DK Travel : Dublin : Places of interest

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Leenane to Killary Harbour

The appealing village of Leenane lies beside the long, narrow inlet of Killary Fjord. From here, the dramatically beautiful road to the small oceanside resort of Louisburgh crosses the water between the peaks of Devil’s Mother and Ben Gorm, and rises among lakes and streams along the narrow Delphi Valley, in places bursting with rhododendrons. One of the west’s loveliest drives.
Letterkenny

Donegal’s largest town is flanked by the Derryveagh Mountains to the west and the Sperrin Mountains to the east. Its main street, said to be the longest in Ireland, is overlooked by the Neo-Gothic St Eunan’s Cathedral. The County Museum has a good display on local history.
Limerick

A grim portrait of industrial Limerick, the third-largest city in the republic, was painted by Frank McCourt’s novel Angela’s Ashes (see Frank McCourt). It’s not that bad now. The city centre has good restaurants and pubs and a pleasant atmosphere. Historical sights include the imposing King John’s Castle, built in 1210, containing a display on the town’s 800-year history. Don’t miss, either, the Hunt Museum, a magnificent collection of Irish antiquities inside the beautiful 18th-century Old Custom House.
Lissadell and Drumcliffe

Just north of Sligo is Drum-cliffe church, where WB Yeats is buried, and the visitors’ centre focuses on items and books relating to the poet. The area was a great inspiration to Yeats and he was a frequent visitor at the rather forbidding Lissadell House a few miles to the west. Lissadell was home to the Gore-Booth family, who were active in the fight for Irish freedom.
Loch Key and Boyle

One of the best spots for viewing this magnificent lake is from the main Sligo-to-Boyle road. The Loch Key Forest Park has numerous walks along the lakeside and through the woods. Boyle is an appealing nearby town with a ruined abbey, interesting museum and some fine Georgian architecture.
Lough Corrib

The vast expanse of Lough Corrib’s cool waters, feeling more like part of the Atlantic Ocean than a lake, is Ireland’s second largest, and a popular resort area for angling, boating and walking.
Lower Loch Erne

The serene waters and small islands extending north from Enniskillen can be explored by boat, or encircled by road. Devenish Island, reached from the east bank, is the remarkable site of 6th-century monastic ruins, a Celtic High Cross, and an 80-ft (25-m) Round Tower. Boa Island, reached by a causeway, is noted for a strange double-faced Celtic stone carving. Another group of curious stone figures stands on White Island.
Mount Stewart

The grandly aristocratic 18th-century home of the Marquises of Londonderry displays a superb art collection, and stands in wonderful landscaped gardens with remarkable plant collections. There is some extraordinary topiary, exquisite planned views and numerous odd stonecarvings representing creatures such as dodos and dinosaurs. Also in the grounds is the elegant octagonal Temple of the Winds, a copy of a Classical relic near Athens.
My Museum

An exciting programme of activities run by the National Museum of Ireland, which rotates between the city’s museums.
National Gallery

A superb new wing of the gallery opened on Clare Street in January 2002, vastly increasing the space available for temporary exhibitions and displays of the gallery’s permanent collection. The improved facilities also include a large shop, a café and restaurant and lecture theatres.