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No doubt; there are a lot to see in Ireland. However, I decided only to spend three weeks here, and I have found some highlights. And I have cut down on the amount of cities, villages, distilleries, breweries, castles, churches, historical sites, pubs, gardens, endless hiking trails, national parks and especially museums.
I have even cut down on the sites I first found, leaving me with 85 highlights, including some scenic roads in-between. I have saved some "spare sights" below, should I find the time - or return another day?
The sights are scatted around the island, and I consider the drive in-between to be one of the main sights - estimated 4800 km. I have rented a car, pre-booked all hostels, and travel quite fast. A map below show the approximate location of the sights. The numbers reefers to the page in Lonely Planet Ireland 2020.
August should be a good month, when the warmth of the summer is present, and the rain not too bad (for Ireland). Maybe not that many flowers as in the spring though.
IRELAND Lonely Planet 2020 May-August

Page

Site  Hotels, Roads Why? GPS
153B Powerscourt Waterfall 121m 6km from Estate, Ireland's highest 53.146550, -6.210507
H1 Windy Acre 15-22 2+3. Breakfast + kitchen 52.187845, -6.365513
155 Glendalough "the most beautiful corner", monastery 53.007162, -6.347806
162 Glenmacnass Waterfall Cascade in deserted, wild bogland 53.064206, -6.336785
152 Old Military Rd. R115 Through forest in Wicklow Mountains 53.080830, -6.355733
208 Altamont Gardens "Magnificent landscape garden" 52.735197, -6.720771
210 Clonegal "Picturesque village" 52.694553, -6.647477
179 Wexford Town Maze of medieval streets 52.342240, -6.463945
188 Tintern Abbey "Don't miss" 52.236989, -6.838438
188B Hook Peninsular W's oldest lighthouse, scenic drive 52.124084, -6.930528
H1 Windy Acre 2+3. Breakfast + kitchen 52.187845, -6.365513
220 Inistoge Village, bridge, R700: scenic 52.487192, -7.064238
208B Borris Georgian village, B. House 52.599535, -6.922566
211 Kilkenny City Castle, walls 52.649955, -7.249445
211B Rothe House & Gard. in Kilkenny Ireland's finest Tudor merchant's house 52.654302, -7.254447
217 Kells Priory "Evocative and romantic monastery" ruin 52.536552, -7.268176
193 Waterford City Oldest city, walls, The Mall Lane 52.259410, -7.105801
198 Dunmore East Scenic drive west to Tramore, 15km 52.171969, -7.070931
200 The Copper Coast R675 scenic E: 52.153724, -7.174087 52.095239, -7.600192
H2 Fennessy's Hotel 4+5. Breakfast NO kitchen 52.354619, -7.702293
340 Cahir Castle Huge, well restored, views 52.374888, -7.926785
336 Rock of Cashel "most spectacular historic sights" 52.519828, -7.891139
335 Glen of Aherlow   N24 25km scenic drive: Tipperary-Cahir 52.427408, -8.025239
H2 Fennessy's Hotel 4+5. Breakfast NO kitchen 52.354619, -7.702293
252 Drombeg Stone Circle Well, Stone Circle 51.564721, -9.086742
254 Lough Hyne "natural wonder", trail, NR 51.506307, -9.303286
264 Beara Peninsula R574 across, Healy Pass 51.721168, -9.756512
269 Allihies village Colourful houses 51.641639, -10.044217
269B R575; not R 571 Small coastal, scenic roads 51.666698, -10.017849
H3 Dempseys Hostel  6+7+8+9. Kitchen 51.708157, -8.514753
