Ireland Travel Guide in Photos: Castles, Cliffs & Scenic Landscapes
Previous: 3 Days in Edinburgh, Scotland
Why Visit Ireland?
Ireland is one of Europe’s most photogenic destinations, with dramatic sea cliffs, rolling green hills, medieval castles, colorful villages, ancient ruins, and thousands of sheep grazing across the countryside. This travel photography guide showcases some of my favorite places throughout Ireland while sharing travel tips and inspiration for planning your own Irish adventure.
Driving in Ireland- Road Trip Survival Suggestions
After a quick jaunt to Scotland to visit Edinburgh (link above), Stacy and I headed back to Ireland. I will admit, I was slightly nervous about renting a car. If you take nothing else from this article, take this advice: buy the full insurance. Seriously. Buy all of it.
The first day alone I managed to introduce myself to approximately five to eight curbs, narrowly avoid several stone walls, and gently “meet” another car on one of Ireland’s gloriously narrow roads. In fairness, I was trying to rewire my American brain to driving on the opposite side of the road, from the opposite side of the car, while traffic circles aggressively questioned my life choices.
The first thirty minutes of driving out of Dublin was exactly the disaster I expected. GPS directions were vague, exits appeared and disappeared with shocking speed, and we missed the first few turns because apparently “slight left” means “commit immediately or accept your fate.”
Still, despite the chaos, we somehow escaped Dublin airport traffic alive. By my standards, this counted as a major success.
The goal for the first day was simple: end somewhere near the Cliffs of Moher. All we had to do was drive across the country with stops wherever we felt like pulling over. Honestly, this is my favorite part of travel. Sure, famous destinations are great, but I love the random roadside attractions, tiny villages, and weird detours no one bothered to include in the guidebooks.
Athlone- Road Trip Stop
Our first stop was the charming riverside town of Athlone. Completely distracted by a beautiful church downtown, we parked the car and wandered side streets, alleyways, and paths near the River Shannon, Ireland’s longest river and historically one of the country’s great transportation routes. Athlone itself grew into an important crossing point, with settlements here stretching back centuries thanks to its strategic position in the middle of Ireland.
If you know me, you also know I love ruins. Castles? Ruined abbeys? Slightly creepy ancient structures being reclaimed by moss? Sign me up.
Celtic Ruins In Ireland
After leaving Athlone, we headed toward the monastic ruins of Clonmacnoise in County Offaly, one of Ireland’s most important early Christian sites. Founded in 544 by Saint Ciarán along the banks of the River Shannon, Clonmacnoise became a major center of religion, learning, trade, and politics during the early medieval period. Because of its strategic location at the intersection of major travel routes, kings, monks, pilgrims, and scholars all passed through here. It also meant the monastery had one unfortunate side effect: everybody wanted to rob it.
Beginning in the 9th century, Viking raids became a recurring problem. Apparently, monasteries filled with gold objects, books, and stored food looked like easy targets. Poor monks. Spend decades quietly praying only to have Vikings repeatedly show up and ruin your afternoon.
The ruins felt incredibly Irish in the best possible way. Ancient Celtic crosses leaned against weathered stone. Towering round towers stood watch over crumbling walls. Moss grew on practically everything. The sun even made several brief appearances, which in Ireland feels less like weather and more like an unexpected reward for persistence.
The visitor museum was surprisingly interesting and helped explain why this site mattered so much historically. Some of the original high crosses are preserved indoors, protecting them from the relentless Irish rain and the occasional tourist who apparently thinks touching everything is a personality trait.
Just outside the entrance stood our first Irish castle ruin of the trip. Naturally, curiosity got the better of us.
There was a very obvious fence surrounding part of the ruins that several people were enthusiastically ignoring. Stacy decided this was probably a suggestion rather than a rule and carefully began making her way through the muddy conditions. You also had to watch out for what I lovingly referred to as the “muds,” which were not, in fact, piles of mud but rather generous contributions from nearby farm animals.
Things were going great. I stood there watching Stacy carefully navigate mud and “muds” when our little expedition was suddenly noticed by a security guard somewhere on the opposite hillside.
He sounded… unhappy.
Yelling echoed across the ruins as he informed everyone that, yes, fences apparently do mean something in Ireland.
Oops.
Later, I had a real laugh about it. Stacy got in trouble before I did on this trip, which honestly says a lot considering my long and complicated relationship with authority.
We eventually made our way west toward Lahinch, our stop for the evening near the coast. Calling some of the roads “two-lane” roads is an extraordinary act of optimism. In reality, many felt like one-lane roads where everyone politely pretends there is enough room while silently negotiating who gets to fling themselves toward the nearest pull-off first.
At one point, I gently grazed another car—more of a tire-on-tire introduction than an accident—and continued my ongoing battle against Ireland’s curbs.
People, I would like to offer some professional travel advice from someone who has rented cars in multiple countries:
Never. Ever. Buy a former rental car.
Especially if someone like me drove it.
After finally arriving in Lahinch and surviving both Irish roads and my own questionable driving skills, we collapsed for the evening and prepared for our next destination.
Explore More Ireland
- Cliffs of Moher
- Rock of Cashel
- Kilkenny
- Belfast
- Killarney
- Dublin
Next: The Cliffs of Mohr
References:
Ruins:
Hotels
Lahinch Coast Hotel & Suites– our hotel in Lahinch. Downtown, plenty of restaurants nearby, and parking lot in back
Bailey’s Hotel– Cashel
Talbot Hotel– Clonmel
Clayton Dublin Hotel– near Dublin airport. Easy for early-morning flights
Hotel Kilkenny– downtown Kilkenny. Perfect for early morning excursions
Hotel Doolin– Doolin (west coast near Cliffs of Moher)
The Merion– Dublin. If I were loaded (money-wise, not on Guinness)
Other Hotels:
Coffee
Unfortunately, most bakeries and coffee shops in don’t open until 7:30 a.m. For photographers chasing summer sunrises, that means being up hours before your first shot of caffeine—an impossible situation. I was convinced I’d die of coffee deprivation before then. My advice: stock up the day before on supermarket iced coffees and drink just enough to survive until the cafés open (a strategy I tested and can confirm works).
Tours
Find things to do in – day trips (museums and public transport), and more:
Travel Guides
Here is the recently published Lonely Planet Guide. This is what I used to plan the trip (in conjunction with the all-beloved internet):
Another travel guide available for :
Flights:
My girlfriend and I took the train from Dublin to Belfast. I usually start my search on:
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