Springtime
in Ireland
Braving the showers, many people come to Ireland in springtime
to enjoy some of its unique features, as Seamus O'Murchu outlines.
After the cold, dark winter months of January and February, Ireland
slowly begins to blossom in the springtime. Many people come to
the country at this particular time of year to admire and feel inspired
by the spring colours of Ireland or to engage in a range of outdoor
activities, from walking to fishing and whale spotting.
As the days grow longer and the temperatures pick up, Ireland's
springtime is a welcome relief from the winter months and even the
rain fails to dampen the atmosphere. At this time of year Irish
towns from Derry to Dingle hold their annual ‘Feis'
a festival of traditional Irish music and dancing, to celebrate
springtime and the rebirth of nature.
For places like the Burren in western Clare and the Aran Islands,
spring is the best time to visit. The Burren really comes into its
own during the spring season, as the unique mix of alpine, arctic
and Mediterranean flora begins to blossom. 75 % of Ireland's
native wild flowers are found here, from orchids to Burnett rose
and cranesbill, tucked in the narrow cracks or grykes across the
limestone landscape of the Burren. This quiet, rugged corner of
Ireland is also renowned for its prehistoric dolmens that dot the
landscape, while criss-crossing the area are the narrow paths of
the Green Roads. These ancient highways make up part of the Burren
Way, an excellent 32km walking and cycling route, which allows you
to view this unique landscape up close.
Just off
the western coast of Ireland, the Aran Islands follow the same geological
fault line as the Burren, and their rugged beauty is similar, with
the added charm of being Islands, apart from the rest of Ireland.
In the summertime these islands, particularly the largest, Inishmor,
become congested with tourists and day trippers from the mainland,
but in the spring time visitors get to sample the sense of remoteness
and island character along with the natural beauty of the Aran Islands.
Many people take to the hills in spring with walking festivals
can be found throughout the country. One of the most popular walking
areas in Ireland is the Wicklow Mountains, where the Wicklow Way
snakes along the peaks and glens for 132km, from the edges of Dublin
to County Carlow via such beauty spots as Glendalough and Avoca,
from the BBC's Ballykissangel. The Killarney National Park
is another of Ireland's most popular walking area, amidst
this Lakeland beauty are the MacGillycuddy Reeks and Ireland's
tallest peak, Carrantuohil (1041m). And if you don't like
the idea of walking, you can always view the scenery by horse and
cart. In Northern Ireland, the Mourne Mountains present equally
scenic walks amid spring blooming flora and lush forestry overlooking
the Irish Sea. There are also walking routes and springtime festivals
through the Twelve Bens of Connemara and the lesser trampled paths
of the Slieve Bloom Mountains a 77km waymarked trail in the centre
of Ireland, the Ballyhoura Mountains of Co. Limerick and the wonderful
Glenveagh National Park in Donegal.
Springtime also ushers in the fishing season and people from all
over the world come to Ireland to fish in the famous waters of Ireland's
western lakes, Lough Corrib, Lough Mask, Lough Conn and Lough Inagh.
Ireland is renowned for its coarse fishing and game fishing, covering
bream, pike, trout and of course salmon. The fly-fishing season
peaks around the start of May, when the May Fly hatches and fishermen
descend on towns like Oughterard, Portumna and Pontoon, which have
plenty of lakeshore B&Bs, sturdy boats and knowledgeable ghillies
to look after them.
But those in search of bigger fish should head for the coast, where
boat tours from ports on the south west and south east coast of
Ireland, depart in search of the variety of marine life that passes
through Irish coastal waters at this time of year. Visitors can
expect to see, dolphins, seals, orca whales and even the occasional
shark, basking shark that is.
So if you want to experience something a little out of the ordinary,
a little off the beaten track and to escape the crowds, a vacation
to Ireland in the spring could be just what you're looking
for - just be sure to bring a rain coat!
Seamus O'Murchu
Until this time next month...
Best Wishes,
Conor B & Seamus.
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