243 Middeltons Farmer's Market Saturdays 9-13 51.915377, -8.173721
268 Gougane Barra Forest Park "Truly magical spot", walk or drive 51.830671, -9.331792
287 Moll's Gab N71 Killarney - Kenmare 32 km road 51.938479, -9.657645
285 Gab of Dunloe Scenic pass 52.016824, -9.635822
282 Aghadoe Hilltop 5km west: "jaws drop view" 52.076541, -9.555082
H3 Dempseys Hostel  6+7+8+9. Kitchen 51.708157, -8.514753
205B Lismore Farmers Market Sundays 11-16, food, art, craft 52.138379, -7.932753
Cork city Castle, colourful houses, cathedral  
245 Kinsale "Picturesque harbour",  51.705210, -8.522170
H3 Dempseys Hostel  6+7+8+9. Kitchen 51.708157, -8.514753
299 Staigue Fort from 3-400 51.805032, -10.017070
297 Kerry's Most Spectacular Cliffs 305m high, 800m trail 51.869329, -10.380600
287B Ring of Kerry road 179km beach, ruins, mountains, 51.820406, -10.171581
293 Glanleam House  - and especially the Gardens 51.923967, -10.318907
304 Dingle Town Cosy and the drive to it 52.139606, -10.271038
H3 Dempseys Hostel  6+7+8+9. Kitchen 51.708157, -8.514753
333B Kilmallock "Best preserved medieval town" 52.399245, -8.573775
333 Lough Gur Grange Stone Circle 52.521836, -8.519371
330 Scenic N69 58km 52.605942, -9.019869
H4 Rowan Tree Hostel before 21 10+11.  kitchen 52.846036, -8.982813
354 Killaloe Picturesque town, bridge 1770 52.807402, -8.439788
324 King John's Castle 1200-1212 Massive! 52.670010, -8.624299
331 Adare "Ireland's prettiest village" 52.564056, -8.790964
356 Vandelour Walled Garden "Stunning 'lost garden'" 52.631403, -9.476499
H4 Rowan Tree Hostel before 21 10+11.  kitchen 52.846036, -8.982813
363 Ennistimon "postcard perfect main street" 52.939885, -9.293444
363B Cascades Behind Byrne's Inn in Ennistimon 52.939205, -9.293741
376 R480 Barren scenery on Burren 53.046475, -9.140590
377 Poulnabrone Dolmen 5000 years old 53.048661, -9.140070
377B Glenninsheen Wedge Tomb 4-5000 years old 53.064760, -9.149996
H5 Sleepzone Galway City 12. Kitchen? 53.276746, -9.050249
412 Roundstone Bog Road: R-Clifden (w from R341, 4km n of R.) 53.446606, -9.936374
411 Roundstone village Harbour, picture-perfect 53.395831, -9.918933
408 Connemara Landscape along N59 53.558395, -9.889673
431 Westport Georgian town, harbour,  53.800360, -9.521569
435 Newport Picturesque 18th cent village, viaduct 53.884890, -9.545601
440 Ballycroy National Park Scenic bog, mountain views - trail 54.024673, -9.823811
H6 The Woodlands 13. Breakfast + kitchen 54.020982, -9.316430
441 Céide Fields 8km e.of Ballycastle, huge, 6000y 54.308030, -9.456351
440B Dún Briste Sea Stack Cliffs, sea stack, the road 54.326733, -9.347643
452 Scenic drive (R297+ small) Sligo to Enniscrone and Killala Bay 54.269857, -8.756746
H7 The Ballyboe Boarding House 14+15+16. Own kitchen-like 54.958969, -7.740758
460 Donegal Town Nice, castle 54.653878, -8.109765
467 Sliabh Liag Sea Cliffs 600m. 54.627303, -8.684628
470 Glengesh Pass Views! 54.719755, -8.490473
470B Ardara village, Maghera Strand Assarancagh Waterfall 54.758573, -8.513615
H7 The Ballyboe Boarding House 14+15+16. Own kitchen-like 54.958969, -7.740758
482 Glenveagh National Park  R251+R254, lakes 54.989070, -8.050216 55.035766, -7.968604
482 Glenveagh National Park  R251+R254, lakes 55.035766, -7.968604
