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Best Place to Holiday in Ireland 2022: Six Irish counties produce no entries

Cork has 68 entries for the Irish Times contest, but some counties have none

Catching some morning surf in Castlegregory, Co Kerry. Photograph: Fáilte Ireland

Thu May 26 2022 - 07:00

With just over one week left to enter, Cork is the Irish county with the highest number of nominations so far in the Irish Times Best Place to Holiday 2022 competition. More than 300 people have entered the competition, from almost every county in Ireland, and 68 of them have nominated locations in Co Cork. This moves Cork ahead of Monaghan (with 56 entries) as the county with most entries. By contrast, Armagh, Carlow, Limerick, Meath, Tyrone and Westmeath have produced no entries yet.

The Irish Times is searching for the Best Place to Holiday in Ireland, in association with Fáilte Ireland, by asking people to nominate their favourite holiday destination – a town, village, city, island or region – using the form in this article. If you are reading this in the Irish Times App, click here.

And it’s not just a numbers game. Once the entries have close, a panel of judges and researchers will scour Ireland to check out the places you’ve suggested – before announcing a winner later in the summer. Thanks to everyone who has entered so far. Entries close on June 7th.

To help inspire you, here are some of the entries sent in so far by readers, for the places they consider the Best Place to Holiday in Ireland, 2022.

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Sinéad Gillard, owner of Jinny’s Tea Rooms, in Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times

Drumshanbo: ‘The natural beauty of Co Leitrim’

Drumshanbo in Co Leitrim, meaning ridge of the old huts, is without a doubt my favourite place to holiday in Ireland. This scenic town is situated at the foot of Sliabh an Iarainn (Iron Mountain), where iron ore is said to have been used in the construction of Dublin’s Halfpenny Bridge, and on the banks of Acres Lake. This beautiful, tranquil town is known for its traditional music scene, and as the home of Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin.

If you love the great outdoors, you can enjoy a walk with a difference on the Acres Lake Boardwalk, a 600m structure extends over the lake. Visitors may also walk the Sliabh an Iarainn Looped Walk, the Miner’s Way and Historical Trail. Keep active by enjoying a Slow Adventure that the entire family will love. Go stand-up paddle boarding or kayaking and explore all the hidden secrets and the natural beauty that Drumshanbo and Co Leitrim possess. Enjoy a dip or go for a leisurely few laps in Drumshanbo’s outdoor swimming pool, one of Ireland’s only outdoor swimming pools.

If you are holidaying in Drumshanbo during the summer months, you will have the privilege of witnessing An Tostal festival. There is on-street entertainment, traditional music everywhere and a famous “Stylish Silage” competition.

No trip to Drumshanbo is complete without paying a visit to the Shed Distillery, the home of Connacht’s first whiskey for 105 years. Enjoy a guided tour of the distillery and don’t forget to get your hands on a bottle or two of the famous Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin for a post-holiday tipple.

One visit to Drumshanbo and you will be hooked forever. What are you waiting for? – Cian Guckian

Inishowen, Co Donegal: ‘What more could anyone ask for?’

Wonderful things come in small packages. Inishowen is a 100km-circular route enclosing majestic mountain hills, superb sandy beaches of a surfing paradise, Banba’s Crown (the most northerly headland in Ireland), the wondrous Grianan of Aileach fortress, the majestic splendour of Lough Swilly on one side and Lough Foyle on the other, with ocean views of Tory Island and Scotland’s Inner Hebrides, as well the Causeway Coast and Glens and the north Donegal coastline, dotted with a multitude of friendly towns and small villages.

Throw in some award-winning restaurants, wonderful pubs, music and culture, and this is the perfect getaway for a summer holiday. Then add the adjacent, welcoming and historic walled city of Derry on its doorstep for an added triple bonus of sightseeing, shopping and hospitality. What more could anyone ask for? – Darach MacDonald

Castlegregory, Co Kerry: ‘It packs a seasonal punch’

“Castle” or indeed, “the Maharees”, is a tombolo on the Dingle Way. Steeped in dramatic history of sunken ships and Roger Casement, this piece of paradise lost is off the beaten track. It packs a seasonal punch in terms of things to do, with watersports, lessons and equipment for hire, sea and lake fishing, golf links, pier diving, mussel picking, pony trekking, scuba diving, and safe sea swimming for all ages. Did I mention the endless white strands edged with marram grasses?

For those that like a challenge, Mount Brandon watches over the white strands and surf. The weary climber can pitstop on Brandon Pier (on the descent leg of the trip) at the award-winning family-run Murphy’s Bar for sustenance. A local highlight is the annual rowing regatta.

Finally, it is worth noting that the local residents work to make Castle more sustainable, replanting marram grass, crowd-funding a playground, organising beach clean ups and much more. – Kelly O'Sullivan

Tramore, Co Waterford. Photograph: Patrick Browne

Tramore, Co Waterford: ‘The town retains its unique style’

Tramore evokes memories of Irish holidays from the 80s, before everyone started flying abroad. The wonderful thing about Tramore is that is has managed especially over the last 10 years to not only build itself up as a fantastic staycation option but also to retain the magic it always had.

The name Tramore comes from its the amazing three-mile beach for swimming, surfing and walking to the sand dunes. It’s an incredible natural phenomenon and one of the best examples of sand dune formation throughout Ireland.

Let’s not forget the fabulous eateries that have sprung up in the town for lunch and dinner options. The town of Tramore has retained its unique style that goes back to Victorian times when the town was regularly visited by those wishing to take the seawater.

Walking the Doneraile off church road allows you view the bay, all the way from the Metal Man on one side to Brownstown head on the other.

A trip out to Newtown cove allows great swimming and diving under the watchful eye of the Metal Man, built to warn ships off the rocks.

Enjoy the lovely hotels and other accommodation in the area and the warm welcome from the people of Tramore. The townspeople have kept the town clean and beautiful under the tidy towns committees.

For the children let’s not forget the amusements or, as we used to say “going down around”.

The tourist destination of Tramore remains as strong – and even stronger – than that of years ago. – Ria Mahon Lawlor

Best Place To Holiday