Intro to Ireland

Dublin and the scenic best of the Irish Republic await you on this beautiful journey, a top vacation seller. Your trip begins in Dublin, the capital of Ireland. In Dublin, enjoy a visit to Oscar Wilde’s Trinity College as part of an orientation drive around this vibrant city. A scenic ride through horse-racing country leads you to the National Stud and then to Limerick. Next, savor the breathtaking views of the Cliffs of Moher and the Clare Coast, and enjoy Irish hospitality at Rathbaun Farm. After taking a ferry across the Shannon, a panoramic drive takes you around the stunning Ring of Kerry. The world-famous Waterford Crystal Factory, Ireland’s oldest handweaving mill at Avoca, Glendalough, and the scenic Wicklow Mountains conclude your Irish vacation. This trip is ideal for first-time visitors to Ireland with only a little time to spare. An unforgettable Ireland vacation!

Saturday nights, it is nearly impossible to get a cab: the town is bustling with the late-night drinking crowd. There are trendy bars such as Howl at the Moon (7 Lower Mount St), proximate to the posh D4 region, so named after its Dublin 4 postal code. For good times in a less imposing atmosphere, it is best to opt for Doyle's by Trinity College to mix with the student crowd or any other bar that is close to Temple Bar.

A visit to Dublin is not complete without stopping by the notorious after-hours bar Copper Face Jack's, located at 29 Harcourt Street and casually referred to as Copper's. It seems all of Dublin is gathered there after the regular bars have closed. Late-night party-goers must take warning, however: it is best to enter Coppers only as part of a large group in order to successfully push through the crowd towards the bar and for protection from the kissing bandits!

Upon arriving in Dublin, tourists usually head for the Temple Bar area, which, although overcrowded with other tourists, is worth a visit if only for its special atmosphere. A place where street performers, colorful vagabonds, and backpackers of all nations come together, Temple Bar always feels like a festive place, especially on the weekends. It is a pedestrian-only district in the heart of Dublin comprised of dozens of nightclubs, restaurants, and pubs, most of which are unfortunately not worth entering. Many of the bars that try to provide a typically Irish flavor are merely tourist traps charging ridiculous prices for mediocre food.