The West Cork town of Bantry lies at the head of the expansive Bantry Bay, one of the deepest natural harbours in Europe. It is pretty west, even for West Cork and this factor has shaped Bantry down the generations. While the town may not be as postcard-pretty as its more touristy West Cork neighbours, […]

The North Mayo town of Ballina (or Béal an Áth in Irish, meaning ‘mouth of the ford’) is the county’s second biggest town after Castlebar. In fact, Ballina is the second largest town in Connaught, with a population of over 10,000 inhabitants. It is situated on the river Moy, famous for its salmon fishing, and […]

I am a big fan of the North Roscommon, South Sligo and West Leitrim region, it has a lot to offer visitors, and is packed full of real gems, hidden and not-so-hidden. Central to this region is the historic town of Boyle, more famous these days for actor Chris O’Dowd’s (a Boyle native) comedy series […]