Castles, Houses & Follies<\/a><\/h2>\n\n![\"Trim](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/www.design42.com\/ireland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/icon-trim_castle-2.jpg?resize=167%2C150\")
<\/a><\/p>\nTrim Castle<\/a><\/p>\nTrim Castle is beside the River Boyne in Trim, County Meath, not far from Dublin. This is a spectacular castle, moat and everything. The Mel Gibson movie Braveheart was filmed here. Kids were climbing around on things and nothing was roped off.\u00a0 You can touch anything.<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.design42.com\/ireland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/icon-wonderful_barn.jpg?resize=167%2C150&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe Wonderful Barn<\/a><\/p>\nThe Wonderful Barn is really an eccentric grain storage barn with two pigeon-houses. They were built\u00a0 by the Squire Conolly\u2019s widow Katherine as a famine relief scheme following the potato famine of 1740-41. Some 70 feet tall with a staircase winding around the outside. Everything about them is unique.<\/p>\n
More Castles, Houses & Follies ><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nNatural Wonders<\/a><\/h2>\n\n![\"Giant\u2019s](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.design42.com\/ireland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/icon-Giants_Causeway-1.jpg?resize=167%2C150\")
<\/a><\/p>\nGiant\u2019s Causeway<\/a><\/p>\nGiant\u2019s Causeway was the most amazing thing I saw in Ireland. There are some 40,000 enormous columns like stepping stones leading from the cliff into the sea. It was so much more amazing than I ever expected. It is big and beautiful and don\u2019t miss it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.design42.com\/ireland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/icon-Cliffs-of-Moher-1.jpg?resize=167%2C150\")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe Cliffs of Moher<\/a><\/p>\nIf you are going to Ireland, you have to see the Cliffs of Moher. They are the Cliffs of Insanity in the Princess Bride movie. They are over 700 feet above the Atlantic overlooking the Aran Islands in Galway Bay. There is a Victorian tower and you can see a Napoleon Tower in the distance.<\/p>\n
More Natural Wonders ><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nCommunities: Hamlets, Villages, Towns and Cities<\/a><\/h2>\n\n![\"Trim,](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.design42.com\/ireland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/icon-Trim-1.jpg?resize=167%2C150\")
<\/a><\/p>\nTrim, County Meath<\/a><\/p>\nTrim is about an hour from Dublin. It has a great castle. You can explore other ruins in the area. The old town walls are there. You can just walk around, explore, touch and even climb on the castle, the walls, the gate, an old abbey, tower, hospital and other ruins. The town had lots of little shops.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n![\"Shannon](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/www.design42.com\/ireland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/icon-shannon_harbour.jpg?resize=167%2C150\")
<\/a><\/p>\nShannon Harbour<\/a><\/p>\nShannon Harbour is a very small village built where the Grand Canal meets the Shannon River. It was built in 1830 to provide accommodations to passengers traveling along the Grand Canal. There are large abandoned hotels and warehouses.<\/p>\n
More Communities: Hamlets, Villages, Towns and Cities ><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nTips: Things you need to know<\/a><\/h2>\n\n![\"Driving](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.design42.com\/ireland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/icon-Driving-1.jpg?resize=167%2C150\")
<\/a><\/p>\nDriving in Ireland<\/a><\/p>\nI totaled the first rental car. Nothing I had read prepared me for traveling in Ireland. The roads I was on were narrow. Really narrow. And signs, if there were any at all, were confusing.<\/p>\n
You need a GPS. Rent a small car. That sign means kilometers, not miles per hour. Drive on the left. Be careful. Irish police are very nice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n![\"Gorse\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.design42.com\/ireland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/icon-Gaelic-1.jpg?resize=167%2C150&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/p>\nIrish language, Gaelic<\/a><\/p>\nI had a very hard time understanding anyone when I first got to Ireland. They were speaking English, but I was not understanding the accent. It took a while. There are some areas where the signs are only in Gaelic, but usually English was also on the signs. People were very amused by my accent. One woman ran and got her husband, asked me to say it again, then exclaimed, \u201cShe sounds just like someone on the telly!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n![\"Gorse\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.design42.com\/ireland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/icon-Gorse-1.jpg?resize=167%2C150\")
<\/a><\/p>\nGorse<\/a><\/p>\nThat smell? Like suntan lotion or a Pina Colada? That is gorse. Gorse is a large dark green shrub with prickly stems and brilliant yellow flowers. Don\u2019t bring the seeds home. They live forever and spread to create an absolutely impenetrable thorny thicket. They are an invasive in some areas of the United States.<\/p>\n
