FREE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES OF IRELAND PDF Christopher Fitz-Simon,Hugh Palmer | 200 pages | 01 Jun 2011 | Thames & Hudson Ltd | 9780500289310 | English | London, United Kingdom The 20 Most Charming Towns & Small Towns in Ireland Here are the 20 towns in Ireland that accumulated the most votes. Travel in the Emerald Isle can be measured by the succession of personal interactions. When you mention Ireland and travel in the same sentence, most folk usually think about the The Most Beautiful Villages of Ireland of Cork or Dublin. Perhaps it evokes a poetic idyll of Galway through a verse of Galway Bay, as sung by Liam Clancy, for the more discerning individual. But for the real hibernophiles fans of Irish culture out there, smaller towns may come to mind, with pleasant cottages and passionate communities. Similarly, we did not include any villages. Below you will find the 20 Irish towns that accumulated the most votes, from A to Z well, technically W. It may kick The Most Beautiful Villages of Ireland proceedings by virtue of the alphabet, but Adare is more than worthy of this list. There are also plenty of historical landmarks in Adare. It is possible to explore the ramparts The Most Beautiful Villages of Ireland Desmond Castle, dating back to the 12 th century, meanwhile Adare Manor has been converted into a luxury hotel and golf resort. Next to the golf course are the ruins of a 15 th century Franciscan Abbey. An alternative Catholic order, the Trinitarians, have their own, still operational monastery in town. The rural surrounds, from the rugged coastline to the moorland passes are what bring most people to this The Most Beautiful Villages of Ireland visited corner of the country. The town is pleasant and a good base from which to visit the Maghera Falls or get great views out over the Atlantic Ocean from Loughros Point. As such the terraced houses, town hall and forge are all constructed of granite and have a unique architectural style. Hikers are especially drawn to the town as it is a great starting point for the pleasant Sean Linehan Walk, a 6km route that starts at Tinakilly Bridge in Aughrim. Aughrim Forge in the town centre Photo: via Wikicommons. Known as a heritage town, its jaunty character is provided by the well- preserved Georgian buildings, many of The Most Beautiful Villages of Ireland are painted different colours. Among the many sites of interest in town, Birr Castle is the most intriguing. A telescope built here and on show to the public was the largest in the world for 70 years untiland was instrumental in a number of important advances in the science of astronomy. Kennedy is a descendant of the Fitzgeralds of Bruff. In fact, he visited the small town in Other than that, Bruff is known more for its sporting heritage than its tourist sights. Indeed sport has become a passive attraction thanks to a number of excellent murals painted around town, such as the one of Irish rugby union hall of famer Keith Wood. Lough Gur, just to the north of The Most Beautiful Villages of Ireland, is a beautiful lake with plenty of wildlife, a heritage centre and its very own ancient stone circle. Stand on the shore of Carlingford and look across the lough and you will see Northern Ireland. A lot of history linked to the other The Most Beautiful Villages of Ireland of the Irish Sea can be found in the medieval streets of Carlingford. An old toll gate and mint are overshadowed however by the impressive King John Castle that was built around by the Normans after they first invaded Ireland in But divisions aside, the town is packed with historic remnants and you can find some excellent seafood here too. Starting life relatively late, in the early 19 th century, Clifden came into being thanks to Clifden Castle close by. The town was connected by a road The Most Beautiful Villages of Ireland Galway and beyond. While the estate failed and fell into disrepair, the town continued its modest growth and is regarded as the unofficial capital of Connemara today. Pleasant Clifden The Most Beautiful Villages of Ireland by the mountains and nature of Connemara Photo: martina mcauley via Flickr. Making its name as an important sea port for transatlantic ships, Cobh was the last stopping point in Europe before the Titanic began its fateful maiden voyage. The town is quaint and quirky. Cute little painted cottages step down to the waterfront beside the prominent spire of St. Vikings and plagues are The Most Beautiful Villages of Ireland of the things that brought Dalkey a large share of notoriety in days gone by. The plague likely entered Ireland through a ship docking at the