The approach to Baltimore takes you through a landscape that is disarmingly low-key.

Instead of some dramatic climax at this, the most southerly point of all Ireland, the land seems simply to be fading away: rocky terrain and scrawny vegetation accompany the windy, listless estuary, untidy with lumps of land that seem to have been tossed at random towards the sea.

The whole ragged effect is as if the country is running out of substance; the landmass, already moth-bitten, is now fraying, too. But as the ocean comes into full view this tailing off is put into spectacular context: the whole weight of Ireland is behind you, while ahead are dots, wracks and scraps of islands, petering out across the great open expanse of water to Sherkin and Clear Islands .

Ireland
guide

 

Ireland
guide

Ireland guide

Ireland
When to go
Climate
Getting there
Getting around
Food & drink
Music, festivals
Major festivals
and events
Where to go
People & land
Best of Ireland
Irish Glossary

Explore Ireland
Cavan and
   Monaghan
County Cavan
County Cavan Brief
    history
Ballyajamesduff
Cavan Town
Lough Oughter
West Cavan
County Monaghan
Carrickmacross
Castleblaney
Clones
Glaslough
Iniskeen

Monaghan Town
Transportation,
restaurants, tourist
     office
Brief History

County Clare
Shannon Int'l
     Airport
East Clare Way
The Burren
Culture
Transportation
Sports
Kilkenny
Laois

Ennis Town
Around Ennis
Lahinch
Lough Derg
Killaloe
Scarriff
Southwest Clare: Scattery Island
Kilkee

County Cork
Buses, trains, ferries

Exploring County Cork
Baltimore and the Irlands
Bantry
Beara Peninsula