Expect to see beautifully rugged and craggy landscapes, mesmerising historical reminders of a bloody past, and artistic signs of the political unrest that went on here.

Derry City Wall Triumphal Gate, Northern Ireland, UK by Laura Bernhardt

Circle the city walls

This year will be the 400^th anniversary of the city walls, which have stood their ground since the 17^th century. While the walls have always defended Derry and have never been breached, most of the city’s buildings were destroyed during the bloody sieges on the city. This makes the walls one of the city’s most historic attractions. A stroll around the old border is a must while you’re there.

Saint Columb’s Cathedral

As one of the only buildings to survive the Siege of Derry, Saint Columb’s Cathedral is the city’s oldest building. Finished in 1633, the imposing cathedral stands strong in the middle of the city. Built from the same stone as the city’s walls, the church’s original foundation stone, recording its completion, still sits in the porch under the spire. Here you’ll also find a hollow mortar shell from the Great Siege of 1688-89. Fired into the churchyard, the shell carried the terms of surrender. You’ll find numerous other historical artefacts inside the cathedral including old photos and the padlocks that held the city gates closed in the 17^th century.

Saint Columb’s Cathedral, Derry, Northern Ireland, UK by John Lord

Inishowen 100

This scenic route stretches along Ireland’s northern coastline and is unlike any other leisurely drive in the UK. To put it bluntly, it’s stunning. The 100 mile route officially begins in Brigdend, 15 minutes from Derry, and meanders around Inishowen’s wild and jagged coastline. Passing panoramic views of Lough Swilly and the Atlantic, the route also makes its way to the lookout at Fahan, Knockamany Bens, which overlooks the Five Finger Strand and Crockaulin, which descends into Greencastle.

See the People’s Gallery

Made up of 12 large outdoor murals, the People’s Gallery is a powerful display of socialist political statements. Spread across the Bogside district north of the river, these murals were created by the Bogside Artists who first formed in 1993 and use their art to convey the people’s struggle for basic democratic rights.

Visit the Tower Museum

Encompassing all of Derry’s intriguing and turbulent history, the Tower Museum is an impressively overwhelming historical story of the city’s life. You can easily spend a day wrapped up in Derry’s often troubled and bloody past, starting with its geological formation and covering everything from the Siege of Derry to the political troubles the city has faced.

With its name now solidly on the tourist trail, Derry is going to be a popular place this year. So before you head off, just a word of advice – pre-book your accommodation. Companies like Superbreak offer cheaper hotel prices for a short city break in Derry and the surrounding area.

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Doolin, County Clare, Ireland by Peter Gorman

Feel it with your hand and you’ll realize that its almost bathwater warm. There is sun and warmth on the west coast that is not often seen in Dublin. It gets hot in the afternoon and feels like summer in the US. As great as this is, it is not the only reason to see Doolin.

Doolin is known for its traditional Irish music, all year round. It is more frequent in the summer during tourist season, but worth checking out. O’Connor’s is a warm, cozy place where the musicians sit in a booth near the front door and play all evening. The pub was packed in June and serving up food as fast as they could put it out. Naturally we had fish and chips and Irish stew, which was delicious.

Gus O’Connor’s Pub, Ireland by Carlos Mejía Greene

We met a couple from Atlanta, GA, one of which was originally from northern Ireland. She sang like an angel and knew every folk song they sang, and there were way too many to count. Her husband was as clueless as we were about the lyrics.

We had such a good time we stayed very late, and eventually the guitarist played “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” by John Denver, the only song we knew, and we sang loudly which I blame on the Guinness. It’s better in Ireland.

The friend from Northern Ireland said, “It’s all about the craic.” This is pronounced “crack” and means fun, gossip, news and entertainment. Without the craic, what have you got? It’s found in pubs.

Live Music at O’Connor’s Pub, Ireland by Emily OS

Craft shops in Doolin are worth a look too, and the natural beauty of the area with old stone walls in the pastures is very picturesque. The Village Crafts Shop, owned by Gus and Maeve, has woolens, tweeds and the like where we bought Irish sweaters that actually smelled like sheep. They were not processed by some factory; they were handmade locally and will last forever. The color is natural and not whitened; they’re warm and remind us of Doolin.

We stayed at a family-owned B&B and the owner found out that my wife was a professional jazz guitarist, so the jam was on. It was a nice country cottage with good amenities, much like others in the area, and the owners were friendly. It was an all around great experience.

Kevin Caldwell wrote this article for DublinTempleBarHotels.com who help travelers find hotels near Temple Bar in Dublin.

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A nice photo of Giant’s Causeway / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Sean Lucas

History of Giant’s Causeway

Scientific study proves that the impressive formation known as Giant’s Causeway is a result of volcanic activity during the Paleogene period. Due to the large amount of volcanic activity in the region, the area had a lava plateau which eventually cooled and contracted. In the instances of rapid contraction, columns shot up from the ground. These columns are what make up the Giant’s Causeway.

Legends and Myths

Although today we know the scientific explanation for the creation of Giant’s Causeway, citizens and explorers of the past made up legends to explain the formation. The most popular of these legends is one involving the Irish warrior Fionn mac Cumhaill. The myth claims that he was set to battle his Scottish rival Benandonner. When the time came for them to fight, Fionn mac Cumhaill had fallen asleep. His wife covered him with a giant blanket as he slept and told Benandonner that it was their infant son. Upon seeing the size of the baby, Benandonner fled and ripped up the rocks in his escape. This is said to be what created Giant’s Causeway.

