I HAVE A GREAT LOVE OF THE HISTORY OF IRELAND. I HAVE VISITED BELFAST, LONDONDERRY AND THE GIANT'S CAUSEWAY. I'M GOING NEXT IN DECEMBER AND AS WELL AS VISITING THOSE TWO CITIES AGAIN AND DUBLIN, I NEED ADVICE ON OTHER AREAS OF THE REPUBLIC I SHOULD INCLUDE. I HAVE ABOUT SIX TO EIGHT DAYS AND DON'T MIND DRIVING.
J. VINCE, MARRICKVILLE
Why not plan a driving trip between Belfast and Dublin? You could have a wonderful journey driving down the west coast through Donegal, Connemara, Galway and either the Ring of Kerry or the Dingle Peninsula. From there, turn eastward to take you through Kilkenny and Waterford and round it off with Dublin.
On Tourism Ireland's (ireland.com) homepage, The Wild Atlantic Way is a series of detailed self-drive itineraries that you could use to construct your journey along this coast, although you'll need to take a few shortcuts to fit it into the time you have available.
In December it's going to be cold, bleak and windswept, but that adds something special to the magic and mystery of the Irish landscape. You've a fair chance of spotting the Northern Lights at this time of the year.
