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[freeformcabs]

My wife and I are flying to Ireland on 5/19 for a week +. Renting a car and taking a road trip around the southern half. Has anyone ever been and if so what advise can you share? AS well who knows if any rock hounding spots along the route? I know Ireland is not a hugely active geological area but any insights on places to visit is much appreciated.

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[rocks2dust]

You might go to mindat.org and check out any localities along your itinerary. Looks like there are several interesting sites. When you click on the info for the site it gives info and sometimes photos. Many are old quarries. Somewhere I have some rather rare garnets, but they came from well north of your route. Don't know of anyone who has hounded there, however.

[peruano]

I'm afraid I can't give specifics on rock hounding other than:
1. Hold your hand out the window of the rental car carefully, because there is a rock wall about 6" from your rearview mirror when you are meeting that furniture van coming from the other direction.
2. Ireland is 90% rocks so you should find something of interest.
3. The people, scenery, and beer and super and you will have a good time if you try at all.
4. I recall several rock beaches so I would work them for the variety that cobble beaches provide.
5.  Stay away from the tourist routes, and go for the back roads.
6.  Take your hiking boots, because the hillsides are sufficiently steep and slick that you want ankle support and traction. 
Enjoy the trip.  I spent two weeks there but with a local couple as our guides and driver so we really didn't have to think beyond, what do we want to eat tonight. 

[tkcaz]

I can confirm peruano's observations, except that the Massive Walls of Doom along the roadways are often a lot closer than 6".   I did find some interesting cobbles near beaches, especially near the mouth of the River Shannon. There are some interesting and incredibly dense rhyolites there, nothing spectacular but much different than anything else I've ever seen.