The Emerald Isle. It’s an island that couldn’t be more picturesque. Rolling countryside, pretty villages, and cold, smooth Guinness.
The Irish are an obsession across the planet. St Patrick’s Day sees rivers in Boston turn green, parades take over many city centres, and everyone, Irish or not, toasting the occasion. So with such love for the country, why not visit?
Of course no visit is complete without a trip to the capital, Dublin. So that’s the perfect place to start.
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Famed for its literary history, Dublin has a wealth of interesting sights, not least the Trinity College Library which is home to the Book of Kells. The likes of Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, and Bram Stoker all found residence in the city, contributing hugely to the city’s UNESCO City of Literature status.
It’s a place awash with fantastic tourist attractions, but if you want to get away from the millions who visit every year, then you have to head a little further afield than the capital.
The Wild Atlantic Way
To the west of the island is the real Ireland. A place where you’ll find rolling countryside, quaint pubs serving the dark stuff, and towns and cities, barely touched by tourists, enjoying every moment of the glorious Irish accent.
The nation’s favourite accent in fact. In a recent poll, 21% voted that the Irish accent was the UK’s favourite, and visiting the cities of Galway, Limerick, and Shannon on passing through the wild coastline, will give you a real taste of Ireland and its glorious people.
The Wild Atlantic Way is almost the natural Route 66. Stretching from Londonderry in Northern Ireland, right down to Cork, passing through the above cities is a truly stunning trip, with the likes of the Cliffs of Moher and Killary Harbour taking almost everyone who visit’s breath away.
The Whiskey Trail
Ireland might be famed for its iconic stout, but the Emerald Isle is also renowned for its incredible whiskey. Across the nation there are around a dozen fantastic distilleries to have a look around, including the Jameson Experience in both Dublin and Midleton, just outside Cork.
In the south there are also new distilleries to enjoy, with the Dingle Distillery producing whiskey that still has to wait a number of years before it can release its first batch.
It’s the perfect way to cap off a trip to Ireland and raise a wee dram to this magnificent isle.
