Introduction to Western Ireland

If County Limerick and County Clare were ever to hold a beauty contest, Clare would win hands down (and then turn right around and lose in the semifinals to Galway, which would, in turn, be defeated by Donegal). That little fantasy aside, the fact remains that Limerick, despite its marvelous name and 50,000 bad jokes and dirty songs for which it can arguably be blamed, is a rather quiet, bucolic farmland that never bothers anyone and asks only not to be bothered in return. Clare, on the other hand, with its desolate Burren and majestic Cliffs of Moher, is just showing off.

So what we're saying, I suppose, is stop in at Limerick for a photo or two and then hurry on to Clare (and from there to Galway and Donegal) for the real show.