Soak in the sights and spirit of southwest Ireland

By Mary-Jo G. Lipman
CNN Interactive Writer

March 17, 2000
Web posted at: 10:32 a.m. EST (1532 GMT)

(CNN) -- On St. Patrick's Day, everybody's Irish -- or so the saying goes. But a visit to Ireland can rekindle that feeling some people get only on March 17.

Standing atop the Cliffs of Moher, my travel companion and I gazed across the Atlantic. Winds whipped, waves crashed. And the desire to have some claim to the majestic beauty of the island swelled.

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Follow our springtime tour of southwest Ireland. Click the icons on the map, beginning with Galway.
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Besides the awe-inspiring panoramas, Ireland's history and people are an essential part of its mystique.

Ruins of medieval castles and prehistoric fortresses dot the lush green hills. Long-established pubs, with pints of stout lining the wooden bars and musicians jamming around tables, provide a welcoming atmosphere full of character and characters.

Capture the sights and spirit of southwest Ireland in a click-through photo tour.

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