The south East including Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow

The South East of Ireland is said to be the sunniest spot of the island!!. The word that springs to mind when thinking about the South East of Ireland is "lush". The forests, farmland, hills and rivers provide the perfect place to relax. The South East is home to Waterford of Waterford Crystal fame, the lively and surprising town of Kilkenny, with its medieval castle and monastery and Dungravan with its glacial mountains overlooking the sea. The area provides top class facilities for golfing, fishing, and horse-riding.

If you have 4-5 days to spend in the area, here are some of the main attractions of interest to you.

1. Kilkenny Castle. A 12th century castle remodeled in Victorian times and set in extensive parklands.

2. Jerpoint Abbey, Kilkenny. Outstanding Cistercian abbey, a mile to the southwest of Thomastown, founded in the latter half of the 12th century, with unique cloister carvings.

3. St. Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny. Completed in 1285, the second longest cathedral in Ireland. On view are rich carvings worked in both timber and stone, some dating to the 13th century.

4. Reginald's Tower Museum, Waterford. The tower has stood on this site for over a thousand years, protecting the Quays of Waterford. The present structure, dating from the 12th century, is the oldest urban civic building in the country.

5. Waterford Crystal Visitors Center. Waterford Crystal has a long tradition of extending a warm welcome to tourists from all over the world. Visitors are guided through the actual production areas where the world famous crystal is made.

6. Ancestral Home of J. F. Kennedy, Wexford. Birthplace of the great-grandfather of the late president John F. Kennedy, the visitor center provides an engaging guided tour around the original farmyard, which incorporates an audio-visual display and rare family artifacts.

7. Hook Lighthouse Visitor Center, Wexford. Lighthouses have a magic and mysticism of their own; none more so than the 13th century Hook Lighthouse, the oldest working lighthouse in Northern Europe.

8. Powerscourt House & Gardens, Wicklow. This estate is one of Europe's greatest gardens, and one of Ireland's treasures, with 47 acres of magnificent gardens. Powerscourt Waterfall is the highest in the British Isles.

9. Glendalough Visitor Center, Wicklow. The visitor center contains an exhibition on the story of St. Kevin and Glendalough, with regular guided tours of the monastic site.