Favorite destination in Ireland?

Has to be Dingle. Love the scenery. We always go off season so don't find it too touristy. Find the drive breathtaking and so relaxing. The town itself is okay but once you drive over Connor Pass and drive the pensinula it just can't be beat in our opinion.

We love Dingle too. The drive around the peninsula is simply breathtaking! We enjoyed exploring the town itself, as everyone was so friendly! But honestly, what place in Ireland is not full of friendly locals?

We discovered Donegal in November 2013 and were captivated by the area around Donegal town, particularly Loch Eske. We stayed at the Arches and never tired of the view from our window of the Loch.
We also enjoyed Glenveagh National Park in County Donegal. It wasn't even on our radar until we arrived in Donegal. There is a lovely and easy hike around the lake going back to the castle. We had a nice lunch in the tea room. It was very relaxing. As we were there in off season, there couldn't have been 10 other tourists around.
A few nights in Donegal and then a few more in Dingle will likely makd up our trip the next time we are in Ireland.

I agree, has to be Dingle. It is so relaxing to just hang out there for a few days or a week. Love the music in the pubs, the friendliness of the people, the scenery, etc. Would love to be sitting in Murphy's Pub right now.

I love the Connemara region! Roundstone and Clifden are charming little towns, and the scenery around Lough Corrib and the Twelve Bens is stunning.

I have to join the chorus praising Dingle - the town is charming, and the peninsula is beautiful. But my very favorite place in Ireland is Great Blasket Island. It's stunningly beautiful and has great hiking/walking. It helps to know the history - there are numerous books by the people who lived there. The contrast between the beauty of the place and the hardships they endured on the island is hard to get your head around. Seeing the small ruined stone homes that they lived in helps bring their stories to life.

Dingle Peninsula, and specifically Clohane, South Pole Inn in Annascaul, and Dingle town. We visited these three sites and other places on a walking tour (Southwest Walks Ireland, Tralee). Clohane is a very small place with the Irish pub and hotel you imagine in your dreams. The South Pole Inn was once owned by Tom Crean, Antarctic explorer on two of Scott's expeditions and Shackleton's 1914-1916 Endurance voyage; what a story. Dingle town is comfortable and fun: a hardware store/bar is one example.

I stayed three nights in Dingle and it was the most memorable time of my Ireland trip. We took a tour of the Dingle peninsula, which is beyond beautiful. We spent time wandering the town and ate and drank in small pubs while listening to local live music. We took a boat tour with the famous Fungie the dolphin. At first I wasn't really sure what to expect, but it was amazing when the dolphin followed our boat, jumped beside us as we viewed this awesome Irish scenery. We also spent a day hiking Mount Brandon outside Dingle town, which was really a must do. My second most memorable time in Ireland was the Aran Islands.

Our TAUCK Tour group totally enjoyed staying at the Ashford Castle in 2012. It is the former summer home for the Guinness Beer Family.

Lots of wonderful advice but I would like to add that Galway was by far my favorite place in Ireland! I loved the setting, the people, history, and the hotels, shopping and restaurants were terrific! I hope to return soon to Galway; perhaps next year. I would also like to visit Donegal, specifically Ballyshannon, as my ancestors lived there.

When I last visited Ireland, we did see Dublin, which is well worth the visit but I should have done more research! We did see the Book of Kells and did a lot of general sightseeing, but missed many things that we should have taken the time to see.

For us it is a toss up between Dingle and Kinsale. Both are really neat harbor towns with great atmosphere and a lot to see the views of the harbor and the local walkable sight in Kinsale probably get my vote. As much as we liked Murphy's pub in Dingle I'd rather be having dinner at The Lord Kingsale in Kinsale. You can't go wrong with either one.

I love the Beara Peninsula, Healy Pass just took my breath away. Kilkenny will always have special place in my heart, the hole in the wall pub what a great concert the band played on the bar cause there wasn't enough room and my friend and I were the only non locals there. Fore near Lough Lene is a beautiful forgotten ruins of a cathedral. Sligo-town is Dublin without the American tourist. Lastly Rathmines (neighborhood in Dublin) is my home away from home.

A chairde/Dear Friends

I am one of Rick Steves' Ireland Tour-Guides, and have worked closely with Rick for over a decade, appearing many times on this PBS TV programme and his radio show and podcasts.

My guiding career has blessed me with the privilege of dividing my time between my two favourite destinations in Ireland.

1. DERRY (aka Londonderry… aka LegenDerry!!)
   Irelands most historic city and my home-town. It is a 'must-see' in my opinion due to its unique mix of history, politics and culture (both Irish and ethnic British - I very occasionally hear travellers comment they didn't come to Ireland to be exposed to any type of British culture, and if thats your liking then, as Rick would say, you need to change your liking, the protestant/British community in Ireland is very real and very relevant to the story of our beloved Island).
   I live on the now-revamped waterfront in the city-centre (one of the pivotal Allied Naval Bases in WW2, and 19th century departure point for millions of emigrants to North America, both Irish Catholic and Scots-Irish Presbyterian)
   Many visitors to Derry end up staying more than one night, Derry has such a magnetic charming pull. And they then use Derry as a base to take day trips to my beloved Donegal and also the Giants Causeway and even Belfast (its only 1.5 hours drive to Belfast from Derry)

2. DINGLE
   Rick Steves favourite Irish destination, and for very valid reasons.
   I have been visiting Dingle as a guide for 15 years, 15 times a year for 3 nights at a time and every time my tour-bus leaves Kinsale and we get on the road in the direction of Dingle, I can't help but start smiling like the Cheshire Cat!
   I also love to spend my free-time and vacations here, by the ocean, with my beautiful Irish Wolfhound puppy Seamus, looking at Fungi the Dolphin splash around out front as I sip my morning cappuccino! Before going into town for the most amazing fresh food, wonderful friendly locals, gorgeous scenery, the best music scene in Ireland bar none and the best pubs in Ireland therefore the world!!

Oh, and don't miss out on Dublin either. For those who are thinking 'but i hate big cities', Dublin is not a big city, doesn't feel like it anyway. Its the central nervous system of Ireland and its our historic Capital city, where we all go to for University, Rebellions and Football Games. Give it a try too! I think you'll love it, but only if you visit it with the right people or get the right travel-tips!

Is mise le meas/from me to you with respect
Stephen McPhilemy
Dingle & Derry
Ireland

My family and I loved Dingle, too, but my favorite experience was climbing Skellig Michael, off the southern coast of the Kerry peninsula. It's an ancient monastic site perched high on a single mountain island that one must boat to and then climb. The island abounds in Puffins, which perch and whir around you as you climb. At the top are numerous small beehive domiciles built of stone, where the monks lived a very harsh existence. An amazing experience. Close second would have to be Glendalough in county Wicklow. The most unexpectedly tranquil, spiritual experience I had in Ireland.