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• Brief Introduction

  As beautiful as Ireland is, we think the country's main attraction is its people -- their hospitality, their felicitous use of the language and their marvelous sense of humor ensure a warm welcome. Enter a pub in Ireland on a rainy day, and you'll find a room full of friends. In between time spent getting to know the Irish, travelers will be enchanted by the emerald-green countryside, scattered with towers, ruins, castles and dolmens. The genial character of the Irish is surprising considering their country's history of conflict -- initially, it battled Viking invaders, then the English (after Pope Adrian IV granted overlordship of the island to Henry II). A long and bloody struggle for independence followed throughout the ensuing centuries, culminating in the Easter Rising of 1916. Home Rule was granted in 1920, and soon afterward Ireland became an independent, albeit partitioned, nation. The northeastern sixth of the island, which has a Protestant majority, remains part of the United Kingdom as Northern Ireland. Although Northern Ireland is subject to recurring strife, visitors to the Republic of Ireland need take no special precautions.

• A more detailed account of Irish History with facinating facts from Govt. sources!
  

• Geostats
  

  Official Name: Republic of Ireland.
  Visa Info: Passport, sufficient funds and onward ticket needed by U.S. and Canadian citizens.
  Health Certificates: No vaccinations are required. Contact health authorities for latest information.
  Capital: Dublin.
  Population: 3,471,000.
  Size: 27,136 sq mi/70,282 sq km. Slightly smaller than West Virginia.
  Languages: English, Irish Gaelic.
  Climate: Temperate maritime.
  Economy: Agriculture, forestry, fishing.
  Government: Parliamentary republic.
  Relationship with U.S.: Good.
  Religions: Roman Catholic, Anglican.
  Currency: Irish pound (IRL). 100 pennies = 1 IRL. Credit cards and traveler's checks accepted widely. AE, DI, MC and VI.
  Time Zone: 5 hours ahead of EST; GMT 0. Telecommunications: Fair. Country code 353.
  Major city codes are Cork 21, Drogheda 41, Dublin 12, Galway 19, Limerick 61, Sligo 71, Waterford 51.
  Electricity: 220 volts.

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• For a tour of the magnificent architecture found in the major cities of the country, follow the links.
  
  Dublin
  Cork
  Carrick-on-Suir
  

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1. 
   
2. fishing
   
3. Irish Stew
   
4. Itinerary
   
5. Genealogy
   

• Fishing
  A brilliant link to an interactive guide of the rivers and waterways of Ireland.
  All you have ever wanted to know about fishing, and a lot you never wished to!

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• Suggested Itinerary
  To see all the sights we recommend would take a month, and even that would only scratch the surface. Ireland is a land to go back to time and again, and to find a village to adopt as your place. Each major city and several smaller ones offer full- and half-day escorted tours (we recommend them even for independent travelers -- they provide a good overview). The itinerary below will test the endurance of most travelers; after nine days, we predict, they'll be totally exhausted, but totally satisfied.
  Day 1 -- Arrive Shannon and drive to Galway.
  Day 2 -- Drive to Athlone.
  Day 3 -- Drive to Dublin.
  Day 4 -- Dublin.
  Day 5 -- Drive to Wexford.
  Day 6 -- Drive via Waterford to Killarney.
  Day 7 -- Drive the Ring of Kerry. Overnight Killarney.
  Day 8 -- Killarney.
  Day 9 -- Drive (quickly) to Shannon and depart Ireland.
  This itinerary is the absolute minimum. Ideally, we would take a leisurely 11 days for this itinerary, stopping to spend some time in towns encountered en route; then we'd add the following:
  Day 12 -- Drive from Killarney to Dingle.
  Day 13 -- Drive to Limerick or Bunratty.
  Day 14 -- Drive to Galway via Cliffs of Moher.
  Day 15 -- Drive to Westport.
  Day 16 -- Drive to Sligo or other nearby town.
  Day 17 -- Drive along the coast to Donegal or other nearby town.
  Day 18 -- Drive to Dunfanaghy or nearby town.
  Day 19 -- Drive to Shannon.
  Day 20 -- Depart Ireland.
  The 20-day itinerary is for first-time visitors -- so they can see the wide variety of places to visit. For return trips, we recommend they visit to their favorite area, stay a week in a B-and-B, farmhouse, castle or hotel and really get to know that region.
  When to Go
  May to mid-September is by far the warmest (highs in the 60s F/16-21 C) and generally the driest time of year, relatively speaking (it's always cold and damp). The absolute best time is probably from mid-May to the end of June and during the month of October -- the weather is good for touring and there usually aren't as many tourists (the rest of the summer is fine, though a bit crowded). Winter days can be drizzly, cold and short (the sun sets around 4 pm), but because of the Gulf Stream, the temperature seldom falls below freezing. It is also an opportune time to meet the Irish -- few tourists are about and you can easily find conversation at the local pub. No matter when you come, you'll always need a wool sweater and a jacket or coat, especially at night.

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  More information than you'll know what to do with!

  
  

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  Genealogy
  Try our NEW service. Trace your Irish roots with our experts, or have a go yourself.
  This link will provide AMAZING resources to aid you in your search.
  Genealogy Gateway^TM To The Web
  
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