Places to go in Ireland
From Kerry in the Southeast to Londonderry in the Northern tip, Ireland is a beautiful and culturally enriched land that no traveler should miss. Nicknamed “The Emerald Isle” after the bright green grass draped hillsides that can be found all throughout the countryside, Ireland also boasts some of the finest architecture in the world. Take for instance, the Art Deco church in Turners Cross, Cork, and also Michael Scott’s Busáras (bus station) in Dublin.
Arguably the most famous city in Ireland is Dublin. It is not only the largest city but also the capital of the Republic of Ireland. Originally founded as a Viking settlement, Dublin has been the epicenter of Ireland’s rich history since medieval times. To this day it is still a very relevant city with cultural influence on the entire world. It is also one of the fastest growing capital cities in all of Europe. Dublin is also home to the 4th largest stadium in Europe, Croke Park, which has a capacity of 83,700. With an incredible nightlife and world class shopping, Dublin is a must-see for anyone visiting.
The second largest city in Ireland is Cork. The metropolitan area of Cork has an estimated population of 274,000 residents. It takes its name from the Irish word “corcach”, meaning “marshy place”. Locals commonly refer to Cork as the “real capital of Ireland”. While in Cork be sure to check out St. Patrick’s street, famous for it’s buildings and rich architecture. Also, check out the old financial centre in the South Mall, which features many banks that have been maintained since the 19th century. Cork is also home to two beautiful cathedrals, including the Roman Catholic St Mary’s Cathedral and the Church of Ireland St Finbarre’s Cathedral. Both cathedrals feature stunning architecture and historic beauty.
Ireland is notorious for the quality of its pubs. It is said that once you experience a genuine Irish pub, that you will be hard pressed to find anything that compares anywhere else in the world. Luckily for Irish tourists, pubs are in abundance and are never to difficult to locate. Many local pubs feature performances by local musicians who play traditional Irish music. If you’re interested in Irish music, there are also a number of music festivals that go on throughout the year.
Although you’d probably need to spend an entire year or more traveling through Ireland to see all it has to offer, it is definitely a place that needs to be thumb-tacked on your travel map!