David Kay Loc: Arlington Heights IL

This is the person to contact who crafts a tour and trip specifically for you. check out http://knockahopple.com/

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

I went in the first two weeks of June and brought mostly shorts... Big mistake! I had to buy jeans and sweater. Nearly every day we had rain and sun. Our record was it rained 4 times and was sunny 5 times in the same day! You'll get so you don't care about getting rained on. The Irish knit sweaters have a lot of lanolin in them, we discovered, so throwing one on was almost like a rain jacket, which I didn't bring either! If you want to get an early start in the mornings and you're in the countryside, be prepared for sheep in the road. If your camera isn't weather friendly, bring some protection for it. If it is, cut off a small piece of a Shamwow (I know you fell for it at some home show) and stick it in your bag for wiping down temporarily until you can do a more thorough job. DO NOT get the Shamwow anywhere near lenses, viewfinders, etc.

TheDman Loc: USA

Thanks! Yep, no tourist traps in the north, although there will be other people at the Giant's Causeway and I hear the Dark Hedges gets overrun with tour buses during the day. Get there at 5 am sunrise though and you have the best light and the whole place to yourself! ;)

TheDman Loc: USA

blackest Loc: Ireland

Actually kind of wrong about the paint.

it's much simpler than being painted. The ram has a chalk thing strapped to his belly when he mounts the ewe it deposits on the ewes wool and thats how you tell which sheep will be having lambs.

pecohen Loc: Central Maine

Thanks for the information. I never would have guessed.

Those rams! As I recall, entire herds of sheep would all have red on them and other herds would be all blue or all green. Those rams must have been kept really busy.

SaratogaMan

And behind those hedge rows by the side of the road, there may be an immovable stone wall -- I know, as did my rental car!

repleo Loc: Boston

I should have mentioned this in my earlier post. If you don't want to drive a car, a great way to see a different slice of Ireland is to rent a River Cruiser. There are several rental companies, mostly along the Shannon. Google 'Shannon Cruisers'. They teach you all you need to know to drive the boat even if you have zero boating experience. Boat sizes vary from 2 berth up to 10 or 12. Prices per day are not that much more than B&B or Hotel prices. 3-4 day rentals are available in the shoulder season. There are buses that go direct from Dublin Airport to most of the towns where the the boats are located and you can arrange to have the boat stocked with groceries upon your arrival so you don't have to drive a car at all. Most of the larger towns will have local guides who can take you to nearby places of interest if you don't want to drive.

The cruisers give you access to explore hundreds of miles of interconnected canals and waterways crisscrossing the whole of Ireland. The Shannon and its lakes are the most popular, taking you through a variety of landscapes including old canal locks, small harbors, country villages, ancient monastic ruins etc. Pull into villages or towns along the way to enjoy a pint and a good meal in a cosy pub. Enjoy fishing or swimming off the boat or getting up close to nature amongst the reeds and river banks. Drop anchor and take the dingy ashore to pick wild blackberries or field mushrooms all along the way.

Although this is not the way to find those shots of stone walled fields, you will find plenty of sheep, cattle and horses along the way and it gives you a slice of Ireland that few American visitors see and an experience you will never forget.

Abarta

Just spent 2 weeks there last May. Only had a 3 or 4 rainy days. Took a tour with Globus. It went all around the island (nothing in the interior). Plenty of photo ops plus. Got to visit the Dingle peninsula, Belfast, Waterford, Garnish Island, Blarney,Ring of Kerry... If you are limited to time I would recommend the West cost (The Wild Atlantic side). Plenty of ocean views, harbors, villages, cliffs, castels...

blackest Loc: Ireland

I don't know how they id sheep but cattle are tagged on each ear with a card and a number, where i am there are sheep and a donkey at the back , cattle to the side and usually horses over the road. The fella with the Sheep was having problems with dogs attacking the sheep and the donkey protects the sheep.

Toment Loc: FL, IL

Last September (late) visited Southwestern and Dublin for 12 days with Tauck tours. Wonderful, peaceful trip. So much to see, you’ll love the place and the people. (Photo of golf course at Dromoland Castle.)

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revhen Loc: By the beautiful Hudson

We went September/October. Toured WHOLE island. Just wonderful. Over 500 shots!

PaulB Loc: Alabama

Ireland is the most welcoming of countries and the most photogenic. You won't find a friendlier group of people. Make sure to and visit a few "pubs" and enjoy the food and beverage (the pubs themselves can be great photo ops). Johnny Cash wrote a song years ago called "Forty Shades of Green", inspired by a train trip he took there. His reference to the shades of green is an understatement! Unless you stay entirely in the cities, there will be no shortage of opportunities to photograph sheep in Ireland, since wool is important to their economy. I have visited the country twice and would return in a heartbeat. No matter where you go, it is a photographers delight! PS: Don't avoid the so called "tourist traps" (Cliffs of Mohr, Aran Island, Dublin, Waterford, Blarney Castle)---they are an integral part of Ireland!

ibgrumpy Loc: San Diego

Ditch the tours. it's like a flock of sheep. Rent a car and do a self tour. Do some research and plan were you want to go before your go
Went there in 2008 and had a wonderful 10 days. Enjoy your trip.

Bob Locher Loc: Southwest Oregon

I have been to Ireland many times and loved it, but always visiting friends. However, my wife and I did a fabulous tour of Scotland two years ago with Rabbie's. It was very photo friendly; small groups, small Mercedes vans - about a dozen people. They also do Ireland and I would strongly recommend them if that is the sort of thing you are looking for.