Irish Blues and Greens
The Ireland most people think about is the reason it is called the Emerald Isle: the miles and miles of nothing but green hillsides and valleys. (And sheep). The green rolls all around you, on all sides, often straight into the sea. From time to time, you find crumbling Gaelic ruins.
The green grasses are intense and vibrant. I try to think of the correct hue from the Crayola box, but can only come up with shamrock green. You know the green always associated with St. Patrick’s Day? That is the color of County Clare and County Kerry. Only it is real, not manufactured.
You can’t get the true sense from the pictures of what it feels like to be surrounded by all of that vibrant green, so you’ll just have to take my word for it and go there yourself someday.
Many of the small Irish towns share the same characteristics of being based around a a main street lined with bright multi-colored shops and pubs. They all have that look – that Irish look – but none more than the towns in County Clare and County Kerry.
Doolin:
Dingle:
There are lots of other special places around the Republic, but County Clare and County Kerry were our favorites (with County Donegal as a runner-up).