The Emerald Isle offers craggy cliffs, perfect pints, and music. St. Patrick's Day in Dublin is actually a five-day affair this year, with a parade on Saturday the 17th. Other events include a comedy festival, concerts, and a treasure hunt. (Photo: Fáilte Ireland) St. Patrick's Day in Dublin is actually a five-day affair this year, with a parade on Saturday the 17th. Other events include a comedy festival, concerts, and a treasure hunt. (Photo: Fáilte Ireland) The Long Room in Dublin's Trinity College Library is a haven for bibliophiles and historians alike. Its collections include 200,000 of the college's oldest books, multiple bust sculptures, and a 15th-century harp. The Old Library building also holds the famous Book of Kells. (Photo: Brian Lynch/Fáilte Ireland) For many the quintessential symbol of the Irish home and hearth, thatched-roof houses can be found scattered throughout the countryside, particularly in counties Clare, Donegal, and Kerry. You can even forego a hotel and rent your own thatched cottage for your vacation. (Photo: Fáilte Ireland) County Kerry, on Ireland's southwestern coast, features the famous Ring of Kerry, one of the country's most panoramic drives along the Iveragh Peninsula. You'll also find the beautiful Killarney National Park in this region. (Photo: Fáilte Ireland) The Cliffs of Moher in County Clare provide a dramatic view against the Atlantic. While scheduled tours are available, visiting on your own enables you to take in the stellar scenery at your own pace. Admission to the cliffs' Atlantic Edge is €4 per adult. (Photo: Brian Lynch/Fáilte Ireland) No visit to Ireland is complete without a few days in Dublin, the country's capital city. The centrally located O'Connell Bridge is Europe's only bridge that is wider than it is long. (Photo: Fáilte Ireland) Temple Bar is one of Dublin's most vibrant neighborhoods, boasting a plethora of pubs; open-air food, book, and design markets; and many outdoor festivals. Set on the south bank of the River Liffey, Temple Bar is considered the cultural heart of the city. (Photo: Fáilte Ireland) Historic Galway offers fine dining, lively pubs with Celtic music, and shopping galore. It's a premier destination for seeing Ireland both old and new: Visitors can witness Galway's recent commercial growth and young professional culture juxtaposed with the city's ancient winding streets, traditional architecture, and romantic Galway Bay. (Photo: Fáilte Ireland) An Ireland vacation enables travelers to stay at accommodations beyond the ordinary hotel. For example, spend the night at Kilkea Castle, just an hour outside Dublin in South Kildare. The estate has more than 30 rooms, extensive gardens, and a golf course. (Photo: Fáilte Ireland) Traditional Irish music often centers around the bodhrán, a frame drum constructed of wood and goat skin. Lessons are offered in many places throughout the country. (Photo: Fáilte Ireland)
Image Gallery
Saint Patrick's Day
Saint Patrick's Day
Trinity College
Inishmore
Kerry scene
Cliffs of Moher
O'Connell Bridge
Dublin students
Galway restaurant
Kilkea Castle
A Bodhran lesson
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