Homeland Art

1. Have a Perfect Pint of Guinness

Go to the Guinness Storehouse at St. James Gate, Dublin. The site of the an old fermentation plant has been transformed into the Guinness Storehouse and Museum. The tour is pretty good (a little too much marketing blasted at you for my liking) but the best part about it is the pint of Guinness you get at the Gravity Bar. This is a perfect pint and the 360 degree view of Dublin city is breathtaking (if it’s a nice day off course).

Mulligan’s on Poolbeg Street also serves an exquisite pint of Guinness and it is my favorite if I have a “goo for a Guinness”. It’s not a place I’d have at the top of my list if I was with my wife (she likes her comforts) but if I’m with the lads it’s a great place to start off the night. James Joyce was a famous patron of this famous establishment.

Here is Mulligans’ website for more information.

2. Go Surfing

It is said that Ireland has the second best breaks in the world after Hawaii. Just make sure you bring your wet suit! The water temperature is not tropical. Surfing in Ireland in recent years has become extremely popular.

There are plenty of world class surf spots along the coast from Portrush in County Antrim to Tramore in the south.

For more information visit the Irish Surfing Association’s website.

3. See The Ceide Fields

The Ceide Fields are the oldest known field system in the world. Dating back over five and a half millenia. On the north Mayo coastline this unique experience will give you an insight into the difficult life of early Irish settlers. A local schoolteacher discovered the site in the 1930’s and there is a visitor centre on the site which you visit when in the area.

For more information visit the Ceide Fields Visitor Centre’s website.

4. Visit Brooklodge Hotel

Macreddin Village, Aughrim, County Wicklow.
My wife and I love this place. Personally, I don’t think I have ever been as relaxed as I was after spending a couple of nights here. We didn’t even leave the grounds of the hotel, there’s no need to. We saw a super concert by Mary Coughlan in the chapel on the grounds. From memory, there were 10 or 12 rows (benches) and about 10 or 12 people on each bench. Boy, can Mary belt out a few tunes. She didn’t sing “Ride On” which I was hoping she would but nonetheless it was fantastic. After the show we retired to the bar where I sank into my seat listening to a great jazz band.

There is a fantastic, totally organic, restaurant in the hotel. The Strawberry Tree is the only certified organic restaurant in Ireland. The food here is top notch.

Here is Brooklodge’s website for more information.

5. Go to the Galway Arts Festival.
It takes place every year and it just finished this year, so start preparing for next year. The festival has a large variety of arts including visual art, dance, theatre, comedy, and music. I wrote a blog here detailing some of my favourite acts this year.

For more information visit the Galway Arts Festival website.

6. Visit the Aran Islands.

Situated off the west coast of Ireland, in the mouth of the Galway Bay, the Aran Islands are a must see.  The scenery is breathtaking. They are comprised of three islands: Inis Mor, Inis Meain, and Inis Oirr (the Big Island, the Middle Island, and the South Island, respectively). The islands are rich in the language, culture, and heritage of Ireland.
The Islands can be reached by boat from Rossaveal or by plane at Connemara Regional Airport.
For more information have a look at this website. 

7. Take a Black Taxi tour of Belfast.

This is a very interesting trip. The cab driver will take you around Belfast, up and down the Falls and Shankill roads where you can see the murals from the times of “The Troubles”. You can then drive down to the shipyard area where the Titanic was built. You will also see the political districts which have borne the brunt of The Troubles over the last 30 years.

For more information check out this website

8. Go to the Ring of Kerry.

This is a special part of Ireland. It’s spectacular beauty is beyond question. It is a natural centre for outdoor pursuits including golf, watersports, hiking, cycling, horse riding, and the very best fishing for trout and salmon. The Ring of Kerry has some of the best beaches in Europe. The Ring of Kerry is my favorite part of Ireland, but then again I might be a little biased. Both my paternal grandparents are from Kerry. My grandfather from Glenbeigh and my grandmother from Knocknagoshal.

