Ireland

Welcome to the “People’s Republic of Cork” - Ireland’s southernmost city on Ireland's Ancient East . It’s a spirited, independent place, cosmopolitan and creative too. Cork is an ancient maritime port that’s spent centuries trading with – and being influenced by – the wider world. We have rounded up some highlights for 2017. In the downloadable guide, you’ll find snap shots of all the great things to see and do including some of Cork’s best kept secrets, its great bars and eateries and all the things you really shouldn't miss. Whatever time of the year you visit you are guaranteed fun and craic. Come and visit Cork on #IrelandsAncientEast

A windswept emerald scenery lined with rugged limestone cliffs—Donegal's breathtaking landscape is filled with thousand-year-old history, the finest of tweed garments, and sublime marine cuisine, accompanied by a creamy Guinness and warm Gaelic hospitality.

Dublin is a city that everyone raves about. Displaced locals get all misty-eyed about the pubs, the hilarious, friendly people they left behind. It is a modern, hard-working, affluent centre of commerce and industry as well as a cultural capital and it is home to some of Europe's most renowned artists. It is a city that deserves to be taken seriously. And, for those who do, it is a richly rewarding, fascinating place with its incredible beautifully preserved mansions and castles, meticulously curated museums, churches, cathedrals, and parks.

As a remarkable county with a truly unique atmosphere, Galway – in the West of Ireland – gets under your skin like no other place in the world: it is dramatic, haunting and utterly wild, while the craggy countryside at times looks unforgiving, yet rich with a burst of colours. Galway has got great beaches, soaring mountains, lovely villages, fabulous pubs and some of the friendliest people in Ireland. The Gaeltacht area of County Galway offers an authentic insight into life through the Irish language, and the Aran Islands have a breathtaking beauty of their own.

Ireland doesn't stop at its coastline or waterfront. In fact, the ends of the earth are only the beginning of the adventure – the springboard from which you cross the Atlantic Ocean to some of the country’s best-kept secrets. There’s no feeling quite like standing on an Irish island. Gazing out into the Atlantic blueness, sensing the salt on your tongue and the sea breeze on your cheeks, a visit to these outposts is an enlivening experience. Wild, rugged and beautiful - welcome to Ireland’s Islands

Kerry is more than a mere county – it’s a Kingdom... Right out on the edge of Europe, where Ireland’s highest mountains dip down into the wild Atlantic Ocean, is the ancient Kingdom of Kerry. This is the furthest west you can go in all of Ireland. “Next parish, Manhattan” they say here. And it’s partly this far-flung feel – away from the rest of the world in Ireland’s beautiful South West corner – that makes it so appealing. There’s good food, fine pubs, easy banter and live music to be found right across Kerry in lively towns and tiny settlements. And while visitors may argue about their favourite towns, everyone genuflects to the perfection that is the Kerry landscape. It’s just drop-dead gorgeous.

Kilkenny – a beautiful and ancient county where history, modern living and rich culture fuse together across an unspoiled landscape. The ancient medieval city of Kilkenny has protected its precious heritage whilst evolving as one of Ireland’s most vibrant and enjoyable cities in which to stay. Its narrow slipways, side streets and preserved buildings, are matched only by its reputation for fine dining, great shopping, entertainment and accommodation. The county itself has a wealth of fascinating visitor attractions, from the wonders of Dunmore Cave and celebrated monastic settlements such as Jerpoint Abbey, to the magnificently restored Kilkenny Castle or the Castlecomer Discovery Park. Kilkenny’s many pretty towns and villages such as Inistioge and Bennettsbridge have a relaxed atmosphere, and you will feel at home from the moment you arrive.

This historic city, sitting pretty on the banks of the River Shannon, is Ireland’s first ever City of Culture. Limerick is a perfect fit to take up this mantle. This, after all, is where Frank McCourt set his novel, Angela’s Ashes. It’s a city peppered with galleries, lorded over by King John’s Castle and awash with elegantly crumbling Georgian architecture - but it also boasts a thriving street art scene, a lively festival schedule and a mouth-watering foodie crossroads in the Milk Market. No matter when you visit, you’ll be able to explore streets and galleries chockablock with film, theatre, dance, literature and the visual arts. And there really is something for everyone to fall in love with.

The Lakelands are a very pretty watery link of 12 counties— Monaghan, Cavan, Leitrim, Longford, Roscommon, Westmeath, Offaly, Tipperary, Galway, Clare, Limerick and Kerry — that all get connected by the 380 or so kilometres of River Shannon. With its winding curves, which eventually meet Fermanagh’s Lough Erne in Northern Ireland, this performance is quite not bad for only just one river.

Waterford City, the oldest city in Ireland, is the perfect blend of ancient and modern. Its collection of pubs, gourmet restaurants and excellent shops and boutiques, co-exist with medieval city walls, quaintly cobbled back streets and the grandeur of historic buildings still standing proud after more than a thousand years. Waterford’s picturesque coastline, stretching the length of the county, is dotted with a string of lively towns including Tramore, Dunmore East and Dungarvan. Other coastal villages include Passage East, Stradbally and Ring, the centre of a thriving Irish speaking community.

Welcome to Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way... Experience the untamed west coast of Ireland along the world's longest defined coastal driving route & embrace the Wild Atlantic Way of life. This touring route pledges to share the secrets with visitors who want to explore the wild wonders of our coves and islands, beaches and bays all snuggled into this curvaceous coastline. If wilderness, water and a willingness to step off the traditional tourist trail is your thing, then the Wild Atlantic Way is the only way. At 2,750 km long from Malin Head in Co. Donegal to Kinsale in Co. Cork, this is as real and raw as Ireland gets. Start an adventure you’ll never want to end.