by James Clarke

Created on: March 22, 2007   Last Updated: April 23, 2007

Ireland is strange place to choose for a holiday in a lot of ways. It's pretty remote, for Europe, and given that the Irish and Irishness are spread throughout so many world cultures, it's easy to see the place as a giant cliche of Guinness, leprechauns and Dublin. Hopefully, if you're planning to go to Ireland, you'll be able to get past this thin pseudo Irish tourist mentality, and really enjoy this amazing country.

The biggest consideration is time. If you are in the country for a day or two, you've almost got to ask yourself if it's worth the effort. Dublin is a difficult city to avoid tourist traps, and a bit of careful research needs to be done to get off the conveyor belt of Temple Bar and the Guinness Factory. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot there, something for everyone, and definitely too much to be addressed in this short article. Instead, I want to talk about how to enjoy Dublin, not where.

Depending on your particular interest, be it history, Guinness, music or art, it would be a good idea to use the internet to find the attractions and interest you most and make them a priority. Don't make too much of an effort to visit Temple Bar unless you actually want to wander around a quaint little tourist trap.

If you have a couple of days or more, hiring a car is a definite must. So much of Ireland is remote and beautiful, and it pains me to say it, but remote & beautiful doesn't mix well with public transport. Some of the outer regions of the country are the most worth visiting, especially Donegal. This is the north west part of the island, just next to Northern Ireland. It's not on the typical Ireland Tour itinerary, which makes it all the better.
Donegal Town isn't the most exciting place on earth, but the highlands and lakes around it are gorgeous, and very quiet. The coast is great to drive around as well, with St Johns Point being a happy little peninsula that makes for a great little drive out into the bay. Slieve League is the highest sea cliffs in Europe, and the Inishowen Peninsula to the north is a fantastic, remote little corner of the world.

As a visitor, I found the live music such a fascinating part of the journey, I made every effort to find a performance, or session, every night I was there. The internet is the best place to find this information, and most larger towns will have something on somewhere every night. Smaller towns usually have more traditional sessions, but they are less frequent, and require more planning. Ireland's pubs and bars are now smoke free, so you can enjoy the night without smelling like an ashtray. Which is nice.

So get into it, it is a great country!

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