What are some top cities, small villages & sites in Ireland (not Northern Ireland)? I'm traveling there for the first time.

Dublin, Cork and Galway are the bigger cities to visit and will get you to the east, south and west coasts respectively. North of Dublin, head towards Drogheda and the Boyne Valley - there you'll find some of Ireland's most important ancient monuments and historic sites - megalithic passage tombs at Newgrange and The Hill of Tara, filled with ancient monuments and believed to the be ancient seat of the High Kings of Ireland. On the south coast stop off in Dingle as you follow the famous Ring of Kerry past windswept cliffs, unspoilt beaches, ancient castles, stone forts and Neolithic stone circles. A great side trip while you're there - take a boat trip to the Skellig Islands to see monastic ruins dating back to the 6th C and a haven for all kinds of birds. On the west coast take in the stunning Cliffs of Moher - 1.5 h drive from Galway - and explore the Burren National Park. Check out the village of Lisdoonvarna while you're there and if the weather allows, take a trip to the Aran Islands. Ferries run from Doolin in County Clare and Rossaveal in County Galway. Moving inland, definitely visit the Wicklow Mountains National Park, one of my favourite landscapes in all of Ireland - see here http://goo.gl/BXhTHn and also in that area, visit Glendalough (Valley of the Two Lakes) to see the 6th century remains of a Christian settlement and stunning scenery. Of course there are the typical tourist trips too - kiss the Blarney stone at Blarney Castle near Cork on the south coast, visit the Guinness Brewery in Dublin. But there's so much more to this country than that - get out there and explore! The above tips should keep you busy for your first visit. I bet you'll be back for a second visit. Enjoy your trip.