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In pics

23 stunning photos of an ideal Ireland

Tourism Ireland has found Ireland in its best light – doesn’t it look gorgeous?
1.00pm, 9 Sep 2012
83.0k
59

YES, YES, YES, we had little or no summer.

Certainly, it didn’t feel like the Ireland we remember from childhood summer holidays (or perhaps, the childhood summers John Hinde postcards remember for us?)

That’s why we’ve been wallowing in the photographs Tourism Ireland have been cleverly percolating around their social media channels recently. Even better, visitors to their Facebook page have been uploading their own pictures of scenes from Ireland – take a look and be cheered.

It makes you want to staycate, doesn’t it? Presuming you can pick the same fine day the following photos were taken…

23 stunning photos of an ideal Ireland
1 / 23

  • Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge

    Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge is a rope suspension bridge near Ballintoy, Co Antrim. The bridge links the mainland to the tiny Carrick Island. Image: Chris Hill/Tourism Ireland.

  • Giant's Causeway

    The geological wonder of the Giant's Causeway in Co Antrim. Image: Chris Hill/Tourism Ireland.

  • Lakes of Killarney

    A vista over the lakes in Co Kerry. Image: Chris Hill/Tourism Ireland.

  • Carrantuohill

    Viewing from the highest mountain in Ireland - Carrantuohill in Kerry. Image: Jonathan Hession/Tourism Ireland.

  • Village of Allihies

    Brightly-painted shop and pub fronts in the West Cork village of Allihies. Image: Holger Leue/Tourism Ireland.

  • The English Market

    Queen Elizabeth II visited this covered market which has been trading in Cork city since 1788. Image: Andrew Bradley/Tourism Ireland.

  • Bantry House

    The White family first settled on Whiddy Island in the 17th century but purchased a 'small' Queen Anne house called Blackrock on the mainland in Cork. This was to become known as Bantry House. Image: Holger Leue/Tourism Ireland.

  • Enniskerry

    The beautifully preserved village of Enniskerry in Co Wicklow. Image: Tony Pleavin/Tourism Ireland.

  • Clonmacnoise

    Cruising by Clonmacnoise near Shannonbridge, Co Offaly, the early Christian site founded by St Ciarán in the mid-6th century on the eastern bank of the River Shannon. Image: Holger Leue/Tourism Ireland.

  • Newgrange

    The 5,000-year-old passage tomb at Newgrange, Co Meath which is famous for the winter solstice illumination which lights up the passage and internal chamber. Image: Brian Morrison/Tourism Ireland.

  • Glendalough

    The Co Wicklow valley is home to one of Ireland's most impressive monastic sites founded by St Kevin in the 6th century. Image: Chris Hill/Tourism Ireland.

  • Cliffs of Moher

    The view from a boat at the foot of a sea stack at the Cliffs of Moher. Image: Roger Kinkead/Tourism Ireland.

  • Connemara

    A typical Irish summer scene at Aughrus Beg, Cleggan. Image: Holger Leue/Tourism Ireland.

  • Cliffs of Moher

    The cliffs in a mist of spray and cloud. Image: Sean Tomkins/Tourism Ireland.

  • Roscommon Castle

    The castle to the north of the modern town was built by the Normans in 1269 and four years later, captured by the Irish and razed to the ground. It was rebuilt in 1280. Image: Chris Hill/Tourism Ireland.

  • The Burren

    The Burren is a karst-landscape region in northwest co Clare. It is one of the largest karst landscapes in Europe and covers approx 250sq kms. Image: Nutan/Tourism Ireland.

  • Croagh Patrick

    Looking up to the Mayo pilgrim haunt. Image: Chris Hill/Tourism Ireland.

  • Killary Harbour

    Walking around the Co Galway harbour. Image: South West Walks/Tourism Ireland.

  • Temple Bar

    The Temple Bar pub in... Temple Bar, Dublin. Image: Holger Leue/Tourism Ireland.

  • GPO, O'Connell Street

    Part of the St Patrick's Day parade last year passes through Dublin's main thoroughfare. Image: St Patrick's Festival/Tourism Ireland.