More Tips: Things you need to know ><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\nPlaces to Stay: Bed & Breakfasts, Inns and Guest Houses<\/a><\/h2>\n\n![\"Crannmor](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.design42.com\/ireland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/icon-crannmore-1.jpg?resize=167%2C150\")
<\/a><\/p>\nCrannmor Country Guest House<\/a>
\nTrim, County Meath, Ireland<\/p>\nThis is a beautiful house built in 1825. It is set amid fields with donkeys and sheep. The baby lambs were just born when I was there. The bed was comfortable and I had a private bath. My host and hostess were wonderful, very friendly and helpful. This was a Bed & Breakfast, so in the morning I ate together with the other guests. Lots and lots of food was served in platters on the table.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n![\"Crannmor](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.design42.com\/ireland\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/icon-greenacres.jpg?resize=167%2C150&ssl=1\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
Trim Castle<\/a><\/p>\n Trim Castle is beside the River Boyne in Trim, County Meath, not far from Dublin. This is a spectacular castle, moat and everything. The Mel Gibson movie Braveheart was filmed here. Kids were climbing around on things and nothing was roped off.\u00a0 You can touch anything.<\/p>\n The Wonderful Barn<\/a><\/p>\n The Wonderful Barn is really an eccentric grain storage barn with two pigeon-houses. They were built\u00a0 by the Squire Conolly\u2019s widow Katherine as a famine relief scheme following the potato famine of 1740-41. Some 70 feet tall with a staircase winding around the outside. Everything about them is unique.<\/p>\n More Castles, Houses & Follies ><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Giant\u2019s Causeway<\/a><\/p>\n Giant\u2019s Causeway was the most amazing thing I saw in Ireland. There are some 40,000 enormous columns like stepping stones leading from the cliff into the sea. It was so much more amazing than I ever expected. It is big and beautiful and don\u2019t miss it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Cliffs of Moher<\/a><\/p>\n If you are going to Ireland, you have to see the Cliffs of Moher. They are the Cliffs of Insanity in the Princess Bride movie. They are over 700 feet above the Atlantic overlooking the Aran Islands in Galway Bay. There is a Victorian tower and you can see a Napoleon Tower in the distance.<\/p>\n More Natural Wonders ><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Trim, County Meath<\/a><\/p>\n Trim is about an hour from Dublin. It has a great castle. You can explore other ruins in the area. The old town walls are there. You can just walk around, explore, touch and even climb on the castle, the walls, the gate, an old abbey, tower, hospital and other ruins. The town had lots of little shops.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Shannon Harbour<\/a><\/p>\n Shannon Harbour is a very small village built where the Grand Canal meets the Shannon River. It was built in 1830 to provide accommodations to passengers traveling along the Grand Canal. There are large abandoned hotels and warehouses.<\/p>\n More Communities: Hamlets, Villages, Towns and Cities ><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Driving in Ireland<\/a><\/p>\n I totaled the first rental car. Nothing I had read prepared me for traveling in Ireland. The roads I was on were narrow. Really narrow. And signs, if there were any at all, were confusing.<\/p>\n You need a GPS. Rent a small car. That sign means kilometers, not miles per hour. Drive on the left. Be careful. Irish police are very nice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Irish language, Gaelic<\/a><\/p>\n I had a very hard time understanding anyone when I first got to Ireland. They were speaking English, but I was not understanding the accent. It took a while. There are some areas where the signs are only in Gaelic, but usually English was also on the signs. People were very amused by my accent. One woman ran and got her husband, asked me to say it again, then exclaimed, \u201cShe sounds just like someone on the telly!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gorse<\/a><\/p>\n That smell? Like suntan lotion or a Pina Colada? That is gorse. Gorse is a large dark green shrub with prickly stems and brilliant yellow flowers. Don\u2019t bring the seeds home. They live forever and spread to create an absolutely impenetrable thorny thicket. They are an invasive in some areas of the United States.<\/p>\n More Tips: Things you need to know ><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Crannmor Country Guest House<\/a> This is a beautiful house built in 1825. It is set amid fields with donkeys and sheep. The baby lambs were just born when I was there. The bed was comfortable and I had a private bath. My host and hostess were wonderful, very friendly and helpful. This was a Bed & Breakfast, so in the morning I ate together with the other guests. Lots and lots of food was served in platters on the table.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nNatural Wonders<\/a><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nCommunities: Hamlets, Villages, Towns and Cities<\/a><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nTips: Things you need to know<\/a><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nPlaces to Stay: Bed & Breakfasts, Inns and Guest Houses<\/a><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n
\nTrim, County Meath, Ireland<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n