Ireland
Ireland is one of the globe’s most singular travel destinations, a feisty, twinkling
country far more famous for the sum of its parts than for any specific sight or
attraction. Its landscapes are raw and extraordinary. Its cities are animated and
very much its own. Its histories – both ancient and contemporary – are full of tales
of adversity and resolve. Tying all this together is the Irish character, a mythologised
combination of bright-eyed bonhomie and bar-room banter: there’s good reason why
the planet’s full of Irish pubs.
In some ways, in fact, the very general allure can make it hard to know where to
start for visitors. Lovable Dublin falls naturally as the most popular first-time
option, although for all the capital city’s stately architecture and riverside charm,
it only partly hints at what the wider country has to offer. The real spirit of
today’s nation might be up for debate – it’s as likely to be found in a Connemara
village as a Cork street scene – but regardless, searching for it is rarely anything
but hugely enjoyable.
It’s often said that there are two Irelands. Despite its economic woes, 21st-century
Ireland is a modern destination, full of fresh creativity and long attuned to cosmopolitan,
corporate thinking. At the same time, of course, it’s somewhere rooted in the strongest
of traditions, a country marked by humour, hospitality and more than the occasional
late-night tale. The craic of legend isn’t generally hard to find.
With all this in mind, it’s perhaps no surprise that Ireland caters for such a broad
range of visitor interests. Those in search of windswept hikes, Celtic relics and
fiddle-and-song pubs will be well sated, but so too will those looking for on-trend
gastronomy, family-friendly attractions or slick hotels. Ireland may be relatively
small but its cultural impact worldwide continues to be enormous, and this is due
to far more than just a romantic notion of how it used to be.
There are further benefits to the country’s compact size. Getting around is usually
quick and straightforward, making it simple to cover more than one region on a single
trip. Lose yourself in an Anglo-Norman castle one day, walk a soaring cliff trail
the next, then find yourself enjoying the languid inland waterways the day after
that. Or make the most of the rail network fanning out of Dublin by combining time
in the capital with an excursion to Waterford, Galway City or Cork.
Various icons and images enjoy close associations with Ireland (see everything from
craggy peninsulas to pints of Guinness) but the real beauty of the country is the
fact that it transcends every cliché that people throw at it. Its potential for
adventure – for real, blood-pumping adventure – is all too often overlooked, while
for those who just want to take it easy, the options are copious. It’s no exaggeration
to say that the scenery here is some of the most inspiring in Europe, and the culture
it plays home to is as layered, fascinating and downright rewarding as any you’ll
come across.