Ireland

Ireland is an island country in Europe that is defined by its rich natural, cultural and literary wealth. Its dramatic landscapes are simply breathtaking and have served as the sets for various film and series productions, including big titles like Star Wars and Game of Thrones. The vibrant Irish culture and friendly locals make your trip here even more memorable.

With a history dating back to the 9th century, Ireland’s capital Dublin is nothing short of a living museum. The city displays ancient architectural structures like the 13th-century Dublin Castle and St Patrick’s Cathedral,the largest church in Ireland. Dublin is the birthplace of the world-famous Guinness beer and the Guinness Storehouse is one of most visited sites in the city. Other highlights of the city include Kilmainham Gaol, a former prison under the British regime, the 16th-century Trinity College, Chester Beatty Library with over 20000 manuscripts, books and paintings, the National Gallery, Dublin City Gallery and National Museum of Ireland. Near Dublin you can visit the UNESCO world heritage neolithic necropolis complex Bru na Boinne. It is made up of different sites like Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth, and houses some of the biggest collections of megalithic art in Europe.

Ireland’s second-largest city Cork is a lively cosmopolitan city and a culinary delight. The Blarney Castle, St. Anne’s Church, the Cork City Gaol and Cork Public Museum are the highlights of the city. Galway in western Ireland is a harbour city known for colourful shops and traditional pubs and is often referred to as the “cultural heart of Ireland”. The annual Galway International Arts Festival, the 18th-century Eyre Square, the Galway City Museum and excellent restaurants are the city’s highlights. From Galway, you can visit Dunguaire Castle, a 16th-century tower house with exceptional views of Galway Bay.

Kilkenny in southeastern Ireland is a medieval town dotted with historic buildings and narrow lanes. The town’s main highlights are the Kilkenny castle and the 9th-century Cathedral Church of St Canice & Round Tower. To the southwest of the country’s mainland lies UNESCO world heritage Skellig Michael – a tiny island marked by twin peaks and known for its Gaelic monastery.

The 214 metre high Cliffs of Moher are perhaps the most recognisable natural landmark in Ireland as they are a popular Hollywood shooting location. Killarney, known for mountainous landscape and forests and Connemara a UNESCO biosphere reserve, are two of Ireland’s most beautiful national parks with beautiful walking trails.

Ireland has a distinct and vibrant culture, along with dramatic natural landscapes that make it an exciting European destination to explore.