County Kerry: Clogher Beach with "Three Sisters" mountains in the background, Dingle Peninsula County Kerry: A look upward through an old chapel in the "Old Graveyard" at Cloghane on the Dingle Peninsula County Kerry: Brandon Bay harbor on the Dingle Peninsula County Kerry: After a day exploring the Dingle Peninsula, a stop in Dingle town for dinner is in order. County Kerry: Murphy's Pub, Dingle County Kerry: The Ring of Kerry is "a must for any trip to Ireland, with its spectacular views all along the way," said Annie Love. County Kerry: Entering the Gap of Dunloe County Kerry: The North side of Great Blasket Island County Kerry: Ruins on Great Blasket Island County Cork: Bantry House, with the bay behind, is close to Dingle and the Ring of Kerry. Jennifer Goan shot this photo from the top of the terraced garden behind the house. County Cork: Blarney House, a Scottish baronial-style mansion that was built on the grounds of Blarney Castle in 1874. County Cork: "The view from the top of Blarney Castle is breathtaking!" said Mohit Samant. County Galway: Travel agent Mackenzie Melfa's family spent a few nights at Ballynahinch Castle, "surrounded by an incredible estate which we all loved exploring." County Galway: Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands in Galway Bay. Memory stones like the one in this picture are found all over the place, says Agata Mleczko. County Galway: Inishmore is rugged and you can walk straight out to the cliffs of Dun Aengus fort. "All of the island inhabitants are friendly, including a curious horse," Laura Dellal said. County Galway: "A cup of tea is your best friend in the cold, along with some potato leek soup and soda bread," wrote Dellal. County Galway: Kylemore Abbey in Connemara County Galway: Kristen Jackson said she couldn't put her camera down in this area, known for its sheep. "There were sheep everywhere and it was like they were posing for me." County Clare: Cruising down the Atlantic coast through the village of Doolin. County Clare: The dramatic Cliffs of Moher. Click on the double arrows below to see more. County Clare: Not sure where to go in the town of Ballyvaughan? Just stop and have some tea. County Antrim: Giant's Causeway, on the northeast coast of Northern Ireland County Antrim: Calm before the storm at Giant's Causeway. "It was a beautiful morning with a fantastic tour guide who told us the tales of Finn McCool and the science that created the causeway. By the time we left, the sky was gray, the waves were crashing and the wind could blow you right over. It was pretty amazing!" Kristen Jackson said. County Antrim: Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge near Ballintoy on the Antrim Coast. Some of the most beautiful areas of Ireland are in the North, Kevin Kane said. County Antrim: The Old Coast Guard Station at Torr Head Dublin: Trinity College Library Dublin, the library of Trinity College and the University of Dublin, and the largest library in Ireland. Here is the Long Room, which houses some of the oldest books. Dublin: The best ride in town: A tram runs through the center of Dublin, bypassing traffic. "I have always loved to visit Dublin," said Richard Gornik. "I have been going there since 1979 and I have seen an enormous change during that time. It's a vibrant city with interesting pubs, great dining and people on the go."
- CNN readers share their favorite views of Ireland
- Not to miss: The Ring of Kerry, Dingle Peninsula and the Northern coast
- "Make notes for your next trip -- you will surely be returning," said Kevin Kane
(CNN) -- Kevin Kane's love affair with Ireland began in 2000, when he and his then-fiancee piggybacked on a trip with his brothers and their wives.
The 39-year-old financial adviser from Havertown, Pennsylvania, has been back six times since, taking his now wife, brothers and mother on various trips that spanned nearly every county in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Ahead of St. Patrick's Day, Kane and other CNN readers shared their best memories and photos from mesmerizing visits to the Emerald Isle.
The green and rugged Dingle Peninsula, in the southwest of Ireland, is Kane's favorite destination, he wrote, though "the Glens of Antrim are spectacular in November, the Ring of Kerry cannot be described adequately by James Joyce himself on a clear day in June, and the vibrancy of Galway and Westport are enough to recharge the soul as you wander joyfully from Tobercurry to Ennis."
Kane offered a few tips for the first-time visitor:
Don't be overly ambitious on your first trip. "Pick a few towns to stay in and do several days in each. One-hundred miles between towns is not a two-hour drive as you might expect. If there are no major motorways, it could easily become a harrowing four-hour trip for the novice European driver."
Talk to the locals in pubs. "Ask questions, don't fake a brogue, and listen to the suggestions they are sure to make about what to see in that immediate area. The Irish are fiercely parochial and love to show off their town's hidden secrets to tourists."
Do something off the beaten path. "Take a ferry out to an island to walk around a bit, find an Abbey ruin in a field to explore, take a flask of Jameson and hike up a mountain. Get lost in what Ireland is, and has to offer."
In summary, Kane said: "Keep your itinerary reasonable, soak up every minute you are there, and make notes for your next trip, for you will surely be returning. It's that kind of place."
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