A Tour of Ireland

Entered EIRE from Northern Ireland with my Fiat Tipo (see Tour of the UNITED KINGDOM) across the border near Dundalk where I slept in an elegant B&B. The next morning, a visit to Monasterboice and Mellifont Abbey to see ruined monasteries and Celtic crosses. Bypassing Drogheda, in the afternoon to Dublin to see the main monuments: the gardens of Trinity College, St Patrick's Cathedral, Leinster House and the post office from where the revolt against the English began. Personally the capital of EIRE did not fascinate me, I found some districts neglected and I admit I only saw the famous pubs from the outside. The next morning I crossed the interior of the island to Lough Corrib south of the wild region of Connemara, an area of peat bogs where it was impossible for me to film because of the abrupt intervention of one of the turf cutters.

Bypassing Galway I crossed the desolate Burren to reach the spectacular Cliffs of Moher, high cliffs plunging into the Atlantic. To observe them from above you have to hold on to ropes because the wind blows hard. Transfer to Dingle on the peninsula of the same name where I slept in a nice B&B. As on the whole island, here too the weather changes often and you pass suddenly from sun to a heavy downpour. People are used to it and walk calmly along the road whether it pours or a pale sun comes out. The next morning I woke to an abundant downpour, a stop at Dunquin in the easternmost part of the Dingle peninsula then continuing the southern circuit of the island, passing through Tralee and Cork and reaching the port of Rosslare from where I took the ferry to Great Britain (Pembroke). During this tour I visited a prehistoric site beneath a mound, I believe a burial chamber, Newgrange.

More than the cities of EIRE I liked the landscape one drives through, plains and low green hills, pastures and peat bogs. Absolutely not to be missed: Cliffs of Moher; the landscape.