About Ireland
Ireland is everything you think
it is and more, but then I would say that, wouldn't I? Think rolling
valleys, a patchwork quilt of fields, narrow roads, tiny villages and
stunning shorelines and you're on the money, but despite the history you can
discover all around you Ireland is also a country with vibrant cities, great
shopping and a very lively night-life. The weather may famously leave
a lot to be desired, but we like to think we make up for it in other ways.
As the saying goes; once visited, never forgotten...
"Ireland
has not foregone its stunning natural beauty and proud traditions.
Slate-toned lakes, green pastures, tranquil mountain retreats, magnificent
cliffs overlooking the wild Atlantic coast, remote sandy beaches, ancient
offshore island villages and the friendliness of the people remain
untarnished." ~ Lonely Planet's Ireland
The statistics tell us the
island of Ireland has an area of 84,421 km2 and a
population of approximately 6.4 million.
Dublin tends to be one of the most visited cities and is home to
several of the most popular tourist attractions such as the
Guinness Storehouse which offers
panoramic views from the Gravity Bar and
the Book Of Kells which holds some of
the Celtic artwork synonymous with Ireland.
"Dublin is one of Europe's most
expensive cities, but with over half the population under 30, there's a
youthful exuberance and open, optimistic spirit evident. Dubliners pride
themselves on their irreverent humour, razor wit and keenness to
debate." ~
The Cities Book
Personally I can
tell you it is one of my favourite cities in the world. There's nothing like
a long weekend in Dublin; taking one of the highly amusing bus tours of the
city, re-living my childhood with a trip to the zoo, lunch with friends in
the bustling Temple Bar and wandering
along the shops of O'Connell Street
before
heading out to a night of music and great
craic on a pub crawl. There's so much to
see and do and these
days with the introduction of a very European tram I don't even have to
argue with the traffic any more.
Some
of my other favourite places include the Antrim
Coast Road and The Ring Of Kerry.
The former wends its way from Larne to Portrush in the North of Ireland with
spectacular scenery-which may include a glimpse of the Scottish coastline if
you're fortunate enough to get a clear day. Make the all important stop to
stretch your legs at The Giants Causeway,
a National
Heritage site, and those braver than me who don't suffer from vertigo
can also take a walk across the Carrick-a-rede rope-bridge. Add
Dunluce Castle and the
Bushmills Distillery to the mix and
there's a lot to pack into one day's driving, but I guarantee it's worth the
effort. The same can be said for The Ring Of Kerry, starting the days drive
in the magical Killarney and following
the numerous tourist coaches along the narrow, winding roads which wend
their way from almost Mediterranean bays to stunning mountains.
What
can I tell you food and drink-wise? Well for starters-as shocking as this
may be-I can tell you it's not all about the alcoholic beverages.
We're big fans of a good cup of tea, apparently drinking more of it per
capita than any other country in the world. Traditionally the food is hearty
and unsurprisingly is frequently known to involve potatoes. (Yes,
we're the highest consumer per capita in this area too) Boxty, champ and
colcannon are all regional potato based dishes; add lamb and vegetables to
the humble spud and you get Irish stew. Then of course there is the famous
Irish fry-up of bacon, eggs, sausage and/or black and
white
pudding-which isn't solely limited to breakfast time-and don't even get me
started on the joy of warm, freshly baked soda bread!
These days we also have
world-class chefs producing delicious food based on fresh ingredients and
incorporating international influences, not to mention several successful
cookery schools. Think salmon, trout, oysters, mussels, hand-made cheeses
and the locally produced meat and vegetables and add that to how short a
journey they have to make from source to table on such a small island,
you'll get an idea of why we have such a strong restaurant culture.
I could go on and on
extolling the virtues of the Emerald Isle but for me, Ireland is
simply home and has been for my family since the 15th century. I was
born and raised in Co. Antrim, lived and worked in Co. Down for several
years and
currently spend the majority of my time on the border between Counties
Donegal and Fermanagh. To say it's rural here would be a vast
understatement. None of the roads have signs to name them, directions tend
to be given in terms of local people's houses and it takes approximately
three generations of a family to be born here before you're not considered a
'blow-in' anymore.
We moved here almost a decade
ago, mostly to take advantage of the extra space for a growing family of
four-legged friends, and despite how isolated it can be mid-winter it truly
is a wonderfully serene place to both live and work. (Though
there are times I wish we weren't so close to
'the
end of the line' for internet connections.)
For anyone thinking of visiting
Ireland-and of course I can heartily recommend you do-my advice is to
bring enough clothing to cope with the possibility of four seasons in one
day. The best time of year to make your trip is between June and
September, when the days are longer and there's a slightly better chance of
seeing less damp weather. No guarantees though! The only thing we
can promise is a warm welcome.
*The majority of these
photographs are
thanks to my good friend
©Michael Kirschner
