IRELAND

From prehistoric to Celtic to medieval, the past is alive in Ireland. Myth and legend are pervasive. Whether it’s an ancient monument, a holy site, or the ruins of a monastery, it’s there to see in the countryside, the towns, and in the people. The present and future are here too, most notably in the large cities of Dublin, capital of Ireland, and Belfast, capital of Northern Ireland.

Ireland is green. Expect rain. Ireland is mainly rural. Expect narrow roads and open spaces. Ireland is music, poetry, and conversation, especially in its pubs, which are local meeting places. Expect hospitality. Ireland’s cultural heritage is strong. Expect tradition and enjoy experiencing it.

The country of Ireland and Northern Ireland (part of the UK) are two separate political entities. Geographically, they both inhabit the same island. For travellers and tourists it is the latter that is important, therefore we have placed them both under the heading of Ireland to make journey planning easier.

We have divided our Ireland tour section by regions of the island, then by counties. Under each county we have listed the major attractions and interesting villages/towns.

The facts on the country of Ireland:
Area: 27,137 square miles
Currency: the Euro
Geography: Interior: plains, lakes, and river valleys, peat bogs; Coastline: hills, mountains; Longest river: Shannon
Wildlife: deer, small mammals, 380 species of wild birds
Weather: rainfall varies from 31 to 56 inches per year; temperature averages around 50 degrees; rainfall is heavy in the west, lighter in the south-east.
Population: approximately 3.9 million

The facts on Northern Ireland:
Area: 5460 square miles
Currency: British pound
Geography: mountains, moors, lakes; Largest lake in the British Isles, Lough Neagh, is here
Weather: mild, wet, windy in winter, warm summer but not hot
Population: approximately 1,688,000, half of which are in Belfast or nearby