Holiday cottage for rent in ireland

Questions and Answers

We would like to have a holiday in Ireland next year. One week in N Ireland and a second in the South?

Q) We have never been there before and normally rent cottages taking our car with us. Where would be two good locations to stay so that we can see the most? Possibly village locations? We have no children to take and we love the outdoors, scenery, mountains, walking, coastlines, local pubs and my husband is a very keen fisherman. Any (sensible)ideas would be very welcome. Thank you.

A) Northern Ireland is NOT dangerous. Anyway - it is a glorious idea to do the whole of the country - driving in Ireland is a real pleasure so you could even consider just cruising around and stopping the night where ever you felt like it. In Eire Kinsale is unmissable and is a good base to explore Cork county. West Cork is world famous for its beauty and rightly so. The most peaceful place on earth. Any villages there would suit your requirements I imagine. It is so hard to select one particular area of Ireland to stay in because there is much to offer all over the place. Dublin is wonderful of course and you really should stay there for a night or two. Or stay out on the coast at Dun Laoghaire and catch the train into the city. (A wonderful place to stay in Dublin is in Trinity College itself when the students are on vacation. It is cheap, central, food is great and the rooms are beautiful.) On the other side of the country Galway has the most extraordinary landscapes (and weather sometimes). It is the heart of Gaelic Ireland and the music and Guinness there are second to none. They have a lot of festivals in Galway so if you time it right you could experience some great music etc. In the North well you can't go wrong with Belfast as a central base - it is a wonderful city and please don't believe claptrap from people about violence - they have no idea what they are talking about. The scenery in the North is (unsurprisingly) very similar to the West Coast of Scotland - very dramatic with some bracing weather. Wherever you go you will get a warm welcome - the B&Bs all over Ireland are excellent quality and value I think. I would opt for B&Bs over a rented cottage because they give you more flexibility. As for fishing - well I think your husband will be spoilt for choice in Ireland. It is a real magnet for fishy types. Have fun!