A classic view of a typical rock formation at the Giant’s Causeway / Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by code poet

Visitor’s Information

For years the area has been without a visitor’s center, but in 2012 a center will be completed and feature exhibits about the formation of the Giant’s Causeway as well as some of the most popular legend surrounding it. Most people enjoy simply walking around the formation and taking pictures of the incredible landscape. There are some buses to the area but most visitors arrive by car as there is ample parking available. While there is no admission fee to tour the Giant’s Causeway, there is a parking fee of £6 per vehicle. Keep in mind that the attraction opens at dawn and closes promptly at sunset throughout the year.

Other Regional Attractions

The town nearest to Giant’s Causeway is Antrim. This town is full of historical landmarks, exciting attractions and plenty of culture. Head to the town’s shoreline of Lough Neagh in order to experience traditional Irish coastline. Although it is often too cold for swimming, there is still plenty of exciting recreation to be had there. Other popular attractions in the region include the Carrick-a-rede Rope Bridge. This is a fun and exciting attraction costing £4 per person. The bridge might feel unsteady, but it is very safe and is regularly checked as a precaution. Children in particular love the excitement of the swinging bridge.

Nearby Accommodation Options

There is an abundance of accommodation options available in the area surrounding Giant’s Causeway. As one of the more popular destinations for European holidays, local hotels and guesthouses are prepared for larger numbers of travellers, especially in the summer months. If you would rather stay in a city, look for apartments in Northern Ireland rather than inns and small hotels. Private apartments for rent are available in nearby cities like Belfast and Lisburn.

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Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Bea y Fredi

Belfast is situated on the east coast of Northern Ireland, in the shadow of the mountain range, including Cavehill, which is believed to inspire Jonathan Swift in his famous novel Gulliver’s Travels. Thanks to its location, which is an important place in the mouth of the River Lagan, the city became ideal for shipbuilding in the 19th and 20th centuries. This is a sector that certainly made Belfast famous worldwide as the gigantic cruise ship Titanic was carefully constructed here in the shipyard Harland and Wolff in 1912.

Historical economic success of Belfast is also reflected in the massive, remarkable and impressive buildings, which return us to the era when this city was at the forefront of industrial growth of Britain and Ireland. Belfast architecture has an entirely different appearance in comparison with other cities on the island. The top sights of Belfast include the popular clock tower – Albert Memorial Clock situated at Queen’s Square or wonderful City Hall built in Baroque Revival style.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by William Murphy

The attractiveness of Belfast, however, definitely does not end with its appearance. It is a city full of energy and a paradise for lovers of culture, gastronomy and music. Discover the Queen’s Quarter that is home to the largest university in Ireland. It is full of young people who enjoy student life. Belfast features the vast spaces that are just created for spectacular festivals. The city is well known for its legendary party spirit and atmosphere.

It is also one of the most exciting places where you can dine outside the home, with an impressive and talented young chefs in highly valued restaurants, which in any season stimulates your appetite. It would be a mistake not to mention that Belfast has also its own song. It was sang by Boney M., a world known euro disco band created by German record producer Frank Farian. I am sure you know it!

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Though flying to the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland is a good option, it will probably then mean a battle to get around the country.

For many people, not least stag parties, Dublin is their favourite destination in the Republic of Ireland. And the capital not only has many attractions but has a good transport system.

So anyone intending to limit their Irish holiday to a weekend in Dublin will not be inconvenienced by not having a car, if they choose to fly there.

There is an excellent bus service in Dublin, and if you wish to travel north or south of the city centre then it is a good idea to use the Dublin Area Rapid Transit. That is an electric train service which runs from Howth in the north to the lovely seaside town of Bray in the south.

Flying into Dublin Airport is a pleasant experience, just a short hop from Great Britain, and you can then take Aircoach into the city centre.

However, Ireland has such wonderful towns and countryside that it is a real shame to limit your time in Ireland to just Dublin. Plus Dublin Hotels, food and attractions are expensive – as you would find in any capital city – so if you’re planning on staying in Ireland for a bit longer, it pays to spread your wings and explore other, more cost-effective parts of the country.

However, those who want to explore Ireland will find that the Irish rail system is not the best. It is possible, though not speedy, to get to lovely towns like Limerick and Galway by rail, but the best way to get around is by car. You can then choose to stay away from city centres, where you find cheap hotels, as opposed to the pricier establishments closer to the centre that are designed to trap those tourists who are unable to stay anywhere else.

Car hire in the Republic of Ireland, however, is generally not as cheap as in the U.K., which can add considerably to the total cost of your trip.

Definitely worth considering is the option of taking the ferry to Ireland. However, depending where in the U.K. you live, that can involve a lengthy drive.

Ferry connections between the two countries, via the Irish Sea, are available from Holyhead, Birkenhead, Doughlas, Stranraer, Cairnryan, Troon, Swansea, Fishguard and Pembroke.

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The bridge stretched local fishermen here in late April to September for more than 200 years, just for the salmon fishing season, but now there are very few salmon left. Therefore it is now only tourist attraction that is open for the whole year.

However, with approx. 250.000 visits a year it is one of the most visited attraction in United Kingdom.

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