The Republic of Ireland is in the north west of Europe and accounts for 26 of the 32 counties in Ireland.
The other 6 counties are in Northern Ireland which is part of the UK.
The country has a population of almost 5 million and about a third of them live in the capital, Dublin. Read on to discover what the island has to offer.
Cruising on the River
A great way to see Ireland is on the River Shannon. It is the longest river in Ireland with over 500km of navigable routes. You can cruise from Limerick all the way to Northern Ireland. There are plenty of places to hire boats for as little or as long as you want.
Guinness and Pub Crawls
Guinness and Dublin go together and the dark brew with a white coloured head is one of Ireland’s best known exports. You can take a tour of the Storehouse which tells the story of this product over a 90 minute tour. Once you have finished a tour of the brewery the best way to get to know the city is through its pubs. You can join themed pub crawls, some feature the Literary Culture of the city and include performances of writers such as Joyce, Beckett or Meehan. Another popular theme is music taking in pubs that feature traditional Irish musicians.
Newgrange
The Passage Grave at Newgrange is one of Ireland’s most historically important ancient sites. It dates back to 3000BC making it older than the Pyramids in Egypt and possibly older than Stonehenge. It is famous for its beam of light that travels along the length of the tomb and illuminates the floor on the Winter Solstice. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and receives around 200,000 visitors each year.
The Wild Atlantic Way
This is a road trip that follows the west coast of Ireland from Malin Head in County Donegal the 2400km to Kinsale in County Cork. Along the route you pass through unspoilt villages, along the rugged coastline and enjoy some epic panoramas. The route passes 156 information points which were provided by local people to give visitors a better understanding of this region of the country.
Ireland and Golf
Golf has long been associated with Ireland due to the quality of its courses and beautiful landscape. There are so many choices of courses for all abilities of golfer at reasonable prices that people keep returning for more. Ireland has four of the world’s top 100 links courses.
Dingle
The village and peninsula that share the name of Dingle are situated in the south west of Ireland and combine Irish character with the stunning natural beauty to be found in the most westerly point of not just Ireland but also Europe. There is evidence all around of the harsh weather the area receives from the Atlantic Ocean, yet even on the worst weather days the pubs in Dingle are warm with their atmosphere and charm.
Now you’ve got some great ideas for your trip, don’t forget to arrange travel insurance as soon as you’ve made a booking. Get a quote today or call one of our friendly team on 1300 819 888 to discuss your requirements.