Lonely Planet Ireland (Travel Guide)

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Drivers can take a ferry across the river Shannon to go directly from County Kerry to County Clare. Boat hire

For those who want to travel off-the-beaten-path, plan a trip to the Peace Maze in Castlewellan Forest Park. Comprising of 6,000 yew trees, it was turned into the world’s largest permanent hedge maze, representing peace for Northern Ireland and hope for the future. Go around twist and turns to get to the middle of the maze and once you succeed, ring a victory bell and celebrate your triumph. Statues and public artworks are found at every turn, and there is a playground and garden designed especially for people who are visually impaired.If you have any desire to understand Irish history – especially the long-running resistance to British colonial rule – then a visit to this former prison is an absolute must. Why you should go

The National Gallery of Ireland showcases artworks spanning six centuries in 54 separate galleries. You’ll find big names include Goya, Rembrandt, Caravaggio and Van Gogh spread about its four wings, along with impressive paintings by luminaries such as Orpen, Reynolds and Van Dongen. The collection is strong in Irish art, and there are high-quality pieces from every major European school of painting. The best time to visit the gallery is Thursday evening, when it's open late and there are fewer visitors.Temple Bar, one of Dublin's most famous areas, was burdened for years with a reputation for drunken debauchery and not much else. Visit these days and you'll find a fun neighborhood with plenty to occupy your days as well as your nights. Its excellent, quirky boutiques appeal to fashionistas who head to Siopaella and Folkster for some unusual threads.

With endless gems on this route, it will be hard to narrow down an itinerary. If you want something different, skip crowd favorites like the Cliffs of Moher and instead hit up the Fanad Head in Donegal. Climb up the 76 stairs by Fanad Head Lighthouse to get the most breathtaking view of the wild Atlantic Ocean. 2. Indulge in a seaweed bath The May Bank Holiday (on the first Monday) sees the first of the busy summer weekends as the Irish take to the roads to enjoy the budding good weather. Planning tip: The museum may not be suitable for young children, so don't count on this one as a family day out. 8. Take a hike at Glendalough The women’s version of the game is called camogie. It is the same in all nearly all respects but is less physical, and players can score hand-passed goals, which are illegal in hurling. Games are shorter, and while hurling goalkeepers must wear a different color jersey than the rest of their teammates, camogie keepers don’t.

Victor’s Way Indian Sculpture Park is an adults-only sculpture garden created by Victor Langheld in 1989, after a trip to India where he set out to gain spiritual enlightenment. This garden spans more than 22 acres and took 25 years to complete. It includes seven major and 37 minor sculptures including a tunnel based on the idea of vagina dentata, dancing figures of Ganesh, Buddha and Eve. Wrapped up in that pride is a sense that hurling represents a form of idealized Irishness, an ancient game unique to this island that combines skill, athleticism, courage (watch a player rise to grab a bare-handed catch while his opponent swings his hurl to field the same ball and you’ll see what we mean) and – most importantly – an undiluted feeling of community pride. Christmas dominates the calendar as the country prepares for the feast with frenzied shopping and after-work drinks with friends and family home from abroad. On Christmas Day nothing is open.

Days can be spent lazing, surfing and horse-riding by the white dunes of Barley Cove or Inchydoney Beach, or k ayaking with seals near Glengarriff. Ireland’s only cable car leaves from Beara to cross ocean waters to Dursey Island. Mizen Head, Ireland’s most southerly point, has an interpretive signal station that is accessed by footbridge over wild Atlantic waves. 10. Iveragh Peninsula, County Kerry Planning tip: Temple Bar may be famous for its pubs, but it’s just the start: leave its well-trodden streets to discover some of Dublin’s best-loved drinking holes like John Mulligan's, where John F Kennedy paid his respects in 1945. 18. Appreciate contemporary artists at the Irish Museum of Modern Art There are Wild Atlantic Way markers at every point of interest along this incredible road trip to help you find your way, and you can follow the symbols attached to almost every road sign on the route so you don’t get lost. Trails can sometimes be hard to follow on the more difficult routes, so do your research before attempting any trail. There are official and detailed regional maps called Ordnance Survey Maps.Planning tip: The Storehouse offers a range of experiences, including the Behind-the-Gate tour, which brings visitors to parts of St James's Gate that were previously off-limits to the public. 5. Get to know the city through a Talking Statues tour Explore the planet's most surprising adventures with our weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox. 2. The Wild Atlantic Way Detour: There’s a beach just off the Sky Road that will blow your mind. With crystal clear waters and beautiful golden sand, Eyrephort Beach is the perfect place to unwind on your trip. 10. The “Four Peaks” Challenge Road Trip