East Ireland tourist information
Great prices on self-drive holidays to Ireland.
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Hotels in Ireland East and Midlands
This lesser known region of Ireland might not have the majestic scenery and wild
spaces found elsewhere in the Emerald Isle, but it does have beautiful verdant
countryside, lush valleys and wooded hills. This is the country for the walker,
cyclist, horse-rider and angler, as well as possessing numerous quality golf
courses and an abundance of historical sites.
In the north is Dundalk, county town of Louth, and a useful base for exploring
Northern Ireland. County Wicklow, just an hour's drive south of Dublin, is
blessed with a delightful coastline, the lovely Wicklow Hills, and the almost
fairy-tale scenery of the Vale of Avoca. Base yourself in the busy port of
Arklow with its white sandy beach. Stay in Aughrim in the heart of the Wicklow
Hills, or in the Macreddin Holiday Village in the Vale of Avoca.
Moving eastwards into the south of County Kildare, Kilkea Castle Hotel in
Castledermot really is a castle. Built in 1180, it is the oldest inhabited
castle in Ireland, boasting a 6,100 metre Golf course. The countryside around is
largely agricultural and there is good and easy walking along the river banks.
Laois is home to the beautiful Georgian village of Durrow. Angling, hill
walking, equestrian facilities, historic sites, nine golf courses, an
agriculture museum, a traction engine museum, clear rivers and streams, gentle
hills and woodland walks are all located within 30 minutes of this excellent
base. The small village of Clogh, or Clough is another excellent base for
touring this quiet corner of Ireland. Portlaoise is the county town and
administrative centre. The beautiful Slieve Bloom Mountains are easily reached
from all these locations.
County Offaly is rich in history, and dominated by enormous peat bogs. Fishing,
walking and water sports are popular on the Shannon and Grand Canal, and the
Slieve Bloom Mountains provide excellent walking. Birr is a lovely little town
with a lively nightlife and good restaurants, as well as a superb castle.
Banagher on the Shannon is another town worth visiting, especially if angling
and boating are for you.
Clondra, or Cloondara, in County Longford is also a great spot for anglers, as
is Athlone, the county town of Westmeath, situated where Lough Ree drains into
the Shannon. Athlone is now a modern town with good shops, some excellent
restaurants, an impressive castle and cruises on Lough Ree and the Shannon.
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