Planning on taking a trip around Ireland this summer? Travel expert Fionn Davenport brings Claire Byrne through the best of what Ireland has to offer. Listen back above.
"The long and the short of it is: this is going to be a busy summer, it's going to be a crowded summer, and it's not going to be an inexpensive summer," Fionn reports.
With many beds block-booked by the government, and international tourism set to spike following the popularity of The Banshees of Inisherin, it seems that locals will need to get a little creative when road-tripping around Ireland in the coming months.
"Get creative," says the travel expert, who recommends straying from the popular seaside towns and opting for shoulder-season bookings.
For those unfamiliar with the term, 'shoulder season' is the travel period between the peak travel season (summer) and the off-season (winter), and Fionn insists that May and September will be optimal months for 2023.
"People with kids have to holiday in the high season when schools are off, and that's just a fact, but if you haven't got kids or if that's not an issue: shoulder season travel."
When it comes to destination spots, Fionn recommends:
- Ardmore, Co. Waterford
- The lakes of Co. Cavan
- The lakes of Co. Fermanagh
- Drumhierny, Co. Leitrim
- Mullet Peninsula, Co. Mayo
- Clare Island, Co. Mayo
- Ennistymon, Co. Clare (great for foodies)
- Glasson, Co. Westmeath
- Slieve Bloom Mountains, Co. Laois
To get details on what's available in these 2023 staycation spots, listen back to Fionn on The Claire Byrne Show above.
