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IRELAND TRAVEL: Research your Ireland vacation travel plans with us!
Facts About Ireland
Ireland lies west of the island of Great Britain, from which it is separated by the narrow North Channel, the Irish Sea (which attains a width of 130 mi/209 km), and St. George's Channel. More than a third the size of Britain, the island averages 140 mi (225 km) in width and 225 mi (362 km) in length.
Off the west coast are numerous small islands, including the Aran Islands , the Blasket Islands , Achill , and Clare Island . The interior is dotted with
lakes (the most celebrated are the Lakes of Killarney ) and wide stretches of river called loughs. The Shannon , the longest of Irish rivers, drains
the western plain and widens into the beautiful loughs Allen, Ree, and Derg.
Ireland Climate: temperate maritime; modified by North Atlantic Current; mild winters, cool summers; consistently humid; overcast about half the time
Terrain: mostly level to rolling interior plain surrounded by rugged hills and low mountains; sea cliffs on west coast
Ireland Population: 3,924,140 (July 2003 est.)
Religions: Roman Catholic 91.6%, Church of Ireland 2.5%, other 5.9% (1998)
Languages: English is the language generally used, Irish (Gaelic) spoken mainly in areas located along the western seaboard
Popular places to travel in Ireland:
- Dublin: Architecturally amazing, Dublin is quickly getting a reputation as one of Europe's chicest cities, a thriving mix of old and new
that's reclaiming Irish expatriates by the thousands, who return to Dublin with a world-savvy sense. Travel to Dublin from May through September and
enjoy Dublin's top attractions in the clear, green summertime.
- Belfast City: Belfast City is the capital of Northern Ireland and is located in County Antrim. It is rich in a diversity of cultures
in art, music, dance, sports, shopping, attractions and historical sites. Once you are in Belfast, take advantage of what it has to offer, with a city
tour bus or Black Taxi tours.
- County Clare: County Clare, steeped in history, offers beautiful seascapes, landscapes, lakes, cliffs, caves and music. There is a
multitude of activities to enjoy indoors and out.
- County Cork: County Cork is the largest county in Ireland; Cork City is the second largest city in the Republic. Blarney Castle was built by Dermot
McCarthy, King of Munster in 1446. The castle is located on a thousand acres of beautiful woodland, and is partially hidden by trees, some up to a
thousand years old.
- Northern Ireland: In Northern Ireland, the accent is distinctly different, the currency is pounds sterling but otherwise, the changes across the border are insignificant. A quarter of a century of bad publicity may once have rendered much of Northern Ireland a tourism no-go area but things have changed dramatically for the better.
Ireland is criss-crossed with silver streams, lazy rivers, hidden lakes and still canals. Throughout the country, there's trout and salmon fishing for anglers. Canals, rivers and larger lakes can be explored from the banks or from hired boats. Every bend offers a new scene, a chance meeting or a hidden pub alive with boating and fishing stories.
When in Ireland, you are never more than 80 miles from the sea and a coastline offering golden, sandy beaches, dramatic cliffs, hidden harbours and bays. You’ll find beautiful secluded coves as well as larger beaches with windsurfing, sailing, canoeing and swimming. Shore angling and deep sea fishing facilities are available in most coastal villages.
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