There’s always a premium on sea views and we had the crack of one over Greystones, Co. Wicklow. Here are my five fave Irish beaches.
Bear with me
Greystones, Co. Wicklow: And home for 13 years where the harbour expanded … and the promenade grew a Teddy Bear.
The Stones, as the young locals call it, will always be with me.
There’s a North and South Beach. If you climb up North you can take the scenic Bray Cliff Walk while walk south and you can get all the way to Wicklow.
Visit www.visitwicklow.com. And stay at Powerscourt Hotel https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/dubak-powerscourt-hotel-autograph-collection/?scid=bb1a189a-fec3-4d19-a255-54ba596febe2&y_source=1_MjU3ODIzOC03MTUtbG9jYXRpb24uZ29vZ2xlX3dlYnNpdGVfb3ZlcnJpZGU=. And Flowerscourt.
Ulster’s finest
Portnoo, Co. Donegal: Belfast Helen was my first girlfriend, if you don’t count Glasgow Helen who I think I proposed to in kindergarten.
But Tomboy Helen was just a pal who stayed in the guest house on the beach… we trawled the rock pools.
When the tide is out you can walk to an island where there is a graveyard. What’s not to love. See https://www.govisitdonegal.com.
The West is alive
Salthill, Co. Galway: Summer holidays were spent in Ireland, and in my early teens in Salthill.
Which you might know from the Steve Earle song ‘Galway Girl’.
I never did ‘take a whirl round the Salthill Prom with a Galway Girl’ but I did enjoy the go-karts and the roller disco.
Visit www.galwaytourism.ie.
Tramore’s the merrier
Tramore, Co. Waterford: Fairgrounds were a bit of a backdrop to my childhood holidays.
And there was always a thrill in bumping an adult in a dodgem car.
My parents had more sense than to take me on but Mary, my Godmother’s neighbour indulged me. See https://tramore.ie
And Bono’s beach
Killiney, Co. Dublin: When we decided to dive in and live in Ireland we looked first at Killiney, Dublin’s Millionaire Row.
Where a young imp gave us directions to the rental house we were viewing.
‘Just down the road, turn left along the beach, past Bono’s house, go along a bit, turn left and you’re there.
Desiiiiiire!
And I’ll dig you out my thoughts on Killiney Castle Hotel https://www.fitzpatrickcastle.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI95ffj97o6QIVg7HtCh3mxAJvEAAYASAAEgIkYPD_BwE too so watch this space.
MEET YOU ON THE BEACH
