Day 1: Galway to Cashel in Tipperary via the N24 through Limerick county and the wonderfully named Oola (I think I would actually move here just so this could be my address).
Day 2: Several hours spent wandering around the Rock of Cashel before heading back on the N24 through Clonmel and over to Waterford city, down to the Passage East ferry which brought us to Ballyhack in Wexford, and further down to Duncannon and the seaside.
Day 3: A tour of Hook Head lighthouse at the tip of the Hook Peninsula, and a jaunt around the peninsula, taking in Dollar Bay, Fethard-on-Sea and Grange Strand.
Day 4: Duncannon to New Ross (R733) to Kilkenny city (R700 through the villages of Inistioge and Thomastown) for hot chocolate and scones and a gander, and on up to Portlaoise (N77) and Tullamore (N80) before joining the M6 west to Galway at Kilbeggan.
The Rock of Cashel
This site is steeped in history and its setting is amazing; it's located on top of a hill with limestone outcrops, and the views of the surrounding countryside are really lovely. There's a little pathway close by and we went for a wander down to nearby Hore Abbey (about 1km away), which was also very atmospheric. Following all this exhausting exposure to fresh air and exercise, we made our way back to Granny's Kitchen, a cafe beside the Rock of Cashel carpark, and I just loved this; it was so warm and cosy and friendly and they were playing old-school Irish folk songs and my toasted sandwich and hot chocolate were PERFECT - I could have stayed here all day.
Cashel itself is a pretty market town and I very much enjoyed my first proper visit to Tipperary; the land here is rich and fertile and the area seems to be something of an agricultural heartland. The drive from Limerick city to Cashel was pleasant and scenic, with plenty of green fields and purple mountains in the distance - this is definitely a part of the country I'd like to explore more fully at a future date...
Wexford & the Hook Peninsula
After our hot-chocolate-and-scones break in Kilkenny we powered on back to Galway, finishing the holiday with pizza in our local Italian takeaway... we were tired after the drive but so happy from our few days away. It was a couple of weeks ago now, but I'm still feeling the benefits from being on the road, touring around the south-east and Tipperary - it was fantastic to see some more of this amazing country. For now though, it's back to my foldy map, to see where the next outing will be...