Ireland
Mar 11th, 2010 by admin in 5. UK, 5.1. Ireland
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Emerald Isle, a perfect vacation destination
picture by final gather
Called the Emerald Isle with good reason, Ireland is one of Western Europe’s gems, a lush, green land dotted with ancient monuments – such as Celtic crosses, medieval monasteries, and Norman castles – that have inspired poets and musicians. The Emerald Isle’s lakes, mountains, and jagged coastal cliffs balance the country’s thriving urban centers like Dublin, Cork, and Galway. It no surprise this superb island is the favorite stop of many European Cruises. Spend two or three days in Dublin, then enjoy the wonders of Cork and the stone at Blarney, before heading to the cultural center of Galway.
Demographics
Until the Great Famine in 1845-1851, Ireland’s population was around eight million inhabitants; starvation and emigration reduced it to six million, and emigration continued on a large scale until the 1960s. Eventually, the population began to recover, but emigration remained common until the 1990s.
EU membership and a strong economic growth have attracted a modest number of immigrants, mostly from Eastern Europe, in recent years. However, the financial crisis of 2008 has affected the Irish economy severely, especially the once thriving construction sector, and many recent immigrants have headed back home.
Geography
Ireland extends over 84 821 sq km and stretches 486km north to south and 275km east to west. Politically, the island is divided into 32 counties: 26 in the Republic and six in Northern Ireland.
The island is divided by the Shannon River, which at 259km is the longest in Ireland, and Carrauntuohill (1040m) in County Kerry is the highest peak. Ireland enjoys a mild, wet climate, with average temperatures ranging from 4°C (39°F) in winter to 16°C (61°C) in summer.
HIGHLIGHTS
Dublin
Ireland’s capital since the Middle Ages, Dublin is one of Europe’s top 10 most visited cities, thanks to its exquisite museums, thriving nightlife, and top-class attractions. The Laffey River forms a natural boundary between Dublin’s more affluent “south side” and the less prosperous “north side”. On the South Side are the lively Temple Bar district, Dame Street, and the Trinity College. You will find plenty of shops and restaurants on Grafton Street and its surrounding streets. Heuston Station, one of the city’s main train stations, is about 2 km west of Grafton Street. The North Side’s highlights are O’Connel Street, with its impressive, needle-shaped Monument of Light, and Gardiner Street, with its Bed & Breakfast and guesthouses. Intersecting with O’Connel Street, pedestrianised Henry and Mary Streets constitute the North’s main shopping zone.
Sights
Built by the British in 1592 as a Protestant seminary, the Trinity College has educated such brilliant minds as Jonathan Swift, Robert Emmett, Thomas Moore, Oscar Wilde, and Samuel Beckett. Until the 1960s most students were Protestants, but since the Church has lifted the ban that kept its adherents from attending Trinity, Catholics have become the majority of the student body. Today, the Trinity College is an impressive, refined learning center, with Georgian stone buildings and perfectly manicured green lawns. Check out the Book of Kells, an elaborated manuscript of the four gospels of the Bible dating from around AD 800. It’s housed in the college’s Old Library.
On Dame Street stands Ireland’s largest cathedral, St Patrick’s Cathedral. Though there have been churches on this site since the 5th century, the current building dates from 1191. Beautiful matins and evensongs from St Patrick’s choir can be heard here. Marsh’s Library houses an impressive collection of 25 000 books from the 16th to the early 18th century, maps and manuscripts.
Built by Norman King John in 1204, Dublin Castle looks like an encyclopaedia of European architectural styles, from the 13th-century Norman Record Tower to the Gothic Church of the Holy Trinity, built in 1814. The castle is host to official state functions, such as the presidential inauguration, and guided tours take you through the impressive State Apartments, including the Drawing Room, the Throne Room, and Patrick’s Hall. Check out the Church of the Holy Trinity’s carved-oak panels and stained-glass windows.
