Ireland ... so much more than Dublin

ancient structure in County Clare (c) 2020 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Yes, Dublin is a fantastic city — small and walkable. Make it a point to stay in the center of things to take full advantage. Its three most famous attractions are:

Trinity College and the Book of Kells. Definitely rent the audio tour of the Book of Kells. 

Kilmainham Gaol, the jail where the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising were imprisoned and executed. I highly recommend pre-booking your tickets for this tour.

Guinness Storehouse, the home of the famous black beer that bears the name of the Guinness family.

Guinness Draught (c) 2020 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

But Ireland is even more fabulous when you venture into the countryside and witness the forty shades of green with your own eyes.

Newgrange, a megalithic tomb built 5000 years ago. Once a year, the rising sun on the winter solstice shines down a long shaft carved into the rock and floods the inner tomb with light.

The Ring of Kerry or the Ring of Dingle — you'll see stone cottages in the shape of beehives, stone fences that were created as a make-work project during the Great Famine in the early 19th century, and gorgeous views of the ocean all the way. 

County Clare has so much to experience from the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren National Park to Celtic artifacts and fairy forts.

stone ruins on the Ring of Dingle (c) 2020 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Whether you want to explore picturesque villages, walk through majestic gardens, play golf, visit historic places, eat in Gastropubs, taste whisky and stout, witness folk dancing, or listen to Irish music, Ireland is a wonderful place to visit ... with perhaps the friendliest, most outgoing people in the world.

copyright (c) 2020 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

what to do in Dublin?

Dublin is a picturesque, walkable city with plenty to see and do. I especially enjoyed seeing the rows of Georgian mansions with colorfully painted front doors. What is there to see and do in Dublin and the surrounding counties?

1. Kilmainham Gaol is an historic reminder of harsher days when Catholics suffered economic hardship at the hands of the governing Protestant authorities, and Catholics fighting for equality ended up in this jail. A very interesting and moving tour.

2. The Guinness Storehouse is one of Dublin's most celebrated tourist destinations. See how Guinness is made and enjoy a complimentary pint of Guinness after your tour.

3. The Old Jameson Distillery offers guided tours through their historic building. Our tour guide was very fun, and although I did not personally take part in the whiskey tasting, other Brownell travel consultants did.

4. Newgrange, located north of Dublin, is an ancient burial site 1000 years older than the pyramids of Egypt. It is designed so that the light of the rising sun on the winter solstice shines through a long shaft to illuminate the very center of the tomb.

5. Powerscourt Gardens is located south of Dublin and is one of the most beautiful gardens in the world. We very much enjoyed our visit!

A great summer destination, consider Ireland and avoid the heat and crowds of Italy. Ireland offers a temperate climate, a friendly culture, natural scenic beauty, and some of the best golf in the world.

copyright (c) 2014 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.