Ireland - overview
Known commonly as the Emerald Isle, owing
to it's lush and fertile greenness, Ireland
is located in the Atlantic Ocean, separated
from Britain by 50 miles by the Irish Sea.
The north-eastern part of Ireland (Northern
Ireland) however, is part of the United Kingdom.
Ireland’s landscapes are a unique blend
of hills, bogs, lakes, rivers and remote
islands where the weather is ever changing
and rain is never far away. The people of
Ireland are one of it’s many attractions,
famed for their friendliness, laughter and
sense of fun.
The capital city, Dublin, is home to much
of Ireland's cultural heritage. Magnificent
public buildings such as Trinity College,
Leinster House, and the Bank of Ireland at
College Green are not to be missed. Other
sights that should be on every visitor's
list are Dublin Castle, Christ Church cathedral,
the historic General Post Office where the
1916 Rising took place, and Kilmainham Gaol.
Dublin comes alive at night, the city has
one of the best pub and club scenes in Europe.
No visit to Dublin is complete without a
trip to the world famous Guinness brewery.
Cork’s narrow alleys, waterways and Georgian
architecture give it a markedly Continental
feel. It is the second largest city in Ireland,
and it’s mood is reflected in the city’s
attitude to the arts and its bohemian spirit,
which is very much in evidence at the lively
annual jazz festival. A popular day trip
from Cork is to Blarney Castle, where many
a visitor may feel compelled to kiss the
Blarney Stone. Galway is Europe’s fastest
growing city and the fourth largest in Ireland.
A lively university city of narrow streets,
quaint shopfronts, bustling pubs and stunning
surrounding scenery. Galway’s finest medieval
building, the Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas
is the largest medieval parish church in
Ireland. |
