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- The Lake District in Cumbria – Magnificent Lakeland
- Eden Valley – A Veritable Garden of Eden
- The Tees Valley - Coast, Countryside, History & Hertage
- The Northern Dales of the Yorkshire Dales National Park
- The Southern Dales of the Yorkshire Dales National Park
- North York Moors National Park & North Yorkshire Coast
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- Scotland - Magnificent Mountains, Scenery & Culture
- The Cowal Peninsula in Argyll - Magnificent Scotland
- Edinburgh, Lothian and the Scottish Borders
- Dumfries and Galloway - Beautiful South West Scotland
- Heart of England – Shakespeare Country
- Peak District National Park – White Peak and Dark Peak
- Eastern England - A Region of Beauty and Variety
- Lincolnshire – A county of Coast and Countryside
- London and South East England – So Full of Treasures
- South West England – Coast, Countryside & National Parks
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- Eire – Republic of Ireland – The Magnificent Emerald Isle
- Northern Ireland - The Six Counties and City of Belfast
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Eire – Republic of Ireland – The Magnificent Emerald Isle
EIRE – REPUBLIC OF IRELAND – EMERALD ISLE – INTRODUCTION
Eire -the Republic of Ireland… or the Emerald Isle… is probably the least known of all the European countries. Some say that it is the land which time forgot and away from the superb capital of Dublin and the east coast towns this is almost true! The lonely, flat Bog of Allen, the haunting mountains of the southwest, long, empty, sublime beaches and the desolate, rock pavements of the Burren are unknown to all but a few devotees. It appears to be an empty land and peaceful roads are synonymous with this country, but the ghosts of a magnificent heritage lurk at every turn. The Republic of Ireland occupies the south, centre and northwest of the island of Ireland. The centre is a lowland and hills are mainly around the coasts, although there are a few peaks over 3000ft. high, the highest being Carrantouhill (‘the inverted reaping hook’) in Macgillycuddy’s Reeks, County Kerry. The entire western coastline is an intricate, wondrous, alternation of bays and estuaries. The climate is mild, moist and changeable and one of the popular reasons for not visiting this lake and mountain, bejewelled isle. Do not be put off – this is a land of legendary kings, momentous religion, saints and serpents and a wonderful welcome.
CUSTOMS & CULTURE
Trinity College, one of the two university colleges in the city of Dublin, dates from 1592, but the greatest treasure stored in its library dates from 1185. The Book of Kells is the most sumptuous of the illuminated manuscripts to have survived from the early Middle Ages and has even been described as ‘the most beautiful book in the world’. Nearby, in the National Museum, can be seen one of the finest examples of Celtic art – the 8th century Tara Brooch. These two examples serve to show what a wonderful cultural heritage Ireland has and it is no surprise to find that some of the finest literary giants of the modern age are themselves Irish. Dublin will for ever be associated with Oscar Wilde, Sean O’Casey and James Joyce. John Synge found inspiration in the Aran Islands and West Kerry and he wrote about a way of life not previously recorded in written literature. There is also a wonderful heritage associated with the harp and fiddle and today the great musical tradition of the Irish thrills audiences throughout the world in ‘Riverdance’. Jokes at the expense of the stereotypic Irishman bear no resemblance to their origins and one of the richest cultures on earth.
LANDSCAPES & LANDFORMS
For its size Ireland has the most varied geology in the world. As such it also displays one of the most varied landscapes to be fund anywhere. Connemara and Donegal are spectacularly beautiful and display some of the oldest rocks on earth – over 3000 million years old. In the southwest of Ireland hard shales have been upthrust in great folds to give us the unbelievable beauty of the massive mountain ranges of Cork and Kerry. The Ring of Kerry is world famous and the delightfully named Macgillycuudy’s Reeks boast Ireland’s highest mountain (Carrantouhill – 3417ft.). The largest limestone pavement in Europe is found in the Carboniferous rocks of the Burren in Co. Clare and shelters a wide variety of rare animals, insects and plants. Virtually the whole of the western coastline is awesome in its variety and beauty, whilst in the east the Wicklow mountains provide a wonderful southern backdrop for the capital city of Dublin. Great glaciers emanating from Scotland have left a legacy of wonderful lakes and rivers while peat growing in the wake of the glaciers on the Bog of Allen provides the country’s main source of fuel.
PLACES TO VISIT & EVENTS
Dublin really is a ‘fair city’ and I’ve no doubt that the girls are every bit as pretty as ‘sweet Molly Malone’. The quality of the public buildings make Dublin one of Europe’s finest capital cities. They are far too numerous to list here but visitors wishing to know more about Ireland should visit the National Museum, National Gallery and the National Library at the very least. One of the country’s greatest historical sites is also one of its most dramatic and the Rock of Cashel – principal stronghold of the ancient kings of Munster – should not be missed (Co. Tipperary). Another must – just to say you’ve been – is Blarney, a small town in County Cork, possessing, inset in the wall of the 15th century castle, the Blarney Stone, reputed to give persuasive speech to those kissing it . One of the great ecclesiastical sites is at Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly, where there is a cathedral, 8 ruined churches, 3 sculptured high crosses and parts of 2 more, 2 round towers (typically found all over Ireland) and more than 200 monumental slabs; there are also ruins of a castle. This is a ridiculously short list as everywhere there is something of interest in this fabulous country.
SPORTS & LEISURE
Fishing is something of a religion in Ireland. There is no close season for coarse fishing, but seasons for game fishing vary slightly from county to county . A tremendous variety of sea fishing is also available. Golf is popular all over Ireland and there are some 250 courses throughout the country. Horse drawn caravan holidays are something of a boom industry which takes advantage of the wonderfully quiet roads. Inland cruising is particularly enjoyable in Ireland as the waterways are extensive, uncommercialised and free from pollution. Another national obsession is horse racing and all the 5 Irish classics can be watched at the Curragh which is also the site of the national stud. Gaelic Football and hurling are peculiarly Irish, hurling being first played over 3000 years ago. Walking is a popular and growing pastime especially good in the west.
About Discovery Britain
The Discovery Britain Premier Tourism Website is currently online but only as a simple 'holding presence' as we await the May 2010 launch of our massively expanded and inclusive interactive facility which is designed to increase the promotion and marketing of Tourism Establishments across Britain! But there have been four successful previous design versions of this tourism marketing resource over the last decade and we are now look forward to our planned tourist industry leading interactive design that will mark our fifth full edition. Discovery Britain has enjoyed a long and successful history as an integrated part of the Discovery Group of Tourism Design, Publishing and Marketing Companies which developed around 1976. More recently it had a successful tourism marketing partnership with the Discovery Tourist Map Series that many visitors to parts of Britain will have already regularly seen and used on their travels. We invite you to visit us again in May and look forward to your feedback.