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While Dublin is a city with countless attractions, for the visitor to Ireland the countryside is often the main reason for coming. Luckily, because Dublin is the capital, it is a transport hub, and there are easy rail or bus links to many nearby towns which make for a great day out - without spending all one's time travelling. You could be in Belfast (and officially in the United Kingdom) in 2 hours by train.

But in that same 2 hours you could be in the medieval town of Kilkenny. At one time, Kilkenny was the capital of Ireland, and among its attractions are Kilkenny Castle, set in impressive grounds running along the banks of the river, and St. Canice's Cathedral. The city centre still retains many historical buildings, such as the Shee Alms House, originally a 16th century almshouse, which now houses the Tourist Office. You might also like to visit the 'Black Abbey', the Dominican church founded in the 13th century. In addition to its seemingly endless history, Kilkenny is still a bustling market town, serving the population of this rural county.

The Garden of Ireland is how Wicklow is described, and being less than two hours from the centre of Dublin, this haven of natural beauty is easy to explore. You could choose to let the train take the strain, and journey along the impressive coastline south of Dublin to the county town. Most visitors, however, choose to take an organised bus tour which hits all of the highlights this area has to offer. The most impressive of these must be the ancient monastic settlement of Glendalough. Glendalough translates from Irish as 'the valley of two lakes' and as if that wasn't enough, you get a 6th century monastic settlement thrown in!

If you fancy something a little closer to your Dublin base, choose North or South. The local rail system (DART) will take you north to the old fishing village of Howth, or south to the Victorian seaside resort of Bray - both within 45 minutes. Howth is the more middle class town now, with an impressive marina and restaurants specialising in (yes, you've guessed it) seafood! Bray may have been a Victorian getaway, but now is more brash and down to earth. The promenade, though, is still a great place to walk up an appetite before heading to any number of restaurants, ranging from the traditional takeaway 'fish and chips' still served in paper, to the more upmarket where you get to eat off real plates!

Dublin is a great city to visit, but don't ignore it as a gateway to a different Ireland.

Learn more about this author, Joe Kelly.
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