Southwest Ireland Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
NUTS Level III region of Ireland and is governed by the South-West Regional Authority
About Southwest Ireland
Great tides of influx and emigration have marked this region, and they literally were tides for the earliest settlers landing in small coves and creeks to populate the lowlands. Celtic tribes coalesced into petty kingdoms then into the entity of Munster. Vikings and Normans staked their claims but didn't get much beyond Cork before being repulsed, so it was only in Tudor times that England took a grip. Munster in the 12th century had fractured into a north and south kingdom:Deasmhumhainor South Munster, hence "Desmond", resisted long and hard until subdued in the 16th century. It only remained to divvy up the best of the land to loyal English nobles, which was how Sir Walter Raleigh came to be mayor and landowner in the east of County Cork through into Waterford. The rugged southwest was i
Southwest Ireland Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 12 sections including: