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Ireland is approximately the size of the State of Maine with its lush green landscapes and friendly Irish people. Ireland is the second largest island in the British Isles, an archipelago off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is famed worldwide for its lush meadows, bleak mountains, rugged coastline, and the "craic." As the westernmost point in Europe, it has long been a focus for travelers, fugitives, holy men and invaders, and has seen many creeds cross its shorelines over its long history. More recently, it has been a source of emigrants to the Americas and the old British Empire, and its people have left their mark on many countries across the globe.
Whether you are coming to Ireland on holidays or are planning to stay here for a longer period of time, early planning of your trip and all the necessary steps you need to undertake for it is essential. Ireland is a very popular holiday destination and recently it has become a popular place to live due to its booming economy, great job opportunities and educational possibilities.
A unique pleasure of a stay in Ireland is enjoying the unpretentious but delicious cooking. Fresh ingredients simply prepared and served without fuss make eating in Ireland a real pleasure. The rich pastures produce meat of the highest quality, so that beef, lamb and dairy products, like cream, cheese and butter, are second to none. Among the tempting dishes on offer are Limerick ham, Irish Stew, bacon and cabbage, Galway oysters, sirloin steak and onions, game of all sorts, smoked salmon, Dublin Bay prawns, spring lamb, grilled trout, fresh farm eggs and delicious wheaten bread.
Highlights
Dublin Bay with its great sweep of coast from the rocky brow of Howth in the north to the headland of Dalkey in the south, is a fitting introduction to one of Europe's finest capitals. The city is spread over the broad valley of the River Liffey, with the Wicklow Hills sheltering it on the south. In addition to its splendid public buildings such as Trinity College where the famous Books of Kells is housed, Dublin is particularly rich in domestic 18th century architecture. There is a wealth of interest for the visitor to Dublin with its architecture, fashionable shopping centers and its wide range of entertainment and well known events, such as the Dublin Horse Show.
Waterford city is the home of Waterford Crystal which is the largest crystal factory in the world. Factory tours are available on a daily basis and the visitor center now hosts a new renovated crystal factory showroom.
Cork is the largest county in Ireland with an area of 2,880 sq. miles. The long coastline has magnificent scenery, especially in the south-west, where rocky peninsulas jut into the Atlantic ocean. Blarney Castle is a 30 minute drive north of Cork city and Cobh, where
2.5m emigrants sailed from, is 30 minutes south of Cork city.
Much of Limerick city, on the River Shannon, is low and undulating, particularly in the east where it forms part of the rich plain known as the Golden Vale. The county is quiet and has a rural charm, offering good sport to the angler and golfer and some of the finest hunting country in Ireland. The Hunt museum is located in the center of the city, with the Shannon Folk Park and Bunratty Castle, located east of the City in the county of Clare, near Shannon Airport.
Galway is divided into two contrasting regions by Lough Corrib. To the west is Connemara, a region of superb scenic beauty dominated by the rocky mountain range, the Twelve Bens. The Quiet Man was film in Cong in Connemara. A great many of the residents are Irish speakers, and much of the ancient Gaelic culture has been preserved. East of Lough Corrib is a fertile limestone plain which extends to the Galway/Roscommon border and the River Shannon. It is an important tourist center and the gateway to the Aran Islands.
Sligo/Donegal: County Sligo has a variety of mountain, lake and coastal scenery. Near Sligo Town, in Lough Gill, one can see the lake-isle of Innisfree, immortalized in W.B. Yeat's poem. There is a 65-mile signposted tour of Yeat's country featuring many of the places referred to in his poetry. Donegal, the most northerly county in the Republic of Ireland, extends along much of the north-west coast. The region is famous for its scenery, with great areas of mountains, deep glens, many lakes and many opportunities for the fisherman. Situated on the banks of Lough Veagh, is the magnificent Glenveagh National Park. With 25,000 acres, it is open all year and the Castle and gardens are open at specific times during the year.
Select exactly the components you want in your vacation. You choose your hotel, room category -from sea views to suites-, rental car, private transfers and customized sightseeing tours. We do it all! Our Virtuoso Travel and Cruise Consultants will create the Ireland vacation you have always dreamed of.
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