Ireland from above

Originally published for the 2005 Crawley Irish Festival

Ireland offers some fantastic possibilities when it comes to getting away from it all. From city breaks to country retreats and mountain climbing to surfing, Ireland has it all. The countryside remains largely untouched whilst the major towns on Ireland’s coast offer modern cosmopolitanism coupled with the traditional atmosphere that tourists have come to expect from the emerald isle.

A city break in Ireland is a great way to experience what Ireland has to offer. Ireland particularly Dublin is the 3rd most popular city break destination from the UK. The city break offers the sites and sounds of the Liffey, the river valley in Cork and Galway bay. Similarly, the west and north offer great coastal breaks looking out towards the Atlantic or Scotland: the Giant’/s Causeway, in County Antrim, is one of Ireland’s most popular attractions.

There is nothing like celebrating the blarney and hospitality that Ireland has to offer. For the casual traveller with no fixed schedule or itinerary, B&Bs are readily available and easily accessed, allowing affordable flexibility throughout Ireland. Farmhouse holidays also offer a genuine rural experience and have a fine reputation for hospitality and good eating.

One of Ireland’s most popular tourist seasons is around 17th March to celebrate Ireland’s national day: Saint Patrick Day. With lively entertainment and a great atmosphere the cities of Cork and Dublin are extremely popular with tourists but the hidden gems may also be found at less known locations throughout Ireland.

Ireland is blessed with some of the best scenery and the views are breathtaking. Her history goes right back to the Stone Age, with standing stones and ancient Neolithic sites. Ireland also offers some of the best surfing that Europe has to offer. The area around Bundoran, on the west coast, is packed with surf beaches that are easy to find and often empty. So why scramble on the beaches of Cornwall when the whole of Ireland’s west coast can be yours?

Tourism Ireland is the official body for promoting tourism in the island of Ireland. For your guide to the Island of Memories visit Tourism Ireland at www.tourismireland.com