Re: Re: Beautiful

Hear hear for Enniscorthy! The view across the river flood plain on entering from the Dublin side, the view over the bridge through the Minch Norton buildings (sadly being mucked about for shops, yes, more shops), the qualities of its hillside location…
But Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny gets my no.1 vote. And Castlecomer comes near the top too. Then, like Kefu, I think Abbeyleix really has something special. And the formal arrangement of Fermoy deserves a mention.
And I nearly forgot Whitestown, Co. Louth, near Carlingford (itself a gem), though Whitestown is a one-off (AFAIK)- a dispersed cluster village of dwellings and farm/outbuildings.
And Lismore, with its shopfronts, bridge, castle, churches, and the fantastic Riding House.
And Villierstown, Co. Waterford…
I can’t really play favourites with these towns; each has its own character, which makes comparison difficult. Maybe in 20 years (or sooner?), when all Irish towns consist of a Spar, a Centra, a Lidl, a Starbucks, an internet cafe, a pub in a converted church, blanket suburban-style semi-ds and inappropriately located apartment blocks will comparisons be possible or worthwhile. For now, local distinctiveness and difference are what make places into, well, places. Treasure them.