation (7)
See All Not by train!!
Restaurants (3)
See All Christmas pudding

Off The Beaten Path (1)
No way!
Hotels (5)
See All Croagh Patrick in the back garden
What to Pack (1)
Packing List
Nightlife (1)
Guinness is good for you
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Comments (185)

icunme Aug 31, 2009 at 6:18 AM Report Abuse

Just great photos/detail. I wanna go swimming w/Fungie! Grazie, Carol <(•¿•)>
junecorlett Feb 27, 2009 at 7:42 AM Report Abuse

Thank you for taking me to Ireland with you. Hello from South Africa.
roamingpaddy Sep 27, 2006 at 4:08 AM Report Abuse

Sabina,congrats on your super pages on Ireland! I'm glad U enjoyed,from frank in Cork
2kidshoneymoon Jul 13, 2006 at 3:01 PM Report Abuse

Super place to stay! Everything was perfect. We'll be back! Thanks!
RickinDutch Jun 16, 2006 at 9:37 AM Report Abuse

Sabs - Birthday greetings from Alaska. Great Irish photos!
VeronicaG Nov 21, 2005 at 1:37 PM Report Abuse

Your love for Ireland is infectious--it is gorgeous!
jacquitabanana Sep 11, 2005 at 12:35 PM Report Abuse

i'm a Irish girl myself & it feels great to hear people's good memories of my home land.there are great sights in Dublin though just leave the city centre and you'll fing them. I hope Ireland brings you many more lovely memories.
russian_yaz Jun 16, 2005 at 6:18 AM Report Abuse

Feliz Dia! ...I spend like an hour looking your external site, awesome photos there! The Ireland and County Mayo pages are great...very good pics
Cruefan Mar 29, 2005 at 3:27 AM Report Abuse

I'll be going to Ireland in May, and I hope my pictures come out as good as yours.
Eilian Feb 25, 2005 at 6:35 PM Report Abuse

Fantastic page, really, as usual! Thanks, Sabine!