Posts Tagged Aran Islands
Republic of Ireland (Part 4)
Posted by admin in beach, entertainment vacation, europe, extreme vacation, family holiday, historical vacation, honeymoon vacation, romantic holiday, sea, travel knowledge on November 2, 2009
Part 3 article here Republic of Ireland Part 3
Is preserved medieval center today, and here you will find Castle King John, built in the XIIth – XVIth and St Mary’s Cathedral, built in 1172. Do not forget any of Bunratty Castle, the parks impressive, one of the main tourist attractions of Ireland. Two blocks from Galway and Cork to find cities, national parks Burren and Killarney, hills Moher.
Kilkenny: is one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Ireland. Narrow streets, a castle on a hill located numerous old buildings and turn the town into a quiet space of history. Between 1641 – 1650 Kilkenny was a center of Irish resistance against the British and the Confederation of Kilkenny had their own parliament in the city.
In the center of this wonderful city are a many hostels, ready to receive as well as a fairly inexpensive hotel. Kilkenny Castle is one of the sights forever busy, and you can have an unpleasant surprise to sit for hours in line, but worth every effort. Then you can go shopping in Kilkenny Design Center, located nearby.
Kyteler on Kieran Street Inn has an interesting story: Alice Kyteler was once convicted of witchcraft, were burned to pray. The same fate had a family and employees, and the old building, now restored, is an excellent restaurant, which serves an impressive menu. And food, as those who said they were guests, is the best in Ireland.
Club 52, located near the river, and is a night club opened a few years ago and who won popularity in a short time, so every night will be packed. It seems that in the decoration of interior designers have used parts from an old French church, destroyed during the Second World War, visible in Gothic architecture.
Athlone: is found in the center of the country with a population of over 20,000 inhabitants, a small town and pleasant. Over time, Athlone has been transformed from a small rural village and a military base in industrial and commercial center of first importance. Here you will find the largest lake, near the river Shannon, a lovely place for nature lovers.
Kenmare: near the sea and the mountains of Cork and Kerry device, is named after the Irish “Neidin” – “little nest” or “little swing”, is an important tourist destination. The town was founded in 1670 by Sir William Petty. His descendants continued development of the city, which reached the current form, preserved today in 1775.
In this city there is a great emphasis on tradition and history. Kenmare is also a major center for local artisans and craftsmen, but also foreigners, who offers to sell products ranging from fabrics and jewelry, pottery, musical instruments, paintings and traditional.
Waterford: it is an industrial center, but offers incredible scenery, the land was crossed by the rivers Suir and Blackwater. The town was strongly influenced by the Vikings, and today keeps a medieval aspect, with narrow alleys, old houses and historical center.
Currently became an important port and commercial center, is known worldwide especially for Waterford crystal factory, which produces only handcrafted pieces. Tourists can visit the factory to discover the entire production process. By the seventeenth century Waterford was the second most important city of Ireland.
In September of each year takes place Waterford Light Opera Festival, cultural event which attracts tourists worldwide.
Galway: town passed in recent years by a massive reconstruction, and now is an urban center with restaurants, pubs, shops and hotels for the best quality, the most animated city of Ireland, after Dublin. It is a cosmopolitan center, but at the same time has a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. The city is famous for cultural scene – art, music, theater.
Every year international festivals held in Galway, known worldwide.
From here you can easily reach the Aran Islands, located within walking distance.
Some tourists are impressed by the fact that the Galway arts is present everywhere, heard music in pubs, and artists often work in public markets. Pass the River Corrib to reach the Claddagh, which among others is found locally famous Roisin Dubh (Black Rose), one of the best in Ireland, where concerts take place very often. The Claddagh you will find many ferryman, which can lead the Aran Islands.
Here you can stroll on Salt Hill Promenade, from where to admire the sea and where you will meet often with local people come out for a walk. In Galway there is an old university, the building is a classic example of Irish architecture quality.
But perhaps the best known part of town is Eyre Square (Eyre Square), recently restored, even if its new issue already stirred controversy.
An interesting feature of the town is the large number of Internet cafes, but you have internet access in hotels, bars and restaurants. For if you Galway is a city with an impressive history, it means it is not the latest developments. Moreover, it proved a very welcoming city for immigrants, especially due to growing needs of the workforce.
Cashel: next to the famous Rock of Cashel, is the most important historic site in Ireland. Impressive rock, with castle ruins above the little church Cormac are main attractions. Two blocks from Hoare Monastery and the ruins are found, dating from the thirteenth century. Outside premises, you can get a meal on the honor of the best restaurant, Chez Hans.
