County Donegal The Wild Atlantic Way route gets its northern beginning in this county lying on Ireland’s northernmost coast. Conversely, visitors who begin the drive in the southernmost county of Cork will finish in County Donegal, a place that has plenty to offer in terms of sightseeing, attractions and activities. This largely Irish-speaking region is celebrated for its dramatic coastal landscapes, infamous rugged mountains, sheer sea cliffs, heather-covered slopes, ancient ruins and impressive attractions such as the fairytale-like Glenveagh Castle. Situated in the county’s northwest within Glenveagh National Park, this Scottish baronial-style edifice lies within a 16,000acre reserve among lush gardens and a mountain wilderness. Styled as a romantic highland retreat in the late 1800s, over the years it has hosted numerous famous guests, while today it is open for public viewing of its opulent interior, lavish furnishings and priceless antiques. People with a passion for ancient castles can also visit 15th-century Donegal Castle, a Norman tower house in the heart of the city of Donegal. Beyond the lure of castles, the county features more than 700 miles of sandy beaches, cliffs and inlets to explore. As a testament to the overall beauty of the Donegal County landscape and seacoast, it has attracted numerous moviemakers, with several major films being shot there. With more than a dozen castle sites, a deeply layered history and movie-quality views around every corner, it’s a not-to-bemissed part of the Wild Atlantic Way route. Among the county’s rarest attractions is Grianan of Aileach, a remarkably preserved 4,500-year-old dry-stone ringfort. The site is believed to have been an earthen hillfort before the massive dry-stone wall was built. Limerick Straddling the banks of the River Shannon, this outstanding city in southwestern County Limerick is renowned for its medieval heritage, vibrant arts scene and 13th-century architecture. While Limerick is an interior gateway city to the Wild Atlantic Way, its lack of open-ocean scenery is not a diminishing issue since its endless compensating factors are many. The city’s most defining and iconic landmark is its massive, 13th-century King John’s Castle – ranked as one of the most imposing fortresses in Ireland. Several huge towers overlook an inner courtyard where centuries of history unfolded. Visitors are drawn to this historic, multi-towered edifice for its pure magnitude, history and ghost stories. The building is considered highly haunted, with frequent reports of clashing armour, marching footsteps, clattering swords and phantom sightings. While the castle is the town’s standout feature, there are choices aplenty in this walkable city that mixes history with culture and urban energy. Endless activities and attractions include the Hunt Museum that houses an eclectic private collection of art and antiquities ranging from ancient Greece to works by masters such as Picasso and Renoir. Visitors can get physical by kayaking on the Shannon River or biking on the 25-mile-long Limerick Greenway. History buffs can learn everything there is to know about the city’s past at either the People’s Museum of Limerick or the Limerick Museum. Brewery tours and ever-present Irish pubs are integral to Limerick and, indeed, to Ireland overall. This is an exciting city that has soared from its decades-ago Ireland “hard times” period of famine, disease and deprivation to the thriving Limerick of today. The story of those long-ago days is famously told in the 1996 book, Angela’s Ashes, by Irish Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frank McCourt. 20 | www.snowbirds.org Travel
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