Often overlooked in favor of flashier attractions, the Chester Beatty Library contains a breathtaking collection of rare books, artwork, manuscripts, and religious objects from around the world, including 270 illuminated Qu’rans, a standing Tibetan Buddha, and some of the earliest New Testament and Gospel texts. If you’re hungry, try the delicious Mediterranean food at the Silk Road Café.
The Christ Church Cathedral, an Anglican/Episcopal church, was a simple structure of wood until the 1180s, when the original foundation was expanded into a cruciform and the present stone church was built. Take a look at the sparkling stained glasses above raised crypts, one of which supposedly belongs to the 12th-century Norman warrior Strongbow.
The Guinness Storehouse is housed in a 1904 building that was used for the fermentation process of Ireland’s favorite beverage. Here, you will learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about “black gold”, from the ingredients to the role of Guinness in Irish culture. The Kilmainham Gaol was a prison where rebels who fought for Ireland’s independence were jailed and often executed. An excellent audiovisual introduction sets the jail in the context of its socio-political history, and a 1 hr tour takes you through the dank chambers and the execution yard.
The Monument of Light, also known as “The Spire”, stands 120m above O’Connel Street and is the world’s tallest structure. It was built on the site of Nelson’s Pillar, which was bombed by IRA members in 1966. The city’s rich literacy heritage comes to life at the Dublin Writers’ Museum, an 18th-century house that commemorates Ireland’s great writers with rare editions, letters, memorabilia, portraits, busts, and photos of famous figures such as Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wilde, James Joyce, Thomas Mann, Roddy Doyle, and Nobel Prize winners George Bernard Shaw, W.B. Yeats, and Samuel Beckett.
Where to stay
Dublin is always bustling, so it is necessary to book accommodations at least one week in advance. Book accommodation at Dublin Tourism or consult their annual Sleep! Guide.
Abbey Court Hostel
Not the most charming place in Dublin, but its community feel, two large common rooms and fantastic staff make up for this minor complaint.
29 Bachelor’s Walk
Tel: 01-814 6255
www.abbey-court.com
dormitories/doubles $31/$123
The Clarence
Located at the doorstep of the bustling Temple Bar district, this elegant high-class hotel has a lot to offer, including the classy Octagon Bar, the wonderful Tea Room restaurant, and the full-service Therapy Spa. Each room is graced with vivid colors and includes an enormous bed and a stereo sound system. One of Dublin’s top hotels.
6-8 Wellington Quay
Tel: 01-407-0800
Fax: 01-407-0820
www.clarence.ie
$592-$1216 doubles
Kinlay House
Located a few blocks from Temple Bar, the Kinlay House has rooms with a view of the Christ Church Cathedral. Plasma TV, continental breakfast, and free Internet included.
2-12 Lord Edward Street
Tel: 01-679-6644
$42-$53 doubles, $45-$57 triples
Abraham House
A large and friendly hostel; close to the train station. Prices include breakfast.
83 Lower Gardiner
Tel: 01-855-0600
www.abraham-house.ie
Dormitories $21-$50, doubles $53-$64
Barnacles Temple Bar House
Located in the heart of Temple Bar, the Barnacles Temple Bar House is bright and immaculately clean. Ask for a room at the back if you’re a light sleeper.
19 Temple Lane
Tel: 01-671-6277
www.barnacles.ie
dormitories/doubles from $27/$112
Where to eat
You’ll find plenty of good restaurants in Dublin, from Italian restaurants serving delicious pastas, to Indian restaurants serving fiery curries, to sushi restaurants.
Winding Stair
The best new restaurant in Dublin, the Winding Stair offers traditional Irish ingredients presented with impeccable modern cooking skills, from the Irish Aberdeen beef to the fromage heaven that greets you on the Irish Cheese Board. Save room for the unbelievable desserts, including the delicious sticky pear and ginger cake.