If you want specialty Chinese, Indian, Italian Traditional Irish food you will find some of the premises spread throughout the city.
Killarney: is one of the most interesting destinations in Ireland, primarily due to the incredible landscapes. Here you will find Torc Waterfall, truly spectacular especially after a heavy rain. You can climb to the top of the falls, but the view is not as impressive.
After visiting the waterfall go to Killarney-Kenmare Road Muckross Gardens, gardens furnished in a style very “Irish” really wonderful. From here you can reach Muckross Lake.
Sligo: the village is situated in the north west of Ireland and is highly sought after by tourists, the city maintaining their medieval charm, with a mixture of historical and commercial center. Always crowded streets are lined by various shops and pubs, but you can relax a few minutes on a bench or one of many bridges. Most interesting is the center of town, full of life.
In Ireland you will find several beaches, but do not expect a tropical environment, but to something more interesting and specific places. Even if the weather is suitable for the beach only during the summer, you will find here many tourists from all over the world.
One of the beaches is rated Curracloe in Wexford, a long beach with fine sand and water very suitable for swimming and numerous sand dunes that make up an interesting image. Balbriggan are other beaches Morriscastle and very popular with tourists and locals, especially for landscapes.
Hampton coast region there is a seal colony, which you often see around the port.
Thanks for reading my post of Republic of Ireland.
Republic of Ireland (Part 1)
Posted by admin in europe, historical vacation, romantic holiday, travel knowledge on October 28, 2009
Ireland is one of the happy faces that combine the history, traditions and romance. The country is composed of the Republic of Ireland, with 26 counties and Northern Ireland – six counties, situated in the north-west Europe. Neighbors are the UK to the west, Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea.
It is best known for his landscapes, like always green and wrapped in fog, the mountains, culture and traditions – especially the legends and folklore – and the people friendly and welcoming, proud of their country.
It is a rather small country, but wonderful if you prefer instead of exotic charm of the northern beaches, ruins of historical stories and traditions of a place unknown. You have to see many places in Ireland, so it will take time.
You can start the Burren region, a great place, wild and full of life, underground springs, caves, abyss, and a place where ancient legends seem to come back to life. The best known are Aliwee caves, which are now equipped to receive tourists.
For those who want to walk tours or cycling is a good area of Killarney, where you have to visit the town of the same name. You can go the Aran Islands, mainly from Inis Meain, Clonmacnois, Connemara, Galway or Sligo and will spend full days in a fascinating framework.
Those passionate about poetry and literature in general will find an eclectic culture, where the first remains the national character. It is not uncommon for a local in Dublin to receive a quality beer if you tell those present an interesting poem, and often you will witness the true literary soirees, fully sprinkled with strong liquors and perfumes.
Ireland’s literary heritage is very important for country people, and you will find here many testimonies of a rich past, from Yeat’s grave in the north, in Sligo, to the famous volume “Book of Kells“, kept in exceptional condition at Trinity College, written by Irish monks in the V. century
Ireland is an ideal tourist destination, if you can get used to the only major disadvantage: the weather. May always rainy, adds charm to places, but will be hard to bear the most sensitive. But when no longer be cold and wet atmosphere, the best place where you can escape is the nearest local, to appreciate local food, in addition to traditional beverages.
The climate is warm enough yet, and Ireland is known as the Emerald Island because of the green landscape.
In the past, Ireland has long been an enigmatic held, considered by many a mere legend, and they say that the Romans gave up because of a potential settlement of such stories, but mostly because she knew that time is not at all friendly. In fact, even the Romans did not know exactly where this country is found, thinking that is the west coast of Spain.
Celts of Ireland continued to worship the sun, until they were converted to Christianity in the fifth century by St Patrick, who say local stories and escaped Ireland of snakes. Viking invasions of the ninth century, followed by the Normans in the XII century were key moments in the history of the country.
Seventeenth-century Britain began a sustained campaign to defeat and colonization of the country, but it takes more than a century until it was gone the very end. Only in 1801 Ireland became part of Britain, the Union Act. Famines of 1845 – 1849, especially the uprising of 1916 are other key moments in the history of Ireland.
In 1921, after a brief civil war, was established Irish Free State, a dominion of the British Empire, the autonomous government. But six counties located in the north and with a majority Protestant population, remained under British dominion. The new state adopted a republican constitution in 1936 and named Eire.
Will continued on Republic of Ireland (Part 2)
