Holiday Cottages Ireland

Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland The six counties of Northern Ireland (County Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Antrim, Armagh, Londonderry) are now becoming popular holiday destinations - as is Belfast. With its unspoilt countryside, rich culture and heritage, friendly people and fine food Northern Ireland is a great place for a relaxing holiday. Self-catering houses abound - idyllic white-washed cottages, country houses on remote estates, cottages by the coast, secluded thatched cottages hidden down a country lane - they all offer a chance to explore this quiet part of the UK. There is so much to see: the Giant's Causeway, the Glens of Antrim, castles and ruins, glorious gardens, and empty beaches. Belfast is a cosmopolitan city and there are some fine apartments to rent so you can explore the excellent restaurants, theatres and museums.

Wexford
Wexford The south east of Ireland has some amazing caves, fine abbeys and castles and fascinating waterways for cruising or fishing. Many people visit Ireland to retrace their family roots and staying in a holiday cottage gives you the freedom to do this. In Wexford you can see the ancestral home of JF Kennedy. Lismore, in Waterford, has a wonderful castle and heritage centre. Waterford is famous for its crystal and you can visit the factory to see it being made. Kilkenny is a medieval town with great Irish pubs and restaurants, as well as excellent crafts. Kilkenny Castle is 900 years old and has been beautifully restored. Carlow also has a fine castle and magnificent gardens at Huntingdon and Altamont.

Donegal
The north west corner of Ireland has a dramatic coastline with sandy beaches, mountains, lakes and glens. There is much to see if you are on holiday here: castles (Donegal Castle, Glenveagh Castle, and Parkes Castle are all fascinating), Glenveagh National Park and Ards Forest Park (stunning countryside), and Sligo Abbey just to mention a few. There are some excellent and traditional holiday cottages available to rent: from an idyllic cottage in Donegal, a remote self-catering house in Sligo, or a cottage by the sea in Rathmullan. The Celtic Seaweed Baths in Strandhill or Inishcrone offer a relaxing time and you can see Carrickmacross lace being made in County Monaghan.

Galway
The west of Ireland is magical - the Irish language and culture thrives here and you will feel you have stepped back in time to a more gentle age. The landscape is stunning and unspoilt - mountains, rivers and an amazing coastline. Galway City is a vibrant town set on a bay, with great shops and cafes - as well as the famous Galway Oyster Festival. Riding is popular - through the mountains of Connemara on Connemara ponies is a memorable experience. The delightful towns of Clifden or Westport are greats for a holiday home by the sea to explore Galway and Mayo. This is a great part of Eire for a golfing holiday or angling off the west coast.

Wicklow
Wicklow Horse-racing is thrilling in Ireland and Kildare has two of the most atmospheric racecourses at Curragh and Punchestown. Irish gardens are beautiful and Co Wicklow and Co Meath have some of the finest - also some superb Georgian houses to visit. Hill of Tara in Co Meath, former seat of the Kings of Ireland is a 'must see'; also the heritage town of Kells (the original Book of Kells is in Dublin, but you can see a facsimile here). There are fascinating ancient sites such as Newgrange with passage tombs and megalithic art. Dundalk and Carlingford are popular places to rent a luxury self-catering cottage in Ireland - the Irish are famed for their hospitality and warm welcome.

Limerick
The region around Limerick includes the counties of Clare and north Tipperary. The area is dramatic and wild (the Cliffs of Moher are spectacular) and the scenery stunning. With the international airport at Shannon this part of the west of Ireland is easy to reach. If you want to hire a traditional Irish cottage for a holiday then you will find a good selection here - isolated thatched cottages near Ennis, cosy white-washed cottages with a log fire near Limerick, or a cottage by the sea in Doolin. There are some fine friendly pubs in the area where you can hear traditional Irish music and enjoy a pint of Guinness whilst soaking up the atmosphere - Ireland is a dream holiday destination!

Dingle
The Dingle Peninsula in the south west of Ireland has over 2,000 archaelogical sites to explore (beehive huts, stones and ring forts), fabulous walking round the coast, the Blasket Islands (a great day trip if you are renting a cottage near Dingle) and a glorious unspoilt coastline with sandy beaches. Many visitors want to see the Dingle Dolphin who lives in the harbour and there are boat trips to try to catch sight of him. There are 2 excellent golf courses, game and deep sea fishing, horse riding along the quiet lanes, and great walking (the Dingle Way and the Pilgrims' Route are marked trails). Much of the self-catering accommodation in Dingle is in idyllic traditional cottages - sometimes quite simple - there are luxury cottages in Dingle available too.

County Cork
County Cork is Ireland's largest county and is a great centre for a self-catering holiday in Ireland. The Cork Kerry coastline runs along the south west corner of the island and is spectacular, with delightful coves and gorgeous sandy beaches. This is a popular destination for a golf holiday in Ireland - the Irish Open Golf Championships are often held here and there are lots of excellent golf courses - championship courses as well as links golf courses by the sea. Cork City is a fascinating place to walk around and enjoy the restaurants and cafes around the harbour. Blarney Castle (with the famous Blarney Stone), Rings of Kerry and the Lakes of Killarney attract lots of visitors. A self-catering house near Kinsale or Kenmare will give you an chance to try superb seafood - or why not rent a cottage in Glengarriff in Bantry Bay.

Dublin
Dublin is a very popular destination for a short break in Ireland and there is a great choice of holiday accommodation available - luxury hotels, bed and breakfasts and city centre apartments to rent. The elegant Georgian houses and pretty squares make it an easy place to explore on foot. As it is the capital of Ireland there are a wealth of fine museums here - the James Joyce Museum is fascinating - and Trinity College (Ireland's oldest university) is in the heart of Dublin. The pubs, cafes and cosmopolitan atmosphere are a draw - if you are here for a weekend or a short city break then it is a great city to stay in. Rent a holiday apartment right in the centre so you make the most of every minute.