Introduction to Western Ireland

If County Limerick and County Clare were ever to hold a beauty contest, Clare would win hands down. Tipperary would be the bookish one in the corner, reading James Joyce.

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. Clare, on the other hand, with its desolate, rocky Burren and majestic Cliffs of Moher, is just showing off.

Tipperary has very little to dazzle you aside from the Rock of Cashel, which is simply spectacular and worth a trip to Ireland all on its own.

So what we're saying, we suppose, is stop in at Limerick for a photo or two, head to the Rock, and then hurry on to Clare for the real razzle-dazzle.