While the six counties of Northern Ireland were part of the ancient kingdom of Ulster, these days Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan are the Ulster counties in the Republic of Ireland. Here are my four favorites from these three.

Cromwell's 'to hell or Connaught' quote is overly harsh on what I consider some of the loveliest landscape in Ireland. And the people are really friendly, too! Here's my four 'besht of the wesht.'

In the second of the series looking at Ireland's ancient kingdoms to delineate regions, we look southward to Munster, which includes the Republic's two other large cities - Cork and Limerick.

Over the next four weeks we will highlight the must see and do in each of Ireland's four ancient kingdoms - Leinster in the east, Munster to the south, Connaught in the west and Ulster to the north. Here are four of the best of Leinster.