40 Ormond Quay (near the Ha’penny Bridge)
Tel: 01-872-7320
Cornucopia
This cozy restaurant serves delicious meals and accommodates many dietary restrictions. If you don’t want to pay for a full meal, you can order a cheaper salad smorgasbord.
19 Wicklow Street
Tel: 01-671-9449
Cedar Tree
This attractive little Lebanese restaurant serves authentic Mediterranean food, including tasty hummus, falafel and spinach-filled pastries.
11a St Andrew Street
Tel: 01-677-2121
The Mermaid Café
This cozy Dublin restaurant serves delicious, innovative dishes, such as the Irish Angus rib-eye steak with sage-and-mustard mashed potatoes and garlicky beans; yellow fin tuna with plum tomatoes, capers, mint, and wasabi mayonnaise; and a salad of asparagus and quail eggs with shaved Parmesan and greens. Don’t miss the desserts, especially the unbelievable pecan pie served with maple ice cream.
70 Dame Street
Tel: 01-670-8236
Soup Dragon
The Soup Dragon serves 12 varieties of homemade soups, including shepherd’s pie or spicy vegetable gumbo. Bowls come in three different sizes, and prices include fresh bread and a piece of fruit.
170 Capel Street
Tel: 01-872-3277
Drink and party
If you like to party and want to hook up with someone from another country, there’s no better place in Ireland than the Temple Bar district. Dublin’s eclectic, hopping “party district” is popular with many visitors and almost always packed with scantily clad girls and drunken revellers. If you’re looking for something more traditional, there are plenty of old-fashioned pubs beyond Temple Bar.
The PoD
Slick futuristic, orange interior. Takes its music seriously.
35 Harcourt Street (corner of Hatch Street, in an old train station)
Tel: 01-476-3374
www.pod.ie
The Red Box
A huge club with loud music and a huge crowd.
35 Harcourt Street (above The PoD)
Tel: 01-478-0225
Whelan’s
Irish singer-songwriters perform their show in this Dublin institution.
25 Wexford Street
Tel: 01-478-0766
www.whelanslive.com
Ri Ra
One of the friendlier clubs in the city center, Ri Ra has a wide range of DJs and live bands performing on-stage. You can also relax at the Global Bar upstairs and have a beer while listening to its more laid-back lounge tunes.
Dame Court, Dublin 2 (just behind The Globe bar on St. Great Georges Street)
Tel: 01-671-1220
www.rira.ie
Stag’s Head
Built in 1770, and redesigned in 1895, this atmospheric Victorian pub is the best in Dublin, with stained wood and polished brass. James Joyce spent his time philosophing here, and you probably will too.
1 Dame Court
Tel: 01-679-3701
Entertainment
For events, reviews and club listings pick up a free copy of Event Guide at one of Dublin’s music stores and hotels. The weekly In Dublin, available at cafés and hostels, comes out with feature articles and listings for music, theatre, art exhibitions, comedy shows, clubs, museums, and movie theatres.
Abbey Theatre
Founded in 1904 by W.B. Yeats and Lady Gregory, Ireland’s national theatre promotes the Irish cultural revival as well as new Irish works.
26 Lower Abbey Street
Tel: 01-878-7222
www.abbeytheatre.ie
Peacock Theatre
The Abbey’s experimental downstairs studio theatre, the Peacock Theatre is committed to new plays and contemporary dramas.
26 Lower Abbey Street
Tel: 01-878-7222
Gate Theatre
The Gate Theatre promotes Irish and classic international dramas in an intimate, elegant setting.
1 Cavendish Row
Tel: 01-874-4045
www.gate-theatre.ie
Cork
Often called “Rebel Cork” for its opposition to the British Crown and support for Irish independence, Cork is the cultural capital of southwestern Ireland. Live-music sessions, excellent restaurants, and a proud welcome from the locals are sure to please any visitor. The center of Cork is an island framed by two channels of the Lee River. Cruise passengers will be dropped at Cork’s ferry terminal, about 15 minutes by car southeast of the city center along the N28. The city can also be accessed from Dublin by bus and train.
