Ireland Sites by County Wonder what the major sites are in each county you'll be visiting?

Enchanting Ireland is more than just driving around from one castle to another and seeing the scenery from the car windows. With a week in Ireland you won't have enough time to scratch the surface of things to do in Ireland with all of the little towns to explore, golf courses to play -- and ancient sites to explore. Wonder what else to see and do while visiting Ireland?

Sports and Activities

I'll admit it right upfront, I don't golf -- but I've passed many golf courses in Ireland and have heard by many that the courses are some of the toughest, and best, around. One in particular just amazes me -- Lahinch, located just south of the Cliffs of Moher. This course has hills and sandtraps like no other -- and the remains of a castle right in the center.

Ireland is an dream for fisherman with countless streams and rivers to catch some of the best salmon there is. Check your B&B guides for those B&Bs with fishing on the premises or nearby.

Horesback riding is also abundant in Ireland, with pony treks available in Lahinch, just south of the Cliffs of Moher as well as horseback journeys in Ventry, on the Dingle Peninsula. Again, many B&Bs will list horseback riding either on the premises or nearby.

Festivals and Events

You can find your perfect partner at the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival and flirt with beauty at the Rose of Tralee Festival. On March 17th, the whole country celebrates St Patrick’s Day, with national and local displays and parades. Ireland’s many music festivals are magnets for the best of international talent. Major outdoor events such as Slane, showcase world-renowned rock stars. There are literature festivals aplenty, including the William Carleton Summer School in Tyrone, the Aspects Irish Literature Festival in Bangor, and the Cúirt Literary Festival in Galway. Every year, the Kilkenny Arts Festival, the Belfast Festival at Queens and the Galway Arts Festival are graced with appearances by the world’s best writers, artists and performers. Dublin’s Theatre Festival offers all that’s excellent on the modern stage. Cork, Galway and Dublin all host international film festivals. No-one is too far away from culture in Ireland. And everyone is close to the magic.

Enjoying the Culture

In Ireland, the literary spirit is everywhere. Cities and towns abound with theatre, from the Abbey in Dublin to the Market Place in County Armagh.

Music follows you. In the clubs and pubs, everything from dance music to traditional Irish beats transport you to another world. At the Opera Houses of Belfast and Cork, great works by illustrious composers make you yearn for a romantic era. Irish and international art turns up in the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin, and innovative galleries throughout the island.

No visit to Waterford is complete without a tour of the Crystal works. A soujourn in Fermanagh should include a visit to the Belleek Pottery works. Pick up some of Northern Ireland’s famous linen. Take home some tweeds, found in craft shops, workshops and stores throughout Ireland. Wherever you go, you’ll find countless handmade and traditional items that make the perfect reminder of our culture, and the ideal memento of your visit.