IRELAND (Europe)

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Cork City
Dublin

Ireland is situated in the Atlantic Ocean and separated from Great Britain by the Irish Sea. Ireland occupies the entire island except for the six counties that make up Northern Ireland. The Irish landscape has a mythic resonance, the country's history is almost tangible. And while it may be small, Ireland packs a big holiday punch. There are windswept, deserted beaches to discover, a rugged coastline, mountains and lochs, the stark landscape of the Burren and lush countryside that dazzles the eye with so many shades of green you understand at once why the tourist brochures call this the Emerald Isle.

The lure of Ireland lies in its landscapes and its people, and it is through involvement with either, or both, that visitors get to experience the soul of this ancient land of saints and scholars.

Ireland's hills are a walker's paradise, not only because of the extensive network of trails, but because by being on foot one gets to appreciate the lakes and rivers, the coastal views and ever-changing sky-scapes that are so much part of the Irish landscape. Watersports such as angling, sailing and surfing are popular too, and many visitors come for the golf, but the real passion of the Irish is horses - there is a potential Derby winner in every valley and a packed betting shop in every high street.

The Irish weather is not the most predictable in the world, but then much of the beauty of the Irish landscape is due to its climate.and there has to be a price-tag on being nicknamed the 'Emerald Isle'. Poor weather has had positive influences on the Irish way of life. Music and song plays an integral part in daily life and visitors are able to experience this in the many pubs so characteristic of the social landscape of Ireland.

Over the years, Ireland has survived invasions, famine and civil war, but has recently come into its own, benefiting from peace in the North, support from the EU and a new vitality which has caused the country to be dubbed the 'Celtic Tiger'. There has never been a better time to visit.