Making him fall in love

I am planning on taking my husband to Ireland for a week in September. Could you guys give me some suggestions about where to take him to - I want him to fall in love with the place! I am part Irish, but haven’t been back for 15 years. His only experience of Ireland was a business trip to Dublin in the 80s. I have a fantasy of moving back there...

What he loves is the sea, great beaches, lush valleys (maybe not many of those?!), small interesting towns with good cafes and pubs. I was thinking of going up the west coast – as far as Donegal perhaps?

I’d be really grateful for some suggestions of places to visit – off the beaten track, not touristy, odd places, beautiful places, maybe going out to an island (time and weather permitting).

Thanks!

Do Dublin for 2 days, drive across to Galway, down via the Cliffs of Moher to Cork, side trip to Mitzin point, up to the Rock of Cashel, back to Dublin, home. Watch out for the toll road M50 around Dublin en route to the airport, read up in advance about it.

Rather a lot of driving just for a week, Fwoggie. I'd stick around Galway area, out along the Wild Atlantic Way and move up into Sligo/Mayo. Around Westport/Newport is the Greenway for walking & cycling. Granted, you don't get lush valleys in Connemara but plenty of deserted beaches.

That sounds more like it! Anything with a visitor centre is out of the question, I'm afraid. (He works in tourism/heritage).
Also he has a vertigo problem so cliffs and Mizen would guarantee that he would not fall in love with the country. Sorry - I should have mentioned this!

Any particular recommendations of places to visit or stay would be most welcome.

I've got fond memories of Dingle and the beach at Inch. Is it ultra touristy now?

Yeah, go west young (wo)man. Go to Galway and north. Wicklow has your lush valleys but the west and north-west has the beaches. Atypical of this might be somewhere like Enischrone (Inischrone). A nice enough town of medium size with a big beach. Galway, Mayo, Donegal are your best choices. DIngle and everything south of the Shannon mouth is crawling with tourists during summer. Dingle was a 'mare when I was there in 2008. Christ. That's six years ago! Ahem. Anyway, Clonakilty quite nice down that neck of the woods, so is Baltimore.

Since you are part Irish I would start or include where your folks come from even if it is within one of the less fashionable counties which may only "merit" a couple of pages in your Ireland lp. As you will be aware for many of "going home" is part of the experience and that love of place and the intimacy of reaching your roots which hopefully will be picked up by your husband.

From there you will undoubtedly be within reach of some of the major sites for the rest of your holiday. And if not husband will be wanting to take you back anyway!

R

If you want real beauty and variety, with really interesting small towns and villages, but don't want the mass tourism vibe you get in parts of Kerry or Clare or Connemara, then West Cork really is the place to go. From Kinsale west, and especially around the peninsulas at Baltimore, Malin Sheeps Head, and Beara, you have a wonderful collection of interesting and out of the way places to explore. The only thing the area lacks from your list are great beaches - although there are a few lovely small beaches in Malin.

Dingle hasn't changed much over the years I've been going there (ok, since I first went in the early 70s, it has grown & "been discovered"...somewhat, but still not too overrun with tourists (like Killarney, Ring of Kerry) esp in September. Kinsale is a good option if you want to get away but still have amazing scenery and a lively pub scene. Galway, which has boomed since the 60s, when I first remember it is a good base from which you can explore the Burren and Connemarra.

The weather this summer has not been great, so I'd factor in that potential if I was trying to impress someone with Ireland (the Guinness Brewery is MUCH more interesting that it was when it was in the dark, dingy downstairs location & once you reach the top floor (6th?) you get to enjoy an amazing view of Dublin w/a pint.

I agree that finding a relative or two will enhance the trip & the Irish are the most welcoming people. I was born in Galway and LOVE going back...it truly does feel like home and everyone welcoming you home is always heartwarming. No matter what ethnicity my friends were in bringing them with me, my grandmother always had their family connected to the area).

Enjoy...