The Emerald Isle is an enchanting destination full of surprises
with charming people, lively atmosphere, beautiful countryside
and impressive historical attractions to match its literary
and music legacy.
Dublin boasts a 1000 year old history.
Trinity College, (home of the book
of Kells), Christchurch cathedral
and Dublin Castle are key attractions,
but the best fun is had by night in the lively Temple Bar
precinct. To the south of the city, the lovely Wicklow
hills are a good day trip.
Looking like a green patchwork quilt, Ireland’s interior
is criss-crossed with silver streams, lazy rivers, hidden
lakes and still canals. The remoteness of Donegal
and the wild and barren Connemara make
the trip to the west coast worthwhile. The Cliffs
of Moher and extraordinary Burren
landscape, nearby, are popular attractions.
Galway's tightly packed town centre is
a delightful muddle of lanes and canals with historic buildings
and a legendary night-time atmosphere.
County Kerry, in Ireland’s lush
southwest corner is extremely popular, centred around the
lovely and lively tourist town of Killarney.
Scenery is excellent, and the traditional music abundant.
Dingle is a delightful little fishing town
nearby, reached via the famous ring of Kerry drive.
Cork is a vibrant, laid-back city, launching
point for the touristy Blarney stone, historic Cobh
and picturesque Kinsale. Heading back to
Dublin, Waterford is a medieval town famous
now for its crystal and the Rock of Cashel,
near Killkenny, is central to Irish Catholism
legend.
Northern Ireland also boasts some lovely countryside. Belfast
has an important history and stature sadly smeared by recent
political division. To the south the ancient Kingdoms
of Down is an area of unsurpassed beauty, while
nearby Armagh is venerated as the 1500-year
old spiritual capital of Ireland. The Fermanagh
Lakeland area is known throughout Europe as a wonderland
for active watersports holidays. Finally, an hours’
drive north of Belfast is the unique Giant's Causeway
- a wild, primeval, coastal landscape, consisting
of 40,000 prismatic basalt pillars.
