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.
The land was first inhabited about 6000 BC, by a mid-Stone Age people. About 4,000 years later, European tribes established a Neolithic culture. The Neolithic sites in Ireland are in County Meath, and they were built around 3200 BC. That means, the megalithic passage tombs of Newgrange and Knowth, are older than Stonehenge, or the Pyramids of Giza.
You can find a number of horse riding facilities all over the country, as Equestrianism is a favorite tourist attraction in Ireland. The picturesque, sparsely populated countryside is also ideal for walkers. Because of Ireland?s mild climate, the mountains are accessible all year long, making hiking another pet pastime. Cycling, too, is quite popular in this quaint little country. The beautiful valleys and gently undulating plain make cycling a perfect way to explore the countryside. Fishermen love Ireland as well. With miles of rivers and streams, as well as an 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.
Truly, the Emerald Isle offers variety, exquisite scenery, and endearing charm.
Tags: A, airlines, aviation, e, europe, f, flight comparison, flights, l, leisure, r, t, tourism, Travel, travel & leisure, u, uk, v