Ireland: an amazing vacation in the green health of Europe
Recently, a direct flight line was announced from Tel Aviv to Dublin, but Yossi Fischer did not hesitate and took a connection to Ireland to breathe a little-a lot of green in spectacular landscapes and enjoy culture, ancient history, warm-hearted people, and above all to stay away from the flood of tourists in Europe. And he succeeded
Yossi Fisher
02/09/2022
Friday, 02 September 2022, 00:17 Updated: 01:09
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Lake Killarney in Ireland (Photo: Yossi Fisher)
A few weeks ago, El Al CEO Dina Ben Tal Gannasia announced the launch of a direct flight line from Israel to Ireland.
There used to be direct charter flights from Israel, and a direct line from Tel Aviv to Dublin was even planned in 2021, but then the corona virus came and killed the cards.
The great absurdity is that the Irish company Rainier, the largest Lowcost company in Europe and very active in Israel, does not fly to any destination in Ireland.
Rainier was founded in Ireland and is headquartered at Shannon Airport.
Regardless of El Al's decision to start flying, we visited the island this summer.
How can you describe this island nation in one sentence?
In my eyes, it is a combination of spectacular landscapes, ancient culture and history, and warm-hearted people.
If you are into food, Ireland is probably not the ideal destination.
On the other hand, if you are into alcohol - take a driver on duty from Israel with you.
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The most visited site in Ireland.
Cliffs of Moher (photo: Walla! system, Yossi Fisher)
The view from the passage is simply mesmerizing.
Lake Killarney (photo: Walla! system, Yossi Fisher)
There is no way to describe the beauty of these cliffs
In my opinion, there are two main ways to see Ireland in a relatively short time - 7 days.
One is as part of an organized trip, and the other is through a rented car.
Keep in mind that the vehicles in Ireland are the same as in England and Scotland, and the roads in the important tourist areas are not highways.
We arrived in Dublin in the early afternoon, and since it gets dark relatively late in the summer - we went for a walk around the city.
The center of Dublin is not large and it is possible to pass most of the main landmarks within a few hours.
For those who want nightlife, a visit to one of the hundreds of traditional pubs in the city is a must.
Some of them have live music shows and these start in the evening - from 9:00 p.m. onwards.
The next day we drove from Dublin to the Cliffs of Moher, located on the southwest coast of Ireland.
It is a drive of nearly three hours, at the end of which you will reach the cliffs, which are also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is the most visited site in Ireland, and at any point in the season you are expected to see thousands of tourists there. Look at the pictures and videos. Breathtaking.
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To the full article
The Cliffs of Moher are also a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Photo: ShutterStock)
At any point in the season you are expected to see thousands of tourists there (photo: Walla! system, Yossi Fisher)
In the matter of entertainment?
The "Latin Quarter" of Galway
A short drive from the cliffs is Doolin Cave.
The cave was discovered by chance exactly 70 years ago by a pair of boys who were looking for tunnels.
In the cave is the third largest stalactite (stalactite) in the world and the largest in Europe.
It is 7.3 meters long.
It hangs from the ceiling and is a very impressive sight.
In the evening we arrived in the city of Galway.
One of the three largest cities in Ireland and one of the oldest - founded in 1124 AD.
What is noticeable from the first moment is the unique vibe of the city - it is a university city and many young men and women have chosen it as their place of residence.
The city has an entertainment district called the "Latin Quarter", which is full of pubs, bars, restaurants, as well as shops and galleries.
This is a must in the evening if you stay overnight in the city.
Other attractions worth visiting are the city's cathedral, Eyre Square, the Salthill promenade that stretches along the northern part of Galway Bay.
We skipped the castle (Galway Cathedral) which is near the city, because we are more interested in nature and landscapes and less in the history of castles.
It should be noted that Ireland is full of castles, some of them are open for visits and some can even be accommodated as guests for the night.
From there we went to Connemara National Park, which is great for a day trip from Galway.
It is an important national park that covers an area of about 2,000 dunams in green mountainous terrain, which serves as a home for many wild animals and diverse vegetation.
The park has 50 mountain peaks, the highest of which is Mount Benbaun, which reaches a height of 729 meters.
On a tour of the park, apart from the beautiful nature and landscapes, you can identify traces of ancient settlements and tombs that are about 4,000 years old.
The third largest in the world and the largest in Europe.