If you’re planning to spend a night or more at Cork, you can book a room at the Cork International Hostel. Located 2km from the city’s center, this bright and lively Oige hostel offers clean, spacious rooms with bath, kitchen and TV room. Its cheerful staff does a great job dealing with the constant flow of young visitors. One of Cork’s funkiest hostels, the Bru Bar & Hostel is a lively place to stay up late with a popular bar and an Internet café on the premises.
Cork’s sights are concentrated in three areas: the old town, the Sandon neighborhood to the north, and the university to the west. Built in 1824, the Cork City Gaol served as a prison for males and females of all ages until it became an all-female prison in 1878. Conditions within the Gaol were wretched, and inmates were brutally whipped for breaking prison rules. Closed down in 1923, it was later restored and reopened to the public in 1993 as a museum, with furnished cells, sound effects, and videos bringing home the horrors of 19th-century prison life.
The Crawford Municipal Art Gallery has a fine collection of Greek and Roman sculpture and pieces by Irish artists like Jack Yeats and James Barry. With its combination of 18th-century Cork Customs House with 21st-century Dutch design, it’s a must-see for anyone who likes art and architecture.
Built in 1879, the Protestant St. Finbarre’s Cathedral is a neo-gothic structure which houses art exhibits in the summer. Its notable features include a Golden Angel whose job is to take flight over Cork and play its trumpet upon the coming of the Apocalypse.
An unmissable culinary experience, the Farmgate Café serves fresh local food on your plate. Another good restaurant is the Café Paradiso, near the University campus. Cork has a busy pub scene, easily rivalling Dublin’s. Check out the free WhazOn? Cork Pamphlet or go to www.corkgigs.com for live music. The best spot for Cork’s youth is the An Brog, which has excellent live indie music and/or DJs every night of the week.
Lying northwest of Cork, the village of Blarney is famous for its Blarney Castle and receives millions of visitors every year. According to a legend, whoever kisses the castle’s Blarney Stone will get the gift of eloquence, or “the gift of the gab”.
Galway
picture by boocal
Arty and Bohemian, Europe’s fastest growing city is legendary for its entertainment scene. Performers enchant passers-by on Shop Street, locals and tourists lounge in outdoor cafés, and crowded, brightly painted pubs heave with live music at night. Located in western Ireland, Galway has a population of 80 000 inhabitants, including 20 000 students. Galway’s city center is tightly packed between the east bank of the Corrib River and Eyre Square, a recently renovated block of lawns and monuments. The bus and train stations are on a hill to the northeast of Eyre Square. Buses and trains run to and from Dublin.
You can book a room at the Barnacle’s Quay Street House, a hostel set in a medieval townhouse surrounded by pubs, cafés and restaurants. The Sleepzone is a big, busy backpacker base with large rooms and top-notch facilities, including free Internet and wi-fi, a bureau de change, pool table and BBQ. You’ll find plenty of cafés and pubs around Quay, High, and Shop Streets. The Home Plate serves large sandwiches and entrées on tiny wooden tables. The Sehan Ua Neachtain, or simply Neachtains, is a dusty old pub with a fabulous atmosphere and an eccentric, mixed crowd.
The Spanish Arch is all that remains of Galway’s old town walls. Nearby Galway City Museum has a considerable collection of artefacts, including A Galway Hooker fishing boat and a controversial statue of writer and hell-raiser Padraic O’Conaire (1883-1928). On Shop Street, Lynch Castle was once the home of Galway’s most powerful family and now houses a bank. Off Market Street, in the Bowling Green area, is the Nora Barnacle House Museum, the former home of James Joyce’s future wife Nora at the turn of the 20th century. Founded in 1975 by graduates of the University of Ireland, the Druid Theatre presents works by young Irish playwrights.
For more information, visit European Cruises.
