STREETWISE® Ireland Map

Revised 2008

A popular destination for first time travelers abroad is Ireland, for many reasons. First, Ireland is spectacularly beautiful with emerald green rolling countryside and serene lakes and rivers. Second, the pace of life is relaxed with most of the country sparsely populated. Third, there are plenty of daytime activities that appeal to a wide range of interests. Finally, and most important, the people are warm, friendly and familiar. The next step is to plan your visit, aided by the STREETWISE^® Ireland Map.

A driving tour is the best way to get to know the country. Ireland has four international airports: Dublin, Cork, Belfast and Shannon, so getting there is easy. Once you’re there pick a starting point, and then go!

Suppose you start from Shannon. Eight miles and a world away from the airport is Dromoland Castle. One of the most luxurious places to stay in Ireland, this is a five star way to recover from your flight before you take on the rest of the country. Venture out to see Ennis, winner of Irelands “Tidiest Town Award,” or the spectacular cliffs of Moher. If you’re a fan of author Frank McCourt, head to Limerick and be grateful you’re not there in the same circumstances described in Angela’s Ashes.

Further south is the counties of Kerry and Cork. The topography of County Kerry is a combination of mountains and peninsulas, like bony fingers stretching into the sea. Rent the movie "Ryan’s Daughter" for a preview of the area. In true Hollywood fashion the village of Kirrary was completely created by a construction crew using over 20,000 tons of granite to fabricate houses, the school, the pub and post office that were used in the movie. Everything was dismantled after filming finished, save the schoolhouse, still located on the head of Dunquin. Today the only resident celebrity in the area is Fungie, the Dolphin of Dingle, a male bottlenose dolphin who accompanies ships in and out of the harbor and mischievously plays with surfers, kayakers and boaters of all kinds.

Beautiful vistas are the reward around every corner of the Ring of Kerry, a scenic drive along Route N70 that runs through some of the most picturesque villages in the area. Take the time for a boat ride to see Skellig Michael, an island off the coast where the ruins of a monastery still exude religious mystery. Kinsale is the Newport Rhode Island of County Cork, a yachting center with tony restaurants.
Waterford is the next country over and the castle gardens of Linsmore are a highlight for horticultural hounds. The castle is the permanent (and closed to the public) home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, but the gardens are open and quite inviting. Waterford City is of course the home of the famous crystal and there are plenty of opportunities to pick up a piece or two.

Keep heading east and you’ll enter Wexford County, a haven for bird watchers. Feathered friends arrive for the winter drawn by the abundant flora of one of Ireland’s largest wildfowl reserve. Explore the tiny twisting lanes of the town Wexford followed by a visit to the wide ramparts of Fort Duncannon. US President John F. Kennedy traced his roots to New Ross where his great grandfather lived. A museum and arboretum are dedicated to the President's memory.

Make Galway your home base and you can take day trips discovering Connemera. This part of Western Ireland is idyllic and the peninsula of Ballyconneely is at the heart of it. From the villages of Clifden to Roundstone, from the beaches to the Twelve Ben Mountains, tranquility and unspoiled beauty make this one of the prime destinations for all visitors to Ireland. There are several ferries that will take you to the wild and windswept Aran Islands. First, tour the Heritage Center to learn about the Celtic history, and then experience it for yourself by riding horseback on the paths that run the course of the island.

County Mayo and County Sligo to the north hold equal charms. The town of Sligo holds an annual traditional Irish music festival, a Yeats seminar each summer, and is a well known surfing spot. Ballycastle in County Mayo is an archeologist’s goldmine with sites from Neolithic times where Ballina holds more allure for those who prefer a rod and reel.

The attractions of Northern Ireland have been overshadowed by political reporting. What you will find is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most famous tourist spot in Ireland: the Giants Causeway, a series of six sided basalt columns that were probably cased by cooling lava and are still a source of myth and legend. Close by is the distillery of Old Bushmills, famous for its smooth whisky, considered to be “mothers milk“ by connoisseurs.

If you’re interested in Gealic language you might consider the Irish Language Festival that will take place this November in Londonderry, or Derry. You’ll find both English and Gealic (or Gaelige) on the signs in Ireland and you can learn a phrase or two before your trip from this website. After all the rolling countryside, Belfast is a refreshing alternative. The city is compact but still has the energy and sophistication of an urban center.

If you only have a short time to visit Ireland, you might consider limiting yourself to the Ards Peninsula. Hardly a limitation as this area encompasses some of the best scenery in Ireland. The roiling Irish Sea on one side and the calm of the Strangford Lough frame green pastures, authentic fishing villages and historic sites. You can fill your days sailing, birding, or just watching the light change over the water, a lifelong occupation in itself.

A STREETWISE^® Ireland Map can take you to all of these destinations. Motorways, divided highways, primary, secondary, minor roads and scenic routes are clearly depicted. The map is fully indexed with cities, towns, castles, viewpoints, historical sites and points of interest. A mileage chart and a separate inset of the Dublin area are included to ensure that you can get in and out of Ireland's capital easily.

STREETWISE^® Ireland Map Scales
Main Ireland Map 1:1,200,000
Dublin Area Map 1:100,000