Munster, Ireland

Munster is home to one of the most spectacular coastlines anywhere and we spent almost a week exploring it by car, making frequent photo-stops. We drove around the ring of Kerry and the Dingle Peninsula and up the coast to visit the dramatic Cliffs of Moher.

Then we headed inland to discover the castles and historic sites of Shannon. We even stayed in a castle in the beautiful village of Adare.

This was one of our best European road-trips yet and we hope to recreate it, at a slower pace, in our motorhome.

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Latest Articles about Munster, Ireland

The Cliffs of Moher, County Clare, Ireland

This entry is part 5 of 6 in the series Exploring Ireland

The Cliffs of Moher, County Clare, Ireland

As a photographer, I am always looking for destinations rich in natural beauty.  While I love architecture and other man-made tourist sites, there is something particularly special about naturally occurring landmarks. One such place is the Cliffs of Moher, on Ireland’s west coast.

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Bunratty Castle

This entry is part 3 of 6 in the series Exploring Ireland

Bunratty Castle

Visiting historical sites is a great way of gaining an appreciation for events and places. In my previous post about the Castles of Shannon Heritage, I wanted to show history doesn’t have to be boring. I’d love to travel back in time, but sadly the time machine hasn’t been invented. However, there is Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, which does more than just present the history, it immerses you in it.

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Knappogue Castle, Quin, Co. Clare, Ireland

This entry is part 1 of 6 in the series Exploring Ireland

Dark and Foreboding, Knappogue Castle tower looms over the countryside.

Alison and I recently returned from a week-long road-trip of Western Ireland. One of the highlights was visiting the castles and heritage properties of the Shannon region.

While there, we visited no less than seven castles, abbeys, and tower houses. Even so, we barely scratched the surface, as there were hundreds of tower houses built during Norman rule, in the 12th century, and beyond. We decided to concentrate on properties maintained by Shannon Heritage. Each one had something special to engage the visitor and bring Ireland’s ancient history to life.

Studying history in school often requires boring memorization of dates and names. Luckily, I was inspired, early on, by a public school teacher who showed my class slides of his travels in Italy, Greece, and more. His personal descriptions of the places and their history made it more real to us as students.

Twenty-five years later, having had the opportunity to travel, I understand his passion for history.  When you visit historical locations in person, the story becomes much more engaging. If done right, such a visit should make you feel like you have stepped back in history. This is exactly what we found at the Shannon Heritage castles.

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