There’s been much talk in recent weeks about the green list, the countries that don’t require 14 days restricted movement after travel. But at the end of the day, official advice is don’t travel abroad unless it’s essential.

So that means one thing, a staycation is on the cards, and in this edition we’re shining a light on Munster, with travel tips right across the province for you.

At this point it might be a good idea to add a disclaimer that the writer of this article hails from Munster herself (Luimneach abú) and is naturally totally and utterly biased towards the beauty and brilliance of the province.

But on a serious note, my childhood holidays were all taken in and around these counties. So (I think) I know the good and the bad. We won’t get into the holiday home trip of 2002 (location undisclosed) that was cut short after one night. Here’s the good.

Clare

Suckler in Doolin with the Cliffs of Moher in the distance. \ Philip Doyle

Co Clare boasts Ireland’s second most popular tourist attraction, the Cliffs of Moher. With over 1.5 million visitors in 2019, it was second only to the Guinness Store House. If you haven’t been, it’s definitely one for the bucket list. At the moment to control numbers, entry is through online booking only on www.cliffsofmoher.ie. Fr Ted’s House is about a 40-minute drive from the Cliffs and for fans of the show it’s definitely worth visiting to take a picture outside. It’s smack bam in the middle of the Burren too, so the karst landscape is sure to provide spectacular scenery. What we know as Craggy Island’s parochial house is in fact Glanquin Farmhouse on the McCormack family’s farm. Normally you can book to go in for tea (“Tea, Father?”) but at present the facilities are closed due to COVID-19.

If you’ve been to the Cliffs, fear not, Clare has plenty more to offer. In and around Loop Head Peninsula in the south of the county there’s plenty to do. Part of Star Wars: The Last Jedi was filmed here and a giant Éire sign is left over from the Emergency. The Bridges of Ross are a trio of spectacular sea arches and a 10-minute drive will bring you on to Loop Head Lighthouse itself. Following the Shannon Estuary inland from here, at Killimer you can take the ferry across the Shannon Estuary to Tarbert, Co Kerry. It leaves every hour, on the hour from the Clare side, and every hour on the half hour on the Kerry side.

Kerry

A Kerry mountain ram set against Derrygarriff, Moll's Gap, Co Kerry. \ Valerie O'Sullivan

It was reported recently that Kerry is to be one of the worst affected counties by the pandemic economically, due to its reliance on tourism. So let’s show some love, shall we?

Kerry relies on tourism for good reason; it has coastline, it has mountains, it has lakes. The scenery is nothing short of stunning, and the county has the accommodation, restaurants and shops to back it up.

Anyone who has spent any amount of time with a Kerry person will know they like to refer to their county in north, mid and south – to give but a brief overview.

In the north of the county, Wild Water Adventures is perfect for water sports lovers or those who just want to give water sports a go. Activities offered include open-water swimming and kayaking, among others. These should definitely get the heart rate up. Check out www.facebook.com/wildwaterKerry/

The Great Blasket Island.

Killarney is the well-known hotspot in mid-Kerry. The ruins of Muckross Abbey in Killarney National Park are great to visit. The well-preserved ruins include a church, tower, fine windows and vaulted cloister. A nice spot to eat is The Strawberry Field pancake house near Moll’s Gap, which serves delicious sweet and savoury pancakes.

In west Kerry, a visit to the Great Blasket Island is a super experience. Boat tours to the uninhabited island leave from Dingle and can be booked online at www.greatblasketisland.net.

Cork

Doneraile Court. \ Donal O' Leary

Cork, the “real capital of Ireland”, or so Cork people will tell you anyway... Jokes aside, Cork is Ireland’s largest county, so you can be guaranteed from top to bottom there’s plenty to see there. West Cork is probably the county’s most famous tourist destination due to its rugged peninsulas and fabulous beaches. Clonakilty is a great place to base yourself for accessing west Cork. One Clonakilty native informs me it’s the cultural capital of west Cork! It’s home to Ireland’s only model village, The West Cork Railway Village, with fully working trains.

The Bridges of Ross. \ Valerie O'Sullivan

There’s of course not one, but two museums dedicated to Clonakilty’s favourite son; the Michael Collins Heritage Centre and the Michael Collins House. For history buffs, a trip to Béal na Bláth where Collins was shot might be in order. It’s less than 30 minutes from Clonakilty.