  • Trinity College Dublin

    The main chamber of the Old Library is the Long Room. At nearly 65 metres in length, it is filled with 200,000 of the Library's oldest books. Image: Tony Pleavin/Tourism Ireland.

  • Glen of Aherlow

    The Glen of Aherlow is a quiet country valley which stretches from south of of Tipperary town, through sixteen miles of unspoilt countryside affording some of the most breathtaking scenery. Image: Brian Morrison/Tourism Ireland.

  • Inistioge

    Relaxing in the Co Kilkenny village. Image: Jonathan Hession/Tourism Ireland.
  • Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge is a rope suspension bridge near Ballintoy, Co Antrim. The bridge links the mainland to the tiny Carrick Island. Image: Chris Hill/Tourism Ireland.
  • The geological wonder of the Giant's Causeway in Co Antrim. Image: Chris Hill/Tourism Ireland.
  • A vista over the lakes in Co Kerry. Image: Chris Hill/Tourism Ireland.
  • Viewing from the highest mountain in Ireland - Carrantuohill in Kerry. Image: Jonathan Hession/Tourism Ireland.
  • Brightly-painted shop and pub fronts in the West Cork village of Allihies. Image: Holger Leue/Tourism Ireland.
  • Queen Elizabeth II visited this covered market which has been trading in Cork city since 1788. Image: Andrew Bradley/Tourism Ireland.
  • The White family first settled on Whiddy Island in the 17th century but purchased a 'small' Queen Anne house called Blackrock on the mainland in Cork. This was to become known as Bantry House. Image: Holger Leue/Tourism Ireland.
  • The beautifully preserved village of Enniskerry in Co Wicklow. Image: Tony Pleavin/Tourism Ireland.
  • Cruising by Clonmacnoise near Shannonbridge, Co Offaly, the early Christian site founded by St Ciarán in the mid-6th century on the eastern bank of the River Shannon. Image: Holger Leue/Tourism Ireland.
  • The 5,000-year-old passage tomb at Newgrange, Co Meath which is famous for the winter solstice illumination which lights up the passage and internal chamber. Image: Brian Morrison/Tourism Ireland.
  • The Co Wicklow valley is home to one of Ireland's most impressive monastic sites founded by St Kevin in the 6th century. Image: Chris Hill/Tourism Ireland.
  • The view from a boat at the foot of a sea stack at the Cliffs of Moher. Image: Roger Kinkead/Tourism Ireland.
  • A typical Irish summer scene at Aughrus Beg, Cleggan. Image: Holger Leue/Tourism Ireland.
  • The cliffs in a mist of spray and cloud. Image: Sean Tomkins/Tourism Ireland.
  • The castle to the north of the modern town was built by the Normans in 1269 and four years later, captured by the Irish and razed to the ground. It was rebuilt in 1280. Image: Chris Hill/Tourism Ireland.
  • The Burren is a karst-landscape region in northwest co Clare. It is one of the largest karst landscapes in Europe and covers approx 250sq kms. Image: Nutan/Tourism Ireland.
  • Looking up to the Mayo pilgrim haunt. Image: Chris Hill/Tourism Ireland.
  • Walking around the Co Galway harbour. Image: South West Walks/Tourism Ireland.
  • The Temple Bar pub in... Temple Bar, Dublin. Image: Holger Leue/Tourism Ireland.
  • Part of the St Patrick's Day parade last year passes through Dublin's main thoroughfare. Image: St Patrick's Festival/Tourism Ireland.
  • The main chamber of the Old Library is the Long Room. At nearly 65 metres in length, it is filled with 200,000 of the Library's oldest books. Image: Tony Pleavin/Tourism Ireland.
  • The Glen of Aherlow is a quiet country valley which stretches from south of of Tipperary town, through sixteen miles of unspoilt countryside affording some of the most breathtaking scenery. Image: Brian Morrison/Tourism Ireland.
  • Relaxing in the Co Kilkenny village. Image: Jonathan Hession/Tourism Ireland.

Read: You wanted a book of John Hinde postcards? You got it. >

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