Beautiful Ireland Introduction
Many clichés come to mind when thinking of Ireland this time of year: leprechauns and limericks, to name a couple. Yet this country is so rich in heritage, culture, history and scenery it would be a shame not to explore it further. So in honor of St. Patrick’s Day, take a few moments to enjoy these iconic images of the Emerald Isle — perhaps its lush beauty will inspire you to plan your next trip to Ireland.
You can’t swing a fiddle without hitting a stone castle — or the ruins of one — in Ireland. Dunluce Castle stands out for its dramatic setting high on a headland near Bushmills in County Antrim. The earliest recorded residents of the castle were the MacQuillans in the early 1500s, but later Dunluce changed hands to the Clan MacDonnell, Scots who beat the MacQuillans in battles during the 1600s. Today the ruins are open to the public, and it’s not hard to imagine them in their heyday. Nearby are remains of the town of Dunluce, which was recently uncovered in an excavation.
County Clare is famous for its rich musical heritage, but it is also home to the karst landscape known as the Burren, just south of Galway across Galway Bay (see it on a map). History buffs will find plenty to explore in this wind-swept region, measuring 250 square kilometers, from the many Neolithic tombs like Poulnabrone Dolmen shown here, to the three-ring stone fort of Cahercommaun tucked against the edge of a cliff, quiet Corcomroe Abbey, and the Aillwee Cave.
Geologists say that the unusual hexagonal rocks on the coast of County Antrim in northeast Ireland were created by ancient volcanic activity. Others prefer a more romantic story, namely that the warrior giant Finn McCool walked across the Giant’s Causeway all the way to Scotland to meet his rival in battle. Looking at the stones, it doesn’t seem too far-fetched. Many people are coming to see and decide for themselves; the causeway is the No. 1 tourist attraction in Ireland.
The tradition of using local grasses and sedges as a roofing material dates back hundreds of years in Ireland and the United Kingdom. It was born of necessity: There just weren’t any other building materials handy in the countryside. After a period of decline, these homes are popular once again as holiday rentals, and provide roofing artisans with enough business to continue practicing this almost-lost skill.
What better way to honor St. Patrick’s Day than with a visit to the cathedral named for Ireland’s patron saint? The soaring Anglican church has been a centerpiece of Dublin since it was built in 1220, and church literature reports that Patrick himself converted people to Christianity at the well that was once located on-site. St. Patrick’s Cathedral has a long legacy of music, including the Dublin debut of Handel’s Messiah in 1742, so visit at a time when you can hear the Cathedral Choir perform — as they have been doing since the 13th century.
One hundred years ago, the Titanic docked at Cobh in County Cork — the ship’s last port of call before crossing the Atlantic on its fateful voyage. The seaport hosts a memorial to the ship, as well as a Titanic walking tour. Another claim to fame for Cork? It’s home to the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle. The origins of the stone are mysterious, but that hasn’t stopped countless visitors from leaning backward and kissing the stone in hopes of gaining the gift of eloquence.
The heart of social life in Ireland can be found in the public houses of nearly every village and city. Step into an Irish pub and you’ll be welcomed with a pint of Guinness and Irish stew, lively conversation and, if you’re lucky, live music. The famous Brazen Head in Dublin has live music every Sunday afternoon, and O’Donoghue’s is famous for its Irish folk-music scene. In Belfast, stop by Kelly’s Cellars; if you’re near the medieval town of Fethard in County Tipperary, visit McCarthy’s and catch up on the local horse-racing news. The Sugan pub shown here is in Killarney in County Kerry.
Irish dancing is practiced throughout Ireland today as it has been for centuries, and young dancers compete in local and regional contests with the hope of getting to the national championships held each May in Dublin. While Michael Flatley and his global tour of Riverdance brought Irish dancing fame and recognition far beyond its native shores, still, one of the best ways to experience a ceili is in Ireland.
Dramatic vertical walls of rock mark the spot where County Clare meets the Atlantic: the Cliffs of Moher. Stretching five miles along the coast from the town of Doolin, the cliffs are a natural attraction not only to tourists, but to nesting seabirds — keep an eye out for puffins and razorheads. O’Brien’s Tower, built by an enterprising local in 1835, provides the highest vantage point for wildlife viewing and soaking up the views of the Aran Islands, Galway Bay and beyond.