Here’s a good website for further information

9. Take a boat trip on the River Shannon.

Cruising the River Shannon is probably the most relaxing thing you could do. The beauty of a trip like this is that you can go up the Shannon at your own pace. There are plenty of quaint villages with welcoming pubs serving pints of Guinness to the sound of traditional Irish Music. You can stop off wherever you like and stay as long as you like because your bed is back on the boat. Bring your golf clubs and fishing rods. There are plenty of opportunities for both.

For more information on boat rentals and tours look here.

10. The Galway Oyster Festival.

Last but not least or maybe we have left the best to last: The Galway Oyster Festival takes place this year from Thursday 25th  September until Sunday 28th September. This festival is great fun. As we say here in Ireland: “The craic is mighty”. Galway City comes alive as many thousands of people come from all over the world to celebrate the oyster, a food known for it’s remarkable romantic powers! A weekend of non stop entertainment which features national and international top class entertainment. Miss this at your ‘pearl’!

We hope you enjoyed reading about our favorite spots. We are sure there are other spots people think should be up there with the best. Let us know. We would love to hear from you.

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The islands surrounding Ireland are magnificient. Walking along the quiet shores, lanes and trails will offer you a wonderful experience. Before planning the walking trip to Ireland, understand the routes for the locations you want to visit. 

Achill Island in County Mayo is an excellent place renowned for its stunning beauty. Summer or spring is the best time to visit Achill, particularly at a festival time to enjoy traditional music, food and culture. You could plan to visit the craft shops and art galleries here. Hill walking in Achill Island is another wonderful experience. It is perfect for nature lovers.

The Aran Islands are beautiful islands situated in Galway Bay. The narrow winding roads, grassy lanes and rocky shores are predominant features of these islands. The Aran Island is peaceful and free from the hurry of modern life. You will enjoy walking down the narrow grassy lanes and relish the serenity.

Clare Island is often referred to as Walker’s paradise. Clare’s scenic beauty, rare species of trees and plants and less explored beaches are ideal destinations for walkers. You will enjoy the calm peak of Knockmore and sea cliffs. The mild weather and clear water beaches will really fascinate you, when you are lucky enough to see it. The wild and powerful weather will invigorate you too!

Heir Island, off the west coast of Cork, is one of Carbery’s Hundred Isles that lie scattered throughout Roaringwater Bay. The island is beautifully located, surrounded by a panorama of Sherkin Island, Cape Clear, the Calf Islands, the East and West Skeams, and Mount Gabriel to the North.

The island is easily walked and cycled and there are lots of safe sandy beaches ideal for sailing, windsurfing, swimming and diving. The centre of the island has an extensive marsh with a vibrant reed bed where you’ll find many unusual birds as well as over 200 varieties of wild flowers.

Heir is also home to many well known artists, who were drawn to the island because of its breathtaking landscape and peaceful atmosphere.

Inshort one should definitely plan a walking trip during the stay in Ireland.

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Ireland is the best place to spend your vacation. There are number of scenic spots in Ireland that will make your vacation unforgettable.

Cavan is one of the counties in Ireland, which is famous for its natural treasures. You can get relief from your stressful life by exploring the peaceful regions of Cavan. You can enjoy the lakes, trekking in horse and playing in the wonderful golf ground. You can enjoy the beauty f Mother Nature by walking through the hilly regions.

Kilkenny is an ancient town where you can visit the Kilkenny castle and enjoy the evening walk through the ancient streets. This city also arranges for top comedy festivals. You can also visit the clean, unexplored countrysides around Kilkenny to enjoy the peaceful forest areas.

Mayo is the most beautiful scenic spot in Ireland. It is a coastal town and you can enjoy the scenic spots in and around Mayo. You can visit the Achill islands there which is a historic and eye inspiring spot. Apart from this, you can enjoy the delightful experience of traveling through the villages.

Clare is another charming city that will make your vacation experience memorable for years. The heart inspiring natural attractions in Clare will offer a picturesque background for your vacation photographs. You can enjoy the feast in local pubs. You can also have more fun in water sports, horse riding, golfing, surfing, walking and cycling.

Limerick is a wonderful spot where you can see charming countryside, glorious castles, historical sights etc. You can also visit the Ballyhoura Mountains. There are number of small villages in Limerick that are famous for their magical beauty.

