Welcome to Ireland

Welcome to the “People’s Republic of Cork” - Ireland’s southernmost city. It’s a spirited, independent place, cosmopolitan and creative too. And that’s hardly surprising. For Cork is an ancient maritime port that’s spent centuries trading with – and being influenced by – the wider world. While it's hard to capture all the great things you can do during your trip to Cork, we have rounded up some highlights for 2014. 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 and we think you'll #LoveCork just as much as we do...

Wild and remote, untamed and exciting - welcome to Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way Experience one of the wildest, most enchanting and culturally rich coastal touring routes in the world. Wherever you travel along the Wild Atlantic Way you'll find magic, adventure, history and beauty in abundance. Divided into five main sections each one offers you memories that will last a lifetime. And do you know what? You won’t even have seen the half of it. And it’ll call you back. Just you wait.

Céad Míle Fáilte – A hundred thousand welcomes to Ireland’s capital city from the team at Visit Dublin. We are delighted to bring you our guide to our fair city; the home of lively nightlife, stand-out culture, adrenaline-pumping action and much more. While it's hard to capture all the great things you can experience during your trip to Dublin; we have rounded up some highlights for 2014. In the downloadable guide, you’ll find snap shots of all the great things to see and do including some of Dublin’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 and we think you'll #LoveDublin just as much as we do.

Experience Ireland’s East on Dublin’s Doorstep The counties of Kildare, Laois, Louth, Meath and Wicklow that surround Ireland’s capital city are packed with beautiful heritage sites, welcoming towns and activities. With glistening lakes, tranquil rivers, authentic rural life, scenic pastureland, rolling hills and forest parks, this area is a haven for outdoors enthusiasts with cycling, watersports, walking, angling, golfing, horseriding and cruising all in plentiful supply.

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. Dramatic, haunting and utterly wild, the craggy countryside at times looks unforgiving, at times rich with bursts of colour and dotted with tranquil, picture perfect lakes. The Gaeltacht area of County Galway offers an authentic insight into life through the Irish language, and the Aran Islands have a breathtaking beauty and an island atmosphere of their own. On top of all this, Galway’s got great beaches, soaring mountains, lovely villages, fabulous pubs and some of the friendliest people in Ireland.

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.

2014 is Limerick’s time to shine. Why? Simple. 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 chocabloc with film, theatre, dance, literature and the visual arts. And there really is something for everyone to fall in love with…

Think of the Lakelands as a very pretty watery link. Along the 380 or so kilometres of curves, the river Shannon connects the lakelands region by winding through and between 12 counties — Monaghan, Cavan, Leitrim, Longford, Roscommon, Westmeath, Offaly, Tipperary, Galway, Clare, Limerick and Kerry — eventually meeting Fermanagh’s Lough Erne in Northern Ireland. Not bad for 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.