port, which was first constructed by Viking invaders in the 8 th century. Now the names associated with the town, located just to the south of Dublin, include the likes of Bono, Enya and Van Morrison. The town is considered an affluent satellite of the Irish capital city. The area The Most Beautiful Villages of Ireland well known for its Irish culture, and Gaelic is heard as often as English. The pubs are the centre of the cultural action, at least where music is concerned. Meanwhile the sea life of the area is another popular draw, with bottlenose dolphins regularly spotted in the bay and an aquarium in town allowing visitors to learn more about the world beneath the waves. There are plenty of smaller amateur clubs for sports like Gaelic football and hurling, but even at amateur level Gaelic sports showcase a remarkable level of physical prowess and power. Donegal Castle is in the town centre and it is near this centrepiece that many of the hotels and pubs can be found. Donegal Town is a great base for hikers looking to tackle the Blue Stack Mountains. These include the Waterford County Museum and, as with so many Irish towns, its own castle. Dungarvan Castle overlooks the harbour, which is mainly populated by small sailing and fishing boats today. There is also the remnant of an old Augustinian friary, around which has been built a more modern Catholic Church. Ivy covered houses in Dungarvan Photo: Sebastian via Flickr. Situated at the head of Kenmare Bay, which gradually opens out into the wide Atlantic Ocean, Kenmare is a typically charming County Kerry town. The town first gained some semblance of international prominence through its lace-working industry. However the Kenmare Lace and Design Centre is open to the public. Kenmare also has its own Bronze Age stone circle and dolmen close to the town centre. Although the main centre is rather small, set in a triangle of interconnecting roads, there is an excellent selection of hotels, restaurants and pubs here. Lovely painted houses in central Kenmare Photo: adrivdm via Flickr. Easily accessible on a day trip from Dublin, this medieval town has a number of ancient buildings in a state of excellent preservation. Kilkenny Castle is one such example, nestled on the banks of Nore River and with ample, well-tended grounds. The present day building dates back to the 13 th century, but is on the site of a much older religious building. Kilkenny is more than just a historic honeypot though; the Kilkenny Arts Festival showcases Irish and international creativity over ten days every August. Killarney is easily one of the prettiest and most charming places in all of Ireland. The town is a characterful attraction in its own right, with its longstanding importance as a religious site dating back to the 7 th century, but Killarney National Park and Lough Leane are the most remarkable aspect of this region. Fronting Killarney town is the demesne of Ross Castle. Its walls and sturdy keep look out over the lake, which is dotted with islands and surrounded by woods through which run miles The Most Beautiful Villages of Ireland paths. Killarney is a great place to watch some of the Gaelic sports, with a hurling team and three Gaelic football squads in The Most Beautiful Villages of Ireland. Buildings in many Irish towns are daubed in colourful paints, but none as pleasantly as the small fishing town of Kinsale, located to the south of Cork. At one time the town became a prominent Royal Navy port and store houses were built in town. The final Spanish Armada landed at Kinsale and united with Irish rebels, only to be put down. The narrow streets of the old town centre are great for an after dinner stroll. Unsurprisingly for a fishing town, plenty of good, fresh seafood can be sourced in Kinsale. While the abbey was short lived, soon to be replaced by Lismore Castle, which still stands, the scholastic importance remained. In the 15 th century the Book of Lismore was compiled of various writings including folios on Irish saints, including Saint Patrick, and some Irish mythology too. More recently, writers such as William M. Malahide has, like so many Irish towns, a castle and demesne that are considered enough of a draw to the region in their own right. The town has a small beach, and across the estuary are no fewer than four different golf clubs. For outdoorsy types there is a pleasant coastal walk to Portmarnock from Malahide, where a much larger beach can be found. Although many people see Malahide as a good day trip from Dublin, there are a few hotels in town for those who prefer to stay away from the hustle and bustle of a big The Most Beautiful Villages of Ireland.