Ireland Travel Resource

Geography

Ireland is situated in the Atlantic Ocean and separated from Great Britain by the Irish Sea. It occupies the entire island except for the six counties that make up Northern Ireland. Ireland resembles a basin—a central plain rimmed with mountains, except in the Dublin region. The mountains are low, with the highest peak, Carrantuohill in County Kerry, rising to 3,415 ft (1,041 m). The principal river is the Shannon, which begins in the north-central area, flows south and southwest for about 240 mi (386 km), and empties into the Atlantic

Climate and Weather

Ireland has an equable climate, because the prevailing west and southwest winds have crossed long stretches of the North Atlantic Ocean, which is warmer in winter and cooler in summer than the continental land masses. The mean annual temperature is 10°C (50°F), and average monthly temperatures range from a mild 4°C (39°F) in January to 16°C (61°F) in July. Average yearly rainfall ranges from less than 76 cm (30 in) in places near Dublin to more than 254 cm (100 in) in some mountainous regions. The sunniest area is the extreme southeast, with an annual average of 1,700 hours of bright sunshine. Winds are strongest near the west coast, where the average speed is about 26 km/hr (16 mph).

Population

The population of the island is slightly over 6 million (2007), with 4.4 million in the Republic of Ireland (1.7 million in Greater Dublin) and an estimated 1.75 million in Northern Ireland (800,000 in Greater Belfast). The majority of the people of Ireland are Celtic. There is a small English minority. The overwhelming majority of the people of Ireland are Roman Catholic. There is a small Anglican minority. Ireland has traditionally had a large net migration, as thousands every year left Ireland for the new world. In recent years that trend has been reversed.

Transportation

Most of the transport system in Ireland is in public hands, both north and south of the border. The road network has evolved separately north and south, while the rail network was mostly created prior to the partition of Ireland. The main airports are Dublin Airport, Shannon Airport and Cork Airport. Many regional airports exist, some flying to international destinations. Ferry connections between Britain and Ireland via the Irish Sea.

Top Attractions

1. Kinsale.
2. Trinity College.
3. Temple Bar district.
4. Phoenix Park.
5. Dublin Castle.
6. Angra dos Reis.
7. National Museum of Ireland.
8. Guinness Storehouse.
9. National Library.
10. St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Best Travel Time

The peak months of the tourist season are July and August, so consider visiting in May, June or September if you can. The weather is likely to be at least as good and hotels are less busy. Spring flowers are at their best in April and May, and October offers many arts festivals. Winter days have their own sort of atmosphere but darkness falls early, and many sites and attractions are closed, as are a lot of the hotels in holiday areas. You can have magnificent beaches like Rosses Point near Sligo Town all to yourself, but it may be too cold to swim.

Food and Drink

National specialties:
• Dublin Bay prawns.
• Oysters (served with Guinness and wholemeal bread).
• Irish stew (traditionally made with mutton or old sheep, now mostly made with lamb or juicy beef, this dish is usually served with potatoes, stock, onions, carrots and garlic).
• Crubeens (pigs’ trotters).
• Colcannon (a mixture of potatoes and cabbage cooked together).
• Soda bread.
• Soufflé made with carrageen (a variety of seaweed).
The two most internationally distinctive alcoholic products are whiskey (spelt with an ‘e’) and stout. Irish whiskey has a uniquely characteristic flavor and is matured in a wooden barrel for a minimum of seven years. Certainly as popular as whiskey is stout which is bottled or served from the tap.

National drinks:
• Whiskey: popular brands are: Jamesons, John Powers Gold Label, Hewitts, Midleton, Old Bushmills, Paddy, Reserve and Tullamore Dew.
• Irish coffee is popular (a glass of strong black coffee, brown sugar and whiskey with cream).
• Guinness, one of the most famous, popular and distinctive drinks in the world, is found everywhere.
• One of the most popular lighter ales is Smithwick’s or Harp Lager, also available everywhere.
• Liqueurs such as Bailey's and Irish Mist are both made from a base of Irish whiskey.

Local Products/Shopping

Special purchases include hand-woven tweed, hand-crocheted woolens and cottons, sheepskin goods, gold and silver jewelry, Aran knitwear, linen, pottery, Irish crystal and basketry. Ideal gifts include: a copy of Ulysses from an Irish bookshop, a bottle of Jameson or Bushmills whiskey from the distillery or Irish Salmon.

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