475 Scenic drives To Horn Head.    Crolly  WF: 55.019697, -8.268287
477 Horn Head Viewpoint, the drive to it 55.215365, -7.977782
484 Rosguill Peninsula 15km Atlantic Drive 55.225249, -7.851557
486 Rathmullan - Portsalon road Roller caster road, Knockalla Fort 55.167148, -7.574251
H7 The Ballyboe Boarding House 14+15+16. Own kitchen-like 54.958969, -7.740758
488 Grianán of Alieách Fort, eye-popping views 55.024707, -7.426775
N.Ire Londonderry, Carrickmore and th lakes  
H6B Easkey Hostel 17. Breakfast + kitchen 54.286304, -8.962497
455 Lough Glencar Waterfall 15m, "most beautiful area" 54.340182, -8.368630
451 Carrowmore Megalithie Huge, 30 sights 54.250894, -8.519360
453 Carrowkeel Megalithic Cemetary Remote, desulated, 14 tumbs 54.057187, -8.379364
499 Rathcroghn 60 ancient Royal Celtic monuments 53.778755, -8.253833
xxx Kilmacduagh Round Tower 34m Highest round tower in Ireland + ruins 53.047829, -8.887377
509 Birr town Elegant Geo. Oxmant. Mall, castle + garden 53.098121, -7.911927
H8 The Ring Farmhouse 18. Breakfast  NO kitchen 53.080982, -7.883790
518 Slieve Bloom Mountains Remote, wild, Cut Mountain Pass 53.083922, -7.600298
506 Belvedere House & Gardens Greenhouses 53.476740, -7.367590
534 Trim Castle I's largest Anglo-Norman fortification 53.554936, -6.790895
524 Brú na Bóinne: Only Newgrange One of Europe's largest old burial sights 53.693486, -6.476122
H9 Spoon and the Stars Hostel 19. Kitchen + breakfast 53.713146, -6.342843
109 National Botanical Gardens Nice old greenhouses 53.371122, -6.270651
147 Howth The castle and garden, w. market 53.386412, -6.078794
Dublin City Free parking near hostel 53.352583, -6.249690
H10 The Foundry Dublin Bef. 20+21 Kitchen 53.353082, -6.250406
147B Howth weekend market Didn't bother to go there after all 53.388690, -6.073166
80 Grafton Street The "centre", Dublin Castle 53.342100, -6.259864
87 Merrion Square The Georgian Dublin, park + parking 53.339069, -6.250057
71 Kilmainham & the Liberties The old town      West of Sct Patrick's 53.339962, -6.272390
H10 The Foundry Dublin Bef. 20+21+22. Kitchen 53.353082, -6.250406
Dublin City Just walk around  
H10 The Foundry Dublin Bef. 20+21+22. Kitchen 53.353082, -6.250406
Car return before 8;30  (12;00)   53.428102, -6.230220
Fly home   10;35 Not sure why.... 53.428102, -6.230220
     
     
Should I get the time - or another time  
(153) Powerscourt Estate Formal and Landscape gardens, views 53.184903, -6.189709
(203) St Declan's Monestery Ruins, round tower, Cathedral, walk 51.948983, -7.726135
(205) Lismore Castle The gardens 52.140105, -7.932265
(211B) St Canice Cat.  In Kilk. Secon largest in Ireland 52.656604, -7.256710
(245) Outside Kinsale: Charles Fort 51.697842, -8.498851
(261) Bantry Nice settings 51.679287, -9.450409
(273) Knockreer House - and the terrace gardens view 52.059524, -9.524610
(383) Galway City Lively, some old houses, sat. Market 53.270110, -9.053561
(423) Cong village Traditional village 53.541428, -9.284646
(485) Ramelton Georgian houses 55.035228, -7.646088
(503) Aughnacliffe Dolmen 5000y 53.856772, -7.596499
154 R755 and R759 Through forest in Wicklow Mount North: 53.200396, -6.456350
154B R5755 South South R755  50km (WF halfway #162) 52.939248, -6.236878

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