Lonely Planet Ireland (Travel Guide)

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Located in a handsome Georgian house, the Little Museum of Dublin is a charming place that tells the story of Dublin over the last century via memorabilia, photographs and artefacts donated by the general public. The impressive collection includes a lectern used by John F Kennedy on his 1963 visit to Ireland, and an original copy of the fateful letter given to the Irish envoys to the treaty negotiations of 1921, whose contradictory instructions were at the heart of the split that resulted in the Civil War.

The women’s version of the game is called camogie. It is the same in all nearly all respects but is less physical, and players can score hand-passed goals, which are illegal in hurling. Games are shorter, and while hurling goalkeepers must wear a different color jersey than the rest of their teammates, camogie keepers don’t.Located 9km (6 miles) from Dublin Airport, the magnificent medieval Malahide Castle set on 260 acres of beautiful parkland has a dramatic 800-year heritage. You can hear the stories of the Talbot family who have called Malahide Castle home for generations on a guided tour, which includes exploring the private rooms and collections. The best time to visit the gallery is Thursday evening, when it's open late and there are fewer visitors. If you have any desire to understand Irish history – especially the long-running resistance to British colonial rule – then a visit to this former prison is an absolute must. Why you should go While traces of Ireland's Viking past have been largely washed away, the city is a living museum of its history since then, with medieval castles and cathedrals on display alongside the architectural splendors of its 18th-century heyday. As an added bonus, Dubliners are the greatest hosts of all, a charismatic bunch with compelling soul and sociability. Detour: While you’re already on the road, you should add one of Ireland’s highest mountain passes – “the Conor Pass” – to your list. Located just outside of Dingle town, it’s a great addition to the Slea Head Drive road trip. 7. The Ring of Beara

Planning Tip: You have to incorporate some, if not all, of the Cliffs of Moher cliff walk. Maybe even hop on a boat from Doolin to see them from below as well. 9. Sky Road LoopNEW Where to Stay in Dublin mapis your at-a-glance guide to accommodation options in each neighbourhood Don’t let the cheese factor sway you from skipping this unique museum, dedicated to preserving Irish folklore through the art of oral storytelling. The most popular attraction in Dublin is the multimedia homage to Guinness, the Guinness Storehouse, one of the world’s most famous beer brands. An old fermentation plant in the St James's Gate Brewery has been converted into the seven-storey Storehouse, devoted to sharing the company’s history and showcasing how the beer is made. The hugely impressive 709 hectares that comprise Phoenix Park have a lot to offer visitors. Attractions include Dublin Zoo, Áras an Uachtaráin, home of the Irish president, the official residence of the US ambassador and the Papal Cross, where John Paul II said mass to a million people in 1979. Visitors are always entranced by the large herd of fallow deer that call the park home. Key events: Dublin Theatre Festival, Cork Jazz Festival, Belfast International Arts Festival, Samhain (Halloween). November can be a cheaper time to visit

Choose 3, 4, 5, or 7 top Dublin attractions and enjoy great savings with Go City. Taste the world-famous Irish drink at Guinness Storehouse, enjoy the sights on Big Bus Dublin Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour, or discover Dublinʼs oldest building, Christ Church Cathedral - the choice is yours! The excellent 1916 Rebellion Walking Tour is led by Trinity graduates, who give you the lowdown on where, why, and how the 1916 Rising took place. Then there's the Dublin Literary Pub Crawl, where actors escort you through a selection of the city's most renowned literary boozers – with plenty of hilarious bits acted out for good measure. Music fans will enjoy the Dublin Musical Pub Crawl, which explores the history of Irish traditional music and its influence on contemporary styles in a number of Temple Bar pubs. Drivers can take a ferry across the river Shannon to go directly from County Kerry to County Clare. Boat hirePlanning tip: While you're out that direction, the James Joyce Tower & Museum in Sandycove features Joyce memorabilia and gives a fantastic view of the coast and the surrounding countryside. 17. Do a Dublin pub crawl Cultural insightsgive you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, people, music, landscapes, wildlife, cuisine, politics Want to know what it’s actually like to hold a hurl and strike a sliotar? At Experience Gaelic Games you’ll get to meet members of a local Gaelic club and try your hand at hurling, as well as football and handball, a traditional Irish game very similar to the handball played in the US and elsewhere. There are Wild Atlantic Way markers at every point of interest along this incredible road trip to help you find your way, and you can follow the symbols attached to almost every road sign on the route so you don’t get lost.

Winding its way along the west coast of Ireland for 2500km (1553 miles) from Malin Head in Donegal to West Cork, the Wild Atlantic Way is an epic road trip with spellbinding scenery of the Irish coastline in and around Sligo, Galway and Cork.

Spike Island has an interesting history that includes monks, heroes, sinners and convicts. Once a remote 6th-century monastic settlement, this star-shaped fortress became the largest prison in the world during the Victorian ages. Enjoy the stunning view of Cork harbor as the ferry takes you to this historic island, then spend a few hours regaled with intriguing stories about the island’s past by the guides. Planning tip: General admission is free and free tours can be booked in advance. There is an audio tour and several self-guided tours aimed specifically at families with children. 9. Travel to the suburbs to see the National Botanic Gardens Planning tip: Combine a visit here with a trip to the next door Botanic Gardens. 15. Enjoy the small but perfect Little Museum of Dublin Kilmainham Gaol is located 3.5km from Dublin city center; a number of bus routes have stops nearby and the nearest Luas stop (red line) is Suir Road. Entrance is via the Kilmainham Courthouse next door. What's nearby? Ireland may be known for its whiskey, though the gin craze has been taking over the last few years. Until recently, Ireland had no real history of making gin, but those days are over, as there are a number of renowned distilleries popping up.