Visiting Ireland in 2016

Now that we’re well into the winter months, many people will be already looking ahead to booking their summer holidays for 2016. However, there are certain places that are always beautiful at any time of the year, and Ireland is definitely one of these.

With its lush green countryside, vibrant cities, and excellent cultural and sporting opportunities, it’s no wonder that Ireland is one of the most visited countries in the world.

City life

Many people start off in Dublin for their Irish excursion. And for good reason, as the capital is the home of Irish culture with the likes of many famous Irish writers such as Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett hailing from this fun-loving city. A quick trip around the Temple Bar area will acquaint you with the delights of Guinness and traditional Irish music, whereas Grafton Street will satisfy even the most ardent shopaholic.

Further afield, the city of Cork on the southern coast offers a pleasing variety of waterways and elegant architecture. And on the western coast, the cities of Limerick and Galway are essential for anyone seeking a sense of the true Ireland with their atmospheric and traditional bars mingling with the more modern cultural and sporting developments.

Out and about

The rolling hills of Ireland provide a rich and varied countryside for any tourist who truly likes to get out and about on their holidays. The Burren National Park offers an otherworldly photo opportunity for anyone who thinks they’ve seen it all, whilst the Cliffs of Moher are thought to be Ireland’s most visited tourist attraction due to their iconic landscapes and pleasant nature-watching activities.

The great outdoors of Ireland have helped the country gain an important position on the world’s sporting stage with horse racing in particular benefiting from the wide open spaces. Key races to look forward to in 2016 include the Galway Races and the Curragh Derby, and as some people bet on the horse’s name, not the odds, Betway’s site can help anyone add a little fun to their Irish raceday with a full run down of the nation’s top racing events.

Past glories

As well as Ireland’s historic horse racing, the country’s tumultuous past can also be enjoyed through visits to excellent sites such as the medieval Blarney Castle. Ireland’s dotted with many castles, stone circles and other historical relics that go some way to detailing the rich and varied history of the Emerald Isle.

And just to make sure that your Irish excursion is complete, then the self-explanatory Guinness Storehouse should round off your dream holiday filled with horse racing, medieval castles, dramatic scenery and the perfectly-atmospheric Irish nightlife.