NORTH WEST IRELAND

The stunning scenery of the North West is only matched by the genuine warmth and friendliness of the people. One truly can forget the cares of modern life by escaping to one or all of the five counties that comprise the North West Region. Find the time to relax, have a pint at the Guinness Brewery and stay in a castle on a wind-swept green hillside.
The North West's landscape has been remarkably left untouched by the passage of time and is a striking mixture of beautiful coastlines, rambling hills, magnificent mountains and lovely lakes, all of which are ready to be discovered. Those with an interest in literature will also be spoiled for choice. The charming county of Sligo is the birthplace of one of Ireland’s greatest poets, WB Yeats; while County Monaghan provided a lifetime of inspiration to esteemed poet Patrick Kavanagh.
On top of that, there’s an abundance of excellent B&B's, set amidst spectacular gardens, excellent restaurants, and pubs that you’ll never want to leave. And if you’ve got any time left after all that eating, drinking and relaxing, you can always try your hand at golfing, angling, biking, cruising, and even catch a wave at Donegal’s finest surfing spot.

IRELAND WEST

Visiting the West of Ireland is an excellent opportunity to experience all that Ireland has to offer in one holiday – whether it’s enjoying the unrivalled scenery, cruising through gentle waterways or visiting international arts festivals. And then there’s the nightlife to help you relax after a busy day of sightseeing, with traditional Irish music in cosy local pubs and amazing seafood in some of Ireland’s finest restaurants. The counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon make up the region of Ireland West.
Galway is just one of those magical places that everyone wants to visit and where there's so much to see and do - medieval banquets at Dunguaire Castle, the Oceans Alive sea life centre, a visit to Glengowla Mines, walking, fishing, sailing and surfing.
Largely surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the county of Mayo boasts a stunningly beautiful unspoilt environment and a popular attraction for visitors. History comes alive at the world famous Céide Fields near Ballycastle in North Mayo, at The Foxford Woollen Mills, Hennigans Heritage and museums including the new National Museum of Ireland Country Life just outside Castlebar. Another highlight is Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s holy mountain with the starkly beautiful National Famine Memorial at its foot. There are numerous sporting and outdoor opportunities, especially fishing of all sorts including on the world famous River Moy in Ballina where the salmon is king.

MIDLANDS EAST IRELAND

The Midlands East region is an intriguing area with one of Ireland’s oldest Christian settlements, Clonmacnoise, on the banks of the Shannon. Founded in the sixth century, it is a must-visit for anyone with even a passing interest in Irish history. This region stretches from the magnificent golden beaches of the East Coast to the majestic river Shannon in the Midlands, with some of Irelands finest heritage attractions in between. The area consists of 8 counties: Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Offaly, Meath, Westmeath and Wicklow - each with its own local attractions and differences.
The countryside is a real draw for wildlife lovers and a stroll beside one of the pretty lakes or rivers makes for a memorable experience. If you’re a golfer, then you can play on some of the finest courses in the country, but it’s impossible to escape the fact that the Midlands is first and foremost Ireland’s horse country, with The Horse Museum and National Stud in County Kildare home to some of the world’s finest thoroughbreds. Walkers will definitely enjoy the Wicklow area, also known as the Garden of Ireland, with outstanding scenery – mountains, valleys, lakes and coastline. Renowned for its walking trails, The Wicklow Way is one of the most famous.

DUBLIN IRELAND

While Dublin City gets all the attention, Dublin County is a brilliant spot with beautiful stretches of sea, atmospheric pubs, a shed load of activities and top cultural attractions. It is the third smallest county in Ireland, yet it is home to a third of the country's population. Popular attractions include the Ardgillan Victorian Garden and the 'Dublin Bay Sea Thrill' at Dun Laoghaire - an exhilarating ride on life rafts. Malahide Castle, with its lovely parkland and collection of paintings, is also well worth a visit. The region is also a great location for horse riding and golf, with one of the world's best courses at Portmarnock.
As capital of the Republic of Ireland, Dublin City offers all you could want for a city break with history, culture and a flourishing restaurant and bar industry, with countless new pubs and eating avenues opening all the time. The city has become a stylish and multi-ethnic destination, with its splendid Georgian architecture and prosperous economy. Some of the historic and traditional places in Dublin City are Saint Patrick's Cathedral as the centre of Protestant faith in the country and the University of Dublin and the Bank of Ireland building in the old section of town. Dublin is also an important seaport, situated at the mouth of River Liffey, on Dublin Bay. Dublin city is joined through ship services with places like Cork, Belfast and various ports in England, Scotland, and France.

SHANNON IRELAND

The Shannon region embraces the counties of Clare, Limerick, South Offaly and North Tipperary and takes its name from the majestic River Shannon. It's a region of legendary beauty, a place where visitors can refresh their spirits away from the frenetic cities and towns of the world. In this compact area you can discover stunning landscapes, Atlantic seascapes, great sporting activity, entertainment, top shopping and visitor attractions, uncrowded beaches, mountain walks and quiet country roads. It's a small, compact area, less than 130 kms. from end to end. Yet, within it, there is great scenic diversity. You can enjoy the freshness of Clare’s Atlantic Coastline; the magnificent River Shannon; Lough Derg – Ireland‘s main pleasure lake; lakeland areas; the lunar-like plateau of the Burren; the Golden Vale; The Slieve Blooms mountain range and so much more. With excellent visitor attractions, a whole host of activities from world-class golf to fishing and horse riding, and very friendly locals, it’s the perfect spot to forget all your worries with a trip to remember.

SOUTH EAST IRELAND

This is an area of contrasts, from the coasts of Waterford and Wexford through the agricultural heartlands of Tipperary and Carlow to the rich Norman heritage of Kilkenny. Fondly referred to by the 'Irish' as the 'Sunny South East', the region is famous for its vibrant towns, rural getaways and coastal villages and resorts. The landscape of the South East comprises a mix of rolling hills, woodlands and farmlands, picturesque river valleys of the Blackwater, Barrow, Nore, Suir and Slaney. Visitors from overseas are attracted by the richness and variety of heritage sites in the South East. Kilkenny Castle and the Rock of Cashel are amongst most visited sites. Likewise the Irish National Heritage Park and the Dunbrody Heritage Ship in the county of Wexford draw a huge number of visitors. Craft and culture enthusiasts flock to the Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre to marvel as they view master cutters create the world famous glassware.
Secluded spots along the coast or nestled into the hills also make it one of the most romantic parts of the country, so find your very own hideaway and escape from it all. And if that doesn’t appeal, then head to Kilkenny where the pubs are plentiful, the music’s great and the enjoyment is legendary.

SOUTH WEST IRELAND

There’s something calming about the South West of Ireland. The utter tranquillity of remote areas, the wild majestic scenery along the coast, and the buzz of fantastic towns like Kenmare and Kinsale mean there’s literally something for everyone. This area is one of the most popular and scenic places of Ireland. Ireland's highest mountain, Carrauntoohil, (1041m) is located here. Many visitors to the region will remember kissing the Blarney Stone while visiting Blarney Castle outside Cork City. Killarney in County Kerry provides an excellent base for exploring what is known as the 'Ring of Kerry'. This route around the Dingle peninsula incorporates much of Kerry's world renowned coastlines, mountains and lakes.
This is a region where activity holidays play a large role in holiday plans, and County Cork has hosted the Irish Open Golf Championships on a number of occasions in recent years. Long distance walking is also very popular in the region, as are the many cycle routes. In all about 1000 kms of developed walking routes are available and about the same distance of developed or planned cycling routes await the visitor.
With such a long coastline sea and shore, fishing is widely available as is excellent game angling.