Why Driving is the Key to Ireland

Driving through the countryside of Ireland allows you to stop and see the heritage sites like Tara

Boyne Valley Driving Route

THINGS TO DO IN IRELAND

To car or not to car; that is the great vacation question-isn’t it? Sometimes it makes sense; other times not so much.

I rightly suspected that even though it might be expensive (read automatic here) and tricky (read driving on the opposite side of the road and car here) that it probably was still something we had to do in Ireland.

Why you ask? Well because it is just simply the best way to see the countryside and the world heritage sites that you shouldn’t miss. It is the only way to really experience the culture, food and landscape of your itinerary.

Since we were staying at Dunboyne Castle we headed out to explore the Boyne Valley driving route.

Photo ops around the Boyne Valley driving route

Hill of Tara

GERALD O’HARA’S HOMETOWN

If you read Gone with the Wind, than you know Margaret Mitchell named Gerald’s plantation after a place he supposedly loved because of the way it looked. I saw that and understood why anyone would have fallen in love instantly upon arrival in Tara; Sanctuary of the Kings.

Although many of the buildings have not withstood the test of time it is still a beautiful place famous in Irish myth and legend for being the inaugural site for the high kings. You can see a full quarter of the landscape of Ireland standing at the top of this hill.

WHERE YOU CAN EAT, DRINK & SHOP

This little town is a mecca to the bicyclers. They all stop to take a rest, have a wee drink, a bit of lunch and pick up a few souvenirs. The restaurant was nice with seating inside and out and was very busy.

While there, the Old Book Shop opened for business and we stopped in to buy a few along with some nice gifts for friends. It is a hippy dippy shop with a New Age vibe as you might expect. A fat cat was quite undisturbed by our photo attempts and our own travel companion tried to rouse him from atop the rocks!

Next Stop on Boyne Valley Route

BECTIVE ABBEY

Heading out of Tara we drove through the towns of Dunsany and Killmessan towards Bective. Seeing the beautiful abandoned abbey lying peacefully in a cow pasture meant we had to pull over for photos. It is a great place to explore with wonderful photography opportunities.

Founded in 1147, much of the ruins date back to the 15th century. It sits overlooking the River Boyne and was Ireland’s second Cistercian abbey’s and one of the most important monastic settlements.

It was closed after suppression under Henry VIII and was handed over to civil servants in reward of good work. Because of it’s castle qualities and beauty it was used as a site for the movie Braveheart.

Heading on to Trim

TRIM CASTLE

Trim Castle is the largest, best-preserved and most impressive Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland. The town was an important fording point for the Rive Boyne. It was built in 1172 and Henry II gave it to Baron Hugh de Lacy as a counterbalance to Strongbow’s power base in the South of Leinster.

The largest, best-preserved & most impressive Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland at Trim

Last stop Drogheda

HIGHLANES MUNICIPAL ART GALLERY

Opening in 2006, Highlanes Municipal Art Gallery is one of Ireland's most important visual art spaces. It presents a program of national and international exhibitions, as well as shows drawn from the Drogheda Municipal Art Collection, dating from the mid-18th century.

The gallery is inside the former Drogheda Franciscan Church known locally as High Lane Church. Gifted by the Franciscan Order to the people of Drogheda, the building has carefully and lovingly been preserved. The gallery houses the town's most treasured heirlooms: a ceremonial sword and mace presented to Drogheda Corporation by King William III after the Battle of the Boyne.

Not enough time

OTHER SITES WE MISSED
You can see why we say driving is the key to Ireland. While these sites might be accessible in other ways, a car is really the best. Even with two days to drive the area we only saw maybe a quarter of everything there was to see.

We didn’t get to Bru na Boinne, St. Laurence’s Gate, Monasterboice, Mellifont Abbey, Kells High Crosses or Laoughcrew Cairns. It is breathtaking to think there is 9000 years of history in this one valley alone. There are so many nice places to stay in the area that I would recommend you stay in the center and work your way out in each direction over the course of 3-4 days.

When planning your itinerary for Ireland, don’t leave this out and DO pay the man for a good car. You might enjoy reading more blogs under Explore the World and hey, don’t be a stranger! Let me know what your thoughts are on driving in Ireland and anything else that’s on your mind. Until next time…

Cheers,

ArtsyChowRoamer

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