Drive no 3 - Toomyvara to Cashel: Given the small size of Ireland it's not surprising that there are few great roads of any significant length.
Rather there are short sections of road which can reward the enthusiastic driver. Today's drive links several such roads of merit into a worthwhile drive of over 55 kms.
The Silvermine Mountains and the adjoining Slieve Felim are not locations which spring readily to mind when looking for interesting roads but an exploration of the area is well worth while.
For this journey I forsook my usual Lotus Elise and travelled by Daimler Dart - a reminder of what driving a 1960s sports car is all about.
I began by taking the R499 from Toomyvara to the little village of Dolla, and turning onto the R497 opposite The Eagle's Nest pub.
As the road climbs into the Silvermine Mountains it passes through lush farmland before giving way to more mountainous scenery.
To be truthful, the scenery on this mountain section of our route is disappointing but it is the road that appeals. Its surface is good and it flows as if its maker anticipated the needs of good cars driven well.
This section of the route lasts for about 15 kms and includes fast corners as well as hairpins before joining the main R503 at Inch.
Continue along this piece of main road for about 3 kms before turning over the bridge at Milestone and heading for Hollyford, along the R497. Once again the R497 from Milestone to Hollyford is a lovely road to drive - although again the scenery is quite ordinary.
But, as before, it's the road that counts and this one does not disappoint.
We now leave the R497 and follow the signposts for Annacarty with its interesting ruin and continue along the R505 to the pretty village of Dundrum.
The R505 continues for a further 20 kms from Dundrum to Cashel, again a satisfying stretch of road to drive which offers first glimpses, and then a full dramatic view, of the Rock of Cashel. No matter how many times you view the Rock, the first full sight of it along the road is always breathtaking.
The town of Cashel itself is full of interest and is well worth exploring. Its graceful 18th century mansion, Cashel Palace, is now a hotel and there are two fine churches - one dating from 1749.
As for the Rock of Cashel itself, its oldest part is Cormac's Chapel with a fascinating doorway decorated with the heads of dragons and humans.
Inside the chapel is a stone sarcophagus which lays claim to being the tomb of Cormac McCarthy, King of Munster, who died in 1138 AD, and who caused the chapel to be built between 1127 and 1134.
There is of course far more to the Rock of Cashel complex than Cormac's Chapel and taking the time to explore it fully is recommended.
This was a journey of discovery, made even more interesting by the use of the Daimler Dart - or to give it it's more correct name, the Daimler SP250. Travelling in a sportscar with prodigious performance for the time (1963) of 140 bhp and a top speed of 123mph, one first notices the lack of such things we now take for granted such as hazard warning lights, seat belts and roadholding!
Although in many ways very refined and a comfortable GT tourer, the Dart really shows its age by its rear cart springs and their inability to deal with rough roads which dramatically upset it. But it's a car that weaves a charm over its driver as the miles pass, much as the roads of the Silvermine Mountains did on me during this journey of exploration.