A varied landscape of mountains, lakes and beaches that’s great for walking, with some pretty villages to base yourself in.
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Enjoy an invigorating hack along the beach or trek through the mountains on a pony.
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This wonderfully remote and beautiful mountain valley shelters an atmospheric monastery.
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Festivals abound throughout Ireland, not least on March 17 when the whole island celebrates St Patrick’s Day.
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Spectacular cliff-edge fort, the Iron Age capital of the Aran Islands.
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The grandeur of the lakes and mountains has been drawing visitors to Killarney for over three centuries.
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One of Europe’s finest prehistoric sites, an extraordinary ritual landscape.
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Explore the imposing forts and sample some of Ireland’s finest cuisine, in a glorious bay-side setting.
Roasted duck with marinated pear and red wine mascarpone © Maksim Toome/Shutterstock
A remarkable and inspiring early Christian hermitage clinging to a mountain summit on a wild, bleak island.
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An astonishing collection of manuscripts and artworks from around the world.
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It’s a stiff climb, but the fine views and the mountain’s religious and historical connotations make it all worthwhile.
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Goran Djukanovic/Shutterstock
Often loud, often raucous and always fun, traditional Irish music can be heard in many pubs and at dedicated festivals.
Playing celtic music © fred goldstein/Shutterstock
A magnificent setting for some lavish artworks, among formal gardens overlooking
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Possibly the most breathtaking of County Donegal’s numerous rugged peninsulas, with plenty of exhilarating cliff-top walks.
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Whether it’s a breezy seaside stroll or a more arduous long-distance path, one of the best ways to enjoy Ireland’s magnificent land- and sea-scapes is on foot.
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Sample the shellfish at numerous locations along Ireland’s coast or try your hand at an oyster-opening competition.
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Take a trip to one of Ireland’s many racing festivals, savour the banter, pick up some tips and have a flutter.
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A barren expanse of cracked limestone terraces, stretching towards the Atlantic and peppered with a multitude of fascinating megalithic remains.
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A grim encounter with the Spartan conditions experienced by those deemed enemies of the state with superb displays on Irish political history.
Kilmainham Gaol Prison, Dublin © matthi/Shutterstock
Lavish gold ornaments, preserved by the peat bogs since prehistoric times.
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Rising high above the Golden Vale, the Rock features an entrancing group of early ecclesiastical remains.
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Marvel at the eerie but entirely natural basalt formation of the Causeway.
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The black stuff really does taste better in its own country, especially in its home town, Dublin.
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A visit to Derry is incomplete without a stroll around the ramparts of the only completely walled city in Ireland.
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Top image: Rock of Cashel © Shutterstock