The lure of Ireland lies in its landscapes and its people, and it is through involvement with both that visitors get to experience the soul of this ancient land of saints and scholars.

Ireland's hills are a walker's paradise, not only because of the extensive network of trails, but because by being on foot one gets to appreciate the lakes and rivers, the coastal views and ever-changing sky-scapes that are so much part of the Irish landscape. Watersports such as angling, sailing and surfing are popular too, and many visitors come for the golf, but the real passion of the Irish is horses - there is a potential Derby winner in every valley and a packed betting shop in every high street.

The Irish weather is not the most predictable in the world, but then much of the beauty of the Irish landscape is due to its climate and there has to be a price tag on being nicknamed the 'Emerald Isle'. Poor weather has had positive influences on the Irish way of life. Music and song plays an integral part in daily life and visitors are able to experience this in the many pubs so characteristic of the social landscape of Ireland.

Over the years, Ireland has survived invasions, famine and civil war, but has recently come into its own, benefiting from peace in the North, support from the EU and a new vitality which has caused the country to be dubbed the 'Celtic Tiger'. There has never been a better time to visit.

Kinsale

Address: Cork

Telephone: Kinsale Tourist Office: 021 477 2234

Trinity College Dublin

Address: Dublin

Telephone: (0)1 896 1000

Temple Bar District

Address: Dublin

Phoenix Park

Address: Parkgate Street Dublin

Admission: Free Main gate is open 24 hours.

Telephone: (0)1 677 0095 (Visitor Centre)

Dublin Castle

Address: Dame Street Dublin

Admission: Entry by guided tour only, every 20 minutes. EUR4.50 (adults), concessions available. Tours: Monday to Friday 10am-4:45pm, Saturday and Sunday 2pm-4:45pm.

Telephone: (0)1 645 8813 (tour services)

National Museum of Ireland

Address: Kildare Street Dublin

Admission: Free Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm, and Sunday 2pm-5pm.

Telephone: (0)1 677 7444

Guinness Storehouse

Address: St James's Gate Dublin

Admission: EUR14.40 (adults); concessions available. Discounts for online bookings. Daily 9:30am-5pm (until 7pm in July and August)

Telephone: (0)1 408 4800

National Library of Ireland

Address: 2 Kildare Street Dublin

Admission: Free Monday to Wednesday, 9:30am-9pm; Thursday and Friday, 9:30am-5pm; Saturday, 9:30am-1pm.

Telephone: (0)1 603 0200

St. Patrick's Cathedral

Address: St Patrick's Close Dublin

Admission: EUR5.50 (adults), concessions available. March to October: daily 9am-5:30pm; November to February: Monday to Saturday 9am-5pm, Sunday 9am-3pm.

Telephone: (0)1 453 9472

Glendalough

Address: 18 miles (30km) south of Dublin Dublin

Admission: EUR3 (adult); concessions available Daily 9:30am-6pm (until 5pm from October to March).

Telephone: (404) 45325

James Joyce Museum

Address: Sandycove Dublin

Admission: EUR6 (adults), EUR5 (children under 12). Concessions available. Monday to Saturday 10am-1pm and 2pm-5pm, and Sunday and public holidays 2pm-6pm (April to October). Open by prior arrangement at other times of year.

Telephone: (0)1 280 9265

Clonmacnoise

Address: 120 miles (200km) west of Dublin in Shannonbridge, County Offaly. Dublin

Admission: EUR6 (adult) and EUR2 (child), concessions available. Daily 10am-5:30pm (November to mid-March), 10am-6pm (mid-March to mid-May, and September to October), 9am-7pm (mid-May to September).

Telephone: 090 967 4195

Blarney Castle

Address: Five miles (8km) from Cork Cork

Admission: EUR10 (adults), EUR3.50 (children 8-14). Concessions available. Monday to Saturday 9am-6:30pm (May and September), 9am-7pm (June to August), 9am to sunset(October to April). Sundays 9:30am-5:30pm (until sunset in winter).

Telephone: (0)21 438 5252

Connemara

Address: Galway

Telephone: Connemara Tourism: +353 95 22622

Aran Islands

Address: Galway

Telephone: (099) 61355

Adare

Address: Limerick

County Kerry

Address: Cork

Cliffs of Moher

Address: Galway

Admission: EUR6 (adults), EUR4 (students and seniors), children under 16 free. New Visitor Experience opens 9am-5:30pm (January and February), 9am-6pm (March, April and October), 8:30am-9pm (May to September), 9:30am-5pm (November and December).

Telephone: (0)65 708 6141

Old City Gaol

Address: Convent Avenue, Sunday's Well Cork

Admission: EUR7 (adults), EUR4 (children). Concessions available Daily 9.30am to 5pm (March to October), 10am to 4pm (November to February)

Telephone: (0)21 430 5022

Dublin Zoo

Address: Phoenix Park Dublin

Admission: EUR15 (adults), EUR10.50 (children 3-15); concessions available. Generally open from 9:30am Monday to Saturday and 10:30am on Sundays. Closing times vary between 4pm to 6pm.

Telephone: (0)1 474 8900

The Old Jameson Distillery

Address: Bow St, Smithfield Village Dublin

Admission: EUR13.50 (Adult), EUR8 (Child). Concessions available. Daily 9am-6:30pm (last tour at 5:30pm) Closed Good Friday and Christmas holidays.

Telephone: (0)1 807 2355

Viking Splash Tour

Address: 18 Mill Street Dublin

Admission: EUR20 (adults); EUR10 (children); concessions available. Departs frequently every day, weather permitting.

Telephone: (01) 707 6000

Airfield House and Farm

Address: Upper Kilmacud Road, Dundrum Dublin

Admission: EUR6 (adults); EUR3 (children). Concessions available Open daily 10am–5pm.

Telephone: (01) 298 4301

Imaginosity

Address: The Plaza, Beacon South Quarter, Sandyford Dublin

Admission: EUR8 (adults and children); EUR6 (toddlers). Concessions available. Open Mondays 1:30pm-5:30pm; Tuesday to Friday and Bank Holiday Mondays 9:30am-5:30pm; