Places to Visit outside of Dublin while at DrupalCon
Coming to DrupalCon Dublin but planning to travel around Ireland a bit? Previously we blogged about our top recommendations to see and do in Dublin, but I know some of you are planning to stay for longer and so here are our recommendations for places to visit outside Dublin.
Day Trips from Dublin
1. Newgrange
Source: Stella Power
Newgrange is a stone age or neolithic monument located just north of Dublin in an area known as the Boyne Valley in County Meath. It was built about 5,200 years ago (c 3200 BC), making it older than both Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids of Giza! It is primarily referred to as a passage tomb, but that might be an over-simplification as to its significance in the lives of those who constructed it. It most likely held religious, spiritual or ceremonial importance due to its alignment with the rising sun and the flooding of the inner chamber with light on the winter solstice. The Boyne Valley contains over 35 other neolithic monuments all built along the River Boyne, such as Knowth and Dowth (also open to the public), and together are known as Brú na Bóinne and are a UNESCO World Heritage site.
You can also visit the Hill of Tara, seat of the Irish High Kings. The oldest visible monument is the passage tomb "Dumha na nGiall"(meaning ‘the mound of the hostages'), but more interesting is the Lia Fáil (Stone of Destiny), a standing stone located within an area known as the Forrad or "The Royal Seat" - this was the inauguration stone of the Kings of Tara.
2. Glendalough
Located in the Wicklow Mountains is Glendalough meaning the "valley of two lakes". It is a beautiful spot with stunning scenery and lots of walks and trails. There is also a world famous early Christian monastic site here, founded in the 6th century by St. Kevin. There are a number of monastic buildings and ruins here, the most impressive of which is the Round Tower standing at 30m high. There's also some Celtic crosses at this site too.
3. Powerscourt Estate and Gardens
Powerscourt Estate is a large country estate encompassing an 18th century mansion, landscaped gardens, a hotel, Ireland's highest waterfall and two golf courses! Powerscourt House has recently been voted one of the top ten houses and mansions worldwide. Part of the ground floor of the house is open to the public, but it also contains some shops (including Avoca handweavers) and Tara's Palace Museum of Childhood which features dolls, miniatures, historic toys and Tara's Palace dollhouse. The gardens have also been ranked in the top three in the world, with over 250 different types of trees, an Italian garden, a Japanese garden and much more besides.
Further afield
1. Cliffs of Moher and the Burren
The Cliffs of Moher are one of Ireland's most visited natural attractions. Located on the west coast of Ireland in County Clare, not far from the village of Doolin, they stretch for 8km in length and range between 120m and 214m high. A new Cliffs of Moher Visitor centre was built into a hillside approaching the cliffs and is intended to be environmentally sensitive in its use of renewable energy systems including geothermal heating and cooling, solar panels, and grey water recycling.
The Cliffs of Moher are also located in the rather unusual landscape of the Burren National Park. The word "Burren" comes from an Irish word "Boíreann" meaning a rocky place. In 1651 a Cromwellian Army Officer named Edward Ludlow commented on the Burren saying "there is not water enough to drown a man, wood enough to hang one, nor earth enough to bury them." This is all very apt given it's barren limestone landscape. The Burren contains a number of rare flora, some of which are only to be found here, and has been declared as a Special Area of Conservation. There are also some blow holes to be found where the sea has eroded away at the rock, and you can also visit the extensive caverns of the Ailwee Caves.
Note, there are (long) day trips available from Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher if you wish.
2. Ring of Kerry and Dingle Peninsula
The Ring of Kerry is a long circular tourist route in the south west of Ireland in County Kerry. It essentially takes you on the loop of the Iveragh peninsula, and takes in many beautiful spots including Killarney National Park, the lakes of Killarney, Derrynane Abbey, and many beaches, stone forts and other places of interest.
The next peninsula to the north is that of Dingle, and is one of my favourite spots in Ireland. The views from the coastal road are spectacular and breath-taking. However, be warned that the road can be twisty and narrow in places (not helped by tourists stopping to take photos), so I'd recommend taking the clockwise route around the peninsula lest you meet a coach tour bus coming the other way!
The Dingle peninsula is a Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) area and you'll notice many of the road signs switch to being in Irish. Dingle (or An Daingean) itself is a busy tourist spot with a decent aquarium for kids, day trips out to see Fungi the dolphin and a pub for every week in the year. Other interesting spots on the peninsula are the Gallarus Oratory and Louis Mulcahy's pottery studio where you can try your hand at spinning a pot on a potter's wheel.
3. Giant's Causeway
The Giant's Causeway is located in Northern Ireland in County Antrim (so be sure to bring some Sterling if travelling from Dublin to it). It is the result of an ancient volcanic eruption which formed (mostly) hexagonal basalt columns as the liquid lava cooled and contracted. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986, it is one of Northern Ireland's most popular tourist attractions.
Not far from the Giant's Causeway is the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. It crosses a 20m wide chasm over a 23m drop down to the sea below, so if you're afraid of heights, then this isn't for you! Also, nearby is the Bushmills Distillery which do excellent tours and a free whiskey tasting at the end.
Again, it is possible to do a day trip from Dublin to the Giant's Causeway if you wish.
Source: Sean MacEntee Source: Ben Askins Source: Sean MacEntee Source: Barbara Walsh Source: Ty
