The Best & Worst of Ireland

These Top 10 lists are compiled from the responses of over 1000 people, all of whom visited Ireland between 2000 and 2005, to a survey which was published on this site in the latter part of 2005. 

Top 10 Best Things About Ireland

The friendliness of the people in Ireland topped many people's lists, with scenery a close second.

  1. The People
  2. The Scenery
  3. Good Food
  4. Quality of Accommodation
  5. Pubs
  6. Lack of crowds
  7. Castles/Historic Buildings
  8. Tour guides
  9. The weather
  10. Museums & Galleries

Top 10 Worst Things About Ireland

Many respondents found nothing at all bad to say about Ireland, but prices and the difficulties of navigating our roads came out very strongly as issues for visitors.

  1. High Prices
  2. Narrow/twisting Roads
  3. Heavy Traffic
  4. Visitor Centre Stores
  5. Poor road signs
  6. Litter in some towns
  7. Small hotel rooms
  8. People drunk on the streets at night
  9. Overdevelopment of some scenic areas
  10. Laundrettes hard to find

Top 10 Favourite Places in Ireland

Dozens and dozens of places were specified but these were the places you preferred.

  1. The Ring of Kerry
  2. The Burren & Cliffs of Moher
  3. Dublin City: Grafton St was most often mentioned closely followed by Christ Church and Dublin Castle.
  4. Dingle
  5. Newgrange
  6. Galway City
  7. The North Antrim Coast/Giant's Causeway
  8. Kilkenny City
  9. Connemara
  10. Glendalough

Top 10 Least Enjoyed Places to Visit

Almost 48% of survey respondents left the least enjoyed section blank, and so apparently never found themselves in a place they didn't like. Every single one of these places also featured in lists of favourite places, invariably getting more positive mentions than negative ones.

  1. Dublin City
  2. Galway City
  3. Killarney
  4. Cork City
  5. Temple Bar
  6. Ring of Kerry
  7. Limerick City
  8. Guinness Tour
  9. Bunratty
  10. Belfast City

 

More Information

For more information or with any questions relating to the survey and the compilation of these lists, please contact info@dochara.com

 

See also our comments and some user comments on the responses to the survey.

 

 

What You Said

"Everywhere I went Irish people were happy to chat, often at length, with this complete stranger."

 

"I know now that my ancestors could only have left this awesomely beautiful country under the most terrible pressure."

 

"The fantastic full double rainbow as we crossed the Shannon on a ferry!"

 

"Those links courses [golf] are scary, but in a good way!"

 

"A funny thing to say but the meals were all TOO good!"

 

"It was terrifying to drive on such small roads and there were very few places to pull over."

 

"I didn't travel across the Atlantic to be deposited at a modern mall in Cork city!"

 

"In Derry I realized I was looking at the very spot from which my ancestors left for America."

 

"The Ring of Kerry is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. Two years later I still think of it almost every day."

 

"The Ring of Kerry is overrated, very crowded and full of tourist rip-offs. There are so many more beautiful places where you can be almost alone"

 

"The Burren is a beautiful and mystical place. Its peace and serenity seemed to enter my soul."

 

"Kilkenny is the loveliest and most friendly city I have ever visited, my dream now is to retire there."

 

"Killarney is just a great big tourist trap, though the surrounding area is very beautiful."

 

"I loved Dublin for its cultural and historical places. Especially Christ Church, Dublin Castle, Grafton Street, the wonderful pubs and delicious food."

 

"Dublin is just the same as any big city - way too crowded, way too expensive and way too much traffic"