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Trips to Ireland
TopThingsToDo
Top Things To Do : • Equestrianism is one of Ireland's principal tourist attractions and facilities for horse riding are found all over the country. The principal racecourses are at Leopardstown, Fairyhouse (Irish Grand National every year), The Curragh (Irish Sweeps Derby) and Punchestown (an international cross-country and three-day-event riding course).
• Ireland's sparsely populated countryside makes it ideal for walkers of all levels. The mild climate means that the mountains are accessible all year round. The more mountainous areas are towards the coast, which makes for dramatic seascapes, especially by the Atlantic Ocean. More adventurous walkers may want to tackle Ireland's highest peak, Carrauntoohil (1041m/3415ft) in Macgillycuddy's Reeks, in the far southwest of the country. Across the shadow of MacGillycuddy's Reeks is the finest ridge walk in Ireland. Other notable mountains include Croagh Patrick (765m/2510ft) near Westport in County Mayo, a holy mountain and, on the last Sunday in July, a place of pilgrimage. Its distinctive conical summit is silhouetted against the horizon for miles, acting as a beacon to pilgrims. St Patrick is supposed to have driven all the snakes out of Ireland from this mountain. The 12 Bens in Connemara offer lovely hill walking, with views over towards the jagged coastline. The beautiful scenery of the Wicklow Mountains is barely one hour's drive from Dublin. There are 28 national waymarked ways in the country, including the North Kerry Way, the Beara Way and the Wicklow Way. Tailor-made tours with a local guide can be arranged through Walking Cycling Ireland (website: www.irelandwalkingcycling.com). There are many gentle walks for the less energetic. Public transport is increasing its capacity to carry bikes and accommodation is being upgraded so that bikes are stored securely.
• Although some of Ireland's coastal parts are mountainous, the sheltered valleys and the gently undulating central plain are excellent for easy cycling. Roads are well-maintained and most are very quiet. Inland, the landscape is dotted with small farms, and one is never too far away from some form of civilisation if one requires it. There are a surprisingly high number of pre-Celtic monuments in lonely places; owing to old Irish superstitions, these were not cleared away when the land was farmed. The Boyne Valley alone contains over 300.
• Being blessed with miles of rivers and streams and over 5500km (3500 miles) of coastline, Ireland offers excellent fishing. Carrick-on-Shannon is the centre of river cruising on the Shannon, and heavily geared up to all aquatic pursuits, with over 40 lakes where fishing is unrestricted. There is no closed season for freshwater angling, but March to October are the most suitable months for bream, rudd, roach, dace and perch. For coarse angling, there are new regulations regarding share certificates. County Cavan is known to anglers as a place of lakes and rivers and the very best in coarse fishing. County Longford holds great appeal for all anglers, sitting in the middle of Ireland, lying in the catchments of the River Shannon. Lakes abound, notably Lough Gowna in the north and Lough Kinale in the east. Westport even holds an annual Westport Sea Angling Festival. The sea angling in Clew Bay, meanwhile, is reputedly the finest in Europe. Game fishing requires a licence and, generally, also a permit. The brown trout season is usually from mid-February or March until 30 September. Open salmon season is 1 January to 7 September, according to district. The best sea trout period is from June to 30 September or 12 October in some areas. Salmon licences/permits also cover sea trout. Along the Atlantic coast, sea angling is possible from piers, rocks, in the surf or during a day's boat fishing excursion (which can be organised locally).
• Dolphins can be seen off the coast of Shannon. This area of the Atlantic is home to around 100 wild dolphins.
• Drink a pint of Guinness, one of the most famous, popular and distinctive drinks in the world, whilst indulging in some craic (see Entertainment). Dublin is the ideal city to do this, with a palpable buzz of excitement, especially around Temple Bar. Indeed, the whole city boasts fashionable pubs, good places to eat, discos and inordinate joie de vivre.
• Taste some succulent oysters in the place where they are famed – Carlingford, which looks across the lough to the Mourne Mountains.
• Kiss the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle in County Cork and get the 'gift of the gab'.
• The Ring of Kerry is a stunning, 180km (112-mile) scenic drive around the Iveragh Peninsula, with numerous diversions along coastal roads and out to islands like Skellig Michael. A drive through the hills, via Ballaghbearna Gap and the Ballaghisheen Pass, promises rugged landscapes studded with lakes and carved by rivers. The Atlantic Drive is also a wonderful drive, beginning from the village of Mulrany. The Arigna Scenic Drive is highly regarded for its fine views of Lough Key.
• Go birdwatching in the uninhabited Saltee Islands, one of Ireland's most important bird sanctuaries, off County Wexford. In this county are also the mudflats of the Slaney Estuary (known as 'slobs'), which make up the Wexford Wildfowl Reserve, at its best between October and April when wildfowl are here.
• Although now celebrated in various places around the world, there is still nothing better than partaking in the revels of St Patrick's Week (website: www.stpatricksday.ie) in Ireland itself. Usually held in March, Ireland observes its patron Saint, who brought Christianity to the pagan Celts almost 1500 years ago, with a flurry of raucous activities, from fireworks, exhibitions, funfairs and treasure hunts in Dublin, the capital city, plus a spectacular 3km-long St Patrick's Day Festival Parade, to food markets and street theatre in Cork.
Tourist Information : Tourism Ireland in the UK
Nations House, 103 Wigmore Street, London W1U 1QS, UK
Tel: (0800) 039 7000 (travel enquiries) or (020) 7518 0800 (trade enquiries).
Website: www.tourismireland.com
Tourism Ireland in the USA
345 Park Avenue, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10154, USA
Tel: (212) 418 0800 (general enquiries) or (800) 223 6470 (toll-free brochure request line) or 669 9967 (toll-free for travel trade in USA and Canada).
Website: www.tourismireland.com
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Inscrita en el R.M. de Madrid Tomo 15.973, F. 206, Sec. 8, Hoja M-270179 . C.I.F. B82826991 Gran Vía, 22 Dcdo. 4º Madrid, 28013 Spain.
Tel. (+34) 913 605 670 Fax: (+34) 902 196 339