In north Cork, Doneraile Wildlife Park has super (not too hard) walks on its 400ac parkland. Last summer Doneraile Court, the “big house” on the estate, opened to the public after extensive renovations and is proving very popular.

Waterford

JJ'S Truck Stop. \ Donal O' Leary

First thing’s first; grub. If you’re travelling to Waterford via the N25 from Cork you have to stop at JJ’s Truckstop. JJ Fitzgerald is a former Irish Country Living cover star, who runs an American-style diner on the Cork side of the Youghal Bridge, although he’s adamant the food truck is still in Waterford. They do a great rasher sandwich or a fry.

The Waterford Greenway really is a must do while visiting the Déise. The great thing about it is, whatever your cycling ability, you can do as little or as much as you want. It’s pretty flat the whole way too, which makes it manageable.

The Greenway stretches for 46km from Waterford city to Dungarvan along an old railway line. From the Copper Coast to the Comeragh Mountains, viaducts and Viking settlements, there’s loads to see along the way. The green fingered among us should stop at Mount Congreve Gardens.

Mount Congreve, Co Waterford. \ Alan Golden

Waterford Greenway Bike Hire rent bikes in Dungarvan, Kilmacthomas and Waterford city. If passing through Kilmacthomas make sure to stop at Coach House Coffee in the Famine Workhouse, for a quick coffee and a tasty treat.

Those looking for a less active, but still picturesque day out, should visit Dunmore East in the southeast of the county. The Lighthouse Bar and Restaurant has an amazing view across to Hook Head in Co Wexford.

Tipperary

The Swiss cottage, Cahir, Co Tipperary.

It’s a long way to Tipperary

Not really though, all in all, it’s quite central.

If there’s two things Tipperary has got plenty of, it’s beautiful mountains and beautiful castles. We’ll come back to the castles in a minute. Tipp is great for mountain climbers and hill walkers alike.

The Galtee Mountains stretch for 20km from Mitchelstown to Cahir and offer loads of different hiking options. However, they’re not for the faint hearted. Galtymore is rated as difficult and care should be taken on it. Slievenamon, just outside Kilsheelan, is another good option for hiking aficionados.

In terms of castles, well, let’s start with the Rock of Cashel. Again, like the Cliffs of Moher, the Rock of Cashel is iconic and if you haven’t visited, now is the time. It’s more formally known as St Patrick’s Rock and also as Cashel of the Kings. The Rock of Cashel was the seat for the High Kings of Munster. Most of the buildings on the site date back to the 12th and 13th centuries when the rock was gifted to the Church.

Lambs grazing around the Rock of Cashel. \ Philip Doyle

Another nice attraction to visit in Tipp is the Swiss Cottage outside Cahir. It’s an ornamental cottage built in the 1800s. The thatch roof and external woodwork, that looks like the branches of trees, make it very striking.

Limerick

The Milk Market Limerick. \ David Ruffles

Let’s get things out in the open here; back in the day Limerick had a bad rep, but that’s changed now. All people are talking about is how up and coming the county is (and not just in the hurling) and the personality it exudes.

The first stop on our tour of Limerick has to be the Milk Market in the city. It’s made up of both stalls and shops. The real action is on a Saturday morning for the farmer’s market, and make sure to be there early. From fresh fruit and veg to freshly baked goods and artisan cheeses, it’s a foodie’s dream. There’s loads of other stalls to browse too. Having gone to the Milk Market very many Saturdays during my childhood, it’s only something I began to really appreciate when I left home.

Travelling out into the county then, for those who want some gentle exercise, Curraghchase Forest park in Kilcornan on the N69 has lovely walking trails. There’s also a campsite here. Plenty of history surrounds the De Vere family and the “big house” in which they lived. See if you can find their animal graveyard.

On the N22 Adare village is a well-known tourist spot. There’s great places to eat after a walk around the village. The Good Room specialises in breakfast and lunch. Everything on their menu is pretty delicious, I’ve tried it all. Those looking for a treat, the Carriage House in the Adare Manor has a lovely atmosphere, without breaking the bank.

Remember

With more people out and about, now more than ever it’s important to follow public health guidelines on social distancing. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun, just remember to wash your hands.

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