Introducing Ireland
Few countries have a tourist image so plagued by cliché as Ireland. From shamrocks and shillelaghs to leprechauns, lovable rogues and 40 shades of green, there’s a plethora of platitudes to wade through before you scramble ashore on the real Ireland.
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But it’s well worth looking beyond the tourist tat, for the Emerald Isle (oops, there we go again) is one of Europe’s gems, a scenic extravaganza of lake, mountain, sea and sky that’s still gorgeous enough to make your jaw drop despite the best efforts of developers to scar some of the most beautiful bits with serried ranks of holiday homes. From the lonely, wind-lashed wilderness of Donegal to the picture-postcard harbour villages of County Cork, there are countless opportunities to get outdoors and explore, whether it’s surfing the beach breaks of Bundoran, cycling the coast of County Antrim, or hiking the hills of Kerry and Connemara.
There are cultural pleasures too, of course, in the land of Joyce and Yeats, U2 and the Undertones. Dublin, Cork and Belfast all have top-notch restaurants, party-on pubs and a foot-stomping live-music scene, while you can track down impromptu pub sessions of traditional Irish music in places like Galway, Doolin and Killarney. And there’s a wealth of history to discover, from the countless medieval castles and early Christian monasteries to the powerful political murals of Belfast and Derry, and one of the biggest concentrations of prehistoric monuments in Europe.
So enjoy your Guinness by all means, but push aside the forest of shamrocks for a bit and try to get a glimpse of the real Ireland.
Ready to go?
These tours & activities make it easy:
- Discover the views of the famous Kerry countryside and coastline
- Experience the natural beauty of the Dingle Peninsula
- Explore Ireland's west coast highlights
Get started
Download our free PDF: 'Plan your dream trip to Ireland', an excerpt from Lonely Planet's Ireland travel guide.Last updated: Apr 19, 2012
Tips & articles
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Live it up! The greatest mansions and grand houses.
1 May 2012
Explore these magnificent palaces and mansions and see how the other half lived…1. Marble Palace Mansion, Kolkata, IndiaThe extraordinarily grand ...
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Saddle up for the world’s best cycling routes
1 May 2012
There’s no better way to explore a place than by bike. In honour of our favourite two-wheeled travel companion, here...
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The world’s iciest surf spots
17 April 2012
Surfing is usually associated with warm climates, where the smell of coconut oil drifts through the air and bronzed bodies...
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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RE: Ireland without a car
by markfawkner 21 May 2012
I'll disagree with #7's analysis of bus coverage. It'll get you to cities and larger towns but any town on less than an N-road or very…
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Re: 14 Day Itinerary in Ireland- Need advice!
by sazzleblonde1985 21 May 2012
In 14 days you could have done full circle! Ireland is tiny! Its a shame your missing the north west out.. Donegal and mayo are stunning…
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Re: How should we structure our trip?
by sazzleblonde1985 21 May 2012
A couple of points here: 1. You do NOT want to be in the UK in Dec/Jan/Feb (well London for xmas and new year in edingburgh are about…
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Ireland
Things to do
- All things to do (2,844)
- Activities (383)
- Entertainment (570)
- Restaurants (767)
- Shopping (328)
- Sights (789)
- Tours (7)
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Our Top Picks For Ireland
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1 Connemara
Traverse its wild and barren hinterland and skirt its dramatic coast
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2 Aran Islands
Stroll or cycle these small magical islands
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3 Brú Na Bóinne
Walk the dark tunnel into prehistory at these magnificent Neolithic passage graves
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4 Derry
Ancient history, and terrific pubs in one of the country’s most fascinating cities
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5 Glen Gesh Pass
A generous slice of alpine magic in the wilds of Donegal
Fast Facts about Ireland
- Irish adults who have satellite TV
25%
- Mobile phone subscriptions in Ireland
4.3 million for 86% of the population
- Number of visiting tourists per year
7.3 million (more than there are residents)
- Territory size
70, 300 sq km
- Annual earnings from tourism
€5 billion
- Biggest no-no
Don’t say ‘begorrah’ – they’ll just laugh at you
- Inflation
4.5%
- Unemployment rate
12.6%
- Population
4.2 million (Republic), 1.7 million (Northern Ireland)
Our favourite Ireland Blogs (beta)
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4th of July: Ireland Gets in on the Fun
Blog: Irish Fireside - 22 May 2012
While St Patrick’s Day has become a moment for the world to be a wee bit Irish for one day a year, it looks like the family-friendly spirit of the 4th of July is getting bigger and taking hold in Ireland. I’ve come across not one, not two, but THREE major celebrations in Ireland this [...]
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Irish Coin Cufflinks Giveaway for Father’s Day
Blog: Irish Fireside - 21 May 2012
It’s been a while since we had a giveaway, and with Father’s Day just around the corner (June 17th), Birthday Cufflinks has stepped in to give us a way to celebrate Ireland AND our dads. One lucky Irish Firesider will win a set of cufflinks crafted from Irish threepence coins. The great thing about Birthday [...]
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#122 Jumping Into Ireland with Michele Erdvig
Blog: Irish Fireside - 21 May 2012
Episode Guide – Podcast #122 Getting Ready for the Irish Travel Season with Michele Erdvig - In this edition, Michele Erdvig and Corey Taratuta cover some of the most popular Irish travel news in preparation for the 2012 tourism season. This one is loaded with details of changes at popular attractions, new offerings, and tips [...]
