World Travel Guide

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Ireland may be small, but she is mighty. Consisting of a central plain surrounded by mountains and hills, this lovely country offers tourists some of the most wide-ranging and untarnished scenery in all of Europe. Among other delights, you will can find quiet beaches, semi-tropical bays, and stunning, rocky cliffs.

Ireland is thought to have been inhabited since about 6000 BC, by a mid-Stone Age people. About 4,000 years later, European tribes established a Neolithic culture. The best known of these Neolithic sites in Ireland are found in County Meath, where you will find a megalithic passage tombs. Older than Stonehenge, or the Pyramids of Giza, Newgrange and Knowth are two of these sites.

Equestrianism is a favorite pastime in Ireland, and that is certainly reflected in the large number of horse riding facilities you can find all over the country. The stunning countryside is also perfect for walkers. Because of Ireland?s mild climate, the mountains are accessible year around, making them ideal for ambitious walkers and hikers. Cycling is another great way to get around the countryside, and the valleys and gently rolling central plain make it and ideal mode of transportation. Fishermen love Ireland, with its miles of rivers and streams, and extensive coastline. There is no closed season for angling.

Golfing draws a large number of tourists every year. The Golfing Union of Ireland runs somewhere around 350 golf courses; some people literally schedule their entire holiday around golf. Worldwide, there are more than 80 million people claiming an Irish heritage, so genealogy is quite popular in Ireland. Genealogical centers are everywhere. You will find staff willing to help trace a family history.

Ireland?s capital city of Dublin is quite lively. Dublin was home to writers such as Joyce, Yeats, Beckett, and Shaw. The famous Guinness Brewery, which was founded in 1759, is found here, as well. It?s best to tour Dublin on foot, and some particular favorites include St. Patrick?s Cathedral, Christ Church, the Temple Bar district, Phoenix Park, Whitefriar Street Carmelites, and St. Isolde?s Tower. And don?t miss the Literary Pub Crawl on Grafton Street.

Another of Ireland?s favorite cities is Cork. The second largest city in Ireland, Cork is home to the famous Ballymole House, in Shanagarry. Built into the ruins of a medieval castle in the 19th century, the house is now an inn. Also, be sure to catch the Shandon Bells at Saint Anne?s Church, the Cork Harbor, and Blackrock Castle, which is currently a robotic astronomical center. Of course, you simply cannot miss kissing the Blarney Stone. Blarney Castle is just a thirty minute drive from Cork.

Nature lovers will find themselves entranced with the beauty of Donegal, and in particular, the Glenveagh National Park. Then, of course, Limerick is a must-see on most itineraries. Given that Vikings founded the city in the 9th century, the area rich with history. In fact, it has the largest concentration of castles in Ireland.

The Emerald Isle is a holiday destination that offers incredible variety, lovely scenery, and disarming charm. No wonder it is a big favorite with holiday travelers.
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