Ireland’s top ten travel tips - see gallery

Just ten of hundreds of great experiences to be had in the Emerald Isle

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Giants Causeway, County Antrim

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As an island on the western edge of Europe, Ireland is surrounded by water and rimmed by mountains, giving it a range of spectacular scenery, with verdant valleys, lush vegetation, rare flowers and unexpected palm trees. And with over 9,000 years of history, Ireland is dotted with an array of ancient monuments, dolmens, forts and castles.  There are hundreds of great experiences, but reluctantly, I have pared them down to 10 to whet your appetite for a visit to the Emerald Isle.

1. Start with a Capital Caper

Dublin’s Fair City (www.dublin.ie) is the hub of Ireland, one of Europe’s most picturesque and popular capitals, dating back over 1,000 years.  Medieval, Georgian and modern architecture provides a backdrop to this cosmopolitan port city, and a unique experience awaits around every corner. Step back in time at Dublin Castle (www.dublincastle.ie), Christchurch Cathedral (www.cccdub.ie), or St. Patrick’s Cathedral (www.stpatrickscathedral.ie), marvel at the artistry of The Book of Kells at Trinity College (http://www.tcd.ie/about/trinity/bookofkells/#book), attend a classic play at the Abbey Theatre (www.abbeytheatre.ie), sample a pint of Guinness at the Guinness Storehouse (www.guinness-storehouse.com), or listen to the street music of the buskers on Grafton Street or in Temple Bar (www.templebar.ie). More information: www.visitdublin.com

2. Stop & Smell the Roses

County Wicklow (www.visitwicklow.ie) is the Garden of Ireland, a breath of fresh air just south of Dublin, with a profusion of flower-filled glens and gardens. You can smell the roses at Powerscourt Gardens (www.powerscourt.ie) in Enniskerry – and marvel at all of the rose colors – not just red, pink, yellow and white, but blue, lavendar, and orange. Mount Usher Gardens (www.mountushergardens.ie) at Ashford present a feast of rhododendrons, magnolias, camellias, eucalyptus and palms. In the heart of the county is Wicklow National Park (www.wicklowmountainsnationalpark.ie), a carpet of wild flowers in a panoramic landscape of mountains, lakes and bogs. More information: www.discoverireland.ie/Eastcoast.aspx

3. Step Back into History

The Boyne Valley of Co. Meath (www.theboynevalley.com) is a treasure-trove of Ireland’s antiquities, led by Newgrange (www.heritageireland.ie), considered as one of the finest archaeological wonders of Western Europe and designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Built between 3500 BC and 2700 BC, it was used as a tomb in which Stone Age men buried their dead. It is estimated that it took at least 40 years to build – the equivalent of a life’s work for a whole generation. Newgrange is 500 years older than the pyramids of Giza and 1,500 years older than Stonehenge.  Nearby you can also walk in regal footsteps at the Hill of Tara, seat of early Irish high kings and the host of great open-air assemblies more than 2,200 years ago.  Or take guided tours of mighty castles still standing – Trim Castle (www.heritageireland.ie) and Slane Castle (www.slanecastle.ie). More information: www.discoverireland.ie/Eastcoast.aspx

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