The stalactite (stalactite) in Dolin Cave (photo: Walla! system, Yossi Fisher)
The Victorian gardens at Beit Mukros (photo: Walla! system, Yossi Fisher)
Claymore Estate in Connemara National Park (Photo: Walla! system, Yossi Fisher)
A pub in the Latin quarter in Galway city (photo: Walla! system, Yossi Fisher)
Through the most beautiful landscapes in Ireland
On the fourth day of the trip we went to Killarney, as we drive along the "Atlantic Road" which is probably rightly considered the most beautiful scenic road in Ireland.
We spent a day traveling in the "Ring of Kerry" - a 170-kilometer route on winding roads, which surrounds the entire peninsula and provides beautiful views. It is advisable to stop in one of the towns on the peninsula. We chose to stop for lunch in the town of Kenmare, which is considered by many as the most beautiful town in the "Ring".
From the town we drove towards Killarney - where is Lake Killarney and the amazing Killarney National Park. It is not a long drive in terms of time, but definitely a challenging drive: you go from sea level to a height of several hundred meters and then reach the pass that connects the coastal area To the lake area The view from the pass is simply mesmerizing.
Two nights in the Killarney National Park are a small taste of the nature and landscapes in the area.
On a tour around the lake, it is important to visit Muckross House, which includes an old Victorian inn on the lakeshore and beautiful open gardens.
The ancient monastery, which is also called "Mokros", is a short walking distance from the guest house.
A short drive away is the Torc waterfall.
It is possible and recommended to rent a bicycle and reach these attractions that are a short ride away from the city of Cagliari.
Not far from there is Dinis Cottage.
The beautiful views around the cottage, which is connected to the mainland by an ancient bridge - are worth the visit.
You can stop for a short rest for coffee or a light meal at the cottage itself.
The Gap of Dunloe is a nine kilometer long mountain pass that rises from the lake.
This is one of the more challenging drives I've driven in Ireland in general: driving slowly on a one-lane road, with almost no curbs when cars, and even worse, horse-drawn carriages, come down from the other side, and you have to stop and give way to them.
Was it worth it?
Yes, definitely yes.
Ross Castle in Killarney is also worth a visit.
Not because of its beauty, but because of its strategic location on the shore of the lake.
It is more of a fortress than a castle.
The name is misleading.
Considered by many to be the most beautiful town in the Ring.
The town of Kenmare (photo: Walla! system, Yossi Fisher)
Dinis Cottage (Photo: Walla! System, Yossi Fisher)
Beautiful open gardens.
Mokros Guest House (photo: Walla! system, Yossi Fisher)
You can rent a bike and reach it a short ride from the city of Cagliari.
Turk waterfall (photo: Walla! system, Yossi Fisher)
Day trip from Killarney to Dublin.
The trip takes about three hours on the toll road.
We chose to stop a little over an hour away from Killarney in the city of Cork.
We didn't linger long, and went to see "The English Market" - an indoor food market that was established 250 years ago, and is still active.
For food lovers, this is the place to visit.
A very rich selection of local goods and imported goods.
If you are not in a hurry to get to Dublin, then there is a lot to see in the Cork area and in the city itself.
We had to get to Dublin early because we had tickets to the Riverdance show.
The show is now celebrating 25 years since it started and is highly recommended for those who love dance and music.
Seeing the show in an ancient theater in Dublin is not like watching a show in Las Vegas, Manhattan or the Culture Hall.
Established 250 years ago, and still active.
The English market in Cork (photo: Walla! system, Yossi Fisher)
A mountain pass that rises from the lake is nine kilometers long.
Danlo crossing (photo: Walla! system, Yossi Fisher)
A statue on the river in downtown Dublin (photo: Walla! system, Yossi Fisher)
Tips before traveling to Ireland
As long as there are no direct flights to Ireland and the rush at the major airports continues, fly with a connection of at least two hours in connection.
It is better to fly with a trolley - Ireland is home to Primark so if something is missing you can buy cheap.
When you rent a car - compare well between all providers.
The price differences are big.
Have full car insurance, as the nature of driving in Ireland will mean that the car may be slightly damaged.
Every scratch means a cost of hundreds of euros for you.
On toll roads, make sure to pay manually or with a credit card, otherwise if you pass without paying, the bill will chase you with interest and attachment.
If you are also flying in late summer, take into account that the vast majority of hotels in Ireland do not have air conditioning in the rooms, and opening windows does not really help.
Ireland is a member of the European Union and its currency is the euro.
Northern Ireland is a country in its own right and part of the United Kingdom.
If you were thinking of moving there, remember that you are leaving the EU and moving to the UK.
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