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If you want to explore the unexplored spots in Ireland then cycling tour in Ireland is the best option. Go Ireland offers you two options of guided and self guided cycling vacation. You will surely enjoy the natural charm and the heritage of Ireland in this tour.

Ireland has wonderful spots that remain unspoilt. The small fishing villages, highest mountains and islands of Atlantic Ocean are some of the finest spots that you will enjoy in the cycling tour.  You can cycle around the mountains and can also view the early Christian ruins.

The guided cycling tour will cover almost all the scenic spots in Ireland. In self guiding tour you will have the freedom of choosing any of the open roads. If you want to shop or enjoy an Irish Cuisine then Galway Street is the best place. If you want to simply explore the country sides then you can select the country boreen in Dingle.

The cycling tour to Ring of Kerry will allow you to enjoy the most beautiful beaches, rivers and lakes. This coastal town is famous for pubs and restaurants. Glenbeigh is another beautiful spot in Ireland where you can view the ice carved valley of Glencar.

You will also enjoy the spectacular lakes in Killarney. If time permits you can also view the heritage town of Kenmare. Killarney is full of pubs and restaurants and if you stay there one day you can enjoy the traditional Irish music.

You need not worry about your luggage when you go for cycling tour in Ireland. The organizers will arrange for the safety of your luggage. You will be provided with the route maps and notes so that you can enjoy touring without any hurdle.

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You can enjoy the scenic countryside of Ireland through driving tours in Ireland. You can book the driving tour of Ireland package, which will offer more flexibility for you to decide where to stop, where to visit etc. You may get the support of the tour managers by getting in touch with them over phone at any time. You can have a chance to spend your time in the royal castles throughout the night during the tours arranged by them. You have to just pay for car hiring and accommodation. There are no additional charges involved.

Magical Ireland is a Driving tour package which allows you to see the lovely spots of Ireland at reasonable rates. You can get the road map and guide for these heritage places. You can visit the Cliffs of Moher and can enjoy the lakes and mountains in Kerry. Connemera is another picturesque landscape that is worth visiting.

Scenic Ireland is another Driving tour package that will surely provide you with lots of fun, a great break indeed from you daily monotonous lifestyle. You can first visit the capital city Dublin that has so many attractive locales. You can also enjoy the feast in any restaurant here. Then you can drive to Kilkenny, which is famous for pubs. You can also visit the Kilkenny castle.

You can visit Kerry, which is the most beautiful place of Ireland. You can see the Killarney castle there, the national park and the garden. You can drive through the midlands and can visit the wonderful Boyne valley. You can also enjoy the drive along the shores of Lough Erne. You can enjoy evening walk in busy streets of any small town in Ireland.

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You can spend your vacation in the exciting and scenic locations of Ireland. You can stay in the royal Ireland castles. You can take the Hidden Ireland tour package to view the less traveled beautiful coastal areas of Ireland. The Beara peninsula in county cork is an excellent place where you can find the secrets of nature. The lovely blue sea covered with greenish rocks will provide a wonderful experience.

The Ballynahinch Castle, located in Connemara, County Galway is another lovely spot. It is comprised of 450 acres of beautiful woodlands, gardens, lakes and rivers. This Irish castle is noted for its renowned beauty. You can visit this place in late spring and early summer season. It overlooks the Ballynahinch salmon river and is surrounded by the Twelve Bens Mountain Range. “Casual country elegance” would be an apt description of the ambience of the castle.

County clare has fabulous beaches and the town of Ennis which is well known for it’s Irish music is well worth a visit. A visit to Bunratty castle is a must. Built in 1425 it is the most complete and authentic medieval castle in Ireland. Bunratty Folk Park, which is an enjoyable place for kids and adults alike. You can visit the Bunratty castle on any working days between 9 am to 5pm. This Irish castle has a collection of wonderful furniture and art works from the 12’Th century.You can hire Shannon cruisers on the river and spend your days on the River Shannon as you cruise along the river from village to village. You can relax as the maximum speed is mere 15 mph. It is a great way to see many parts of Ireland which you cannot see by road. There are lot of little villages along the Shannon so you can stop where you like, when you like and have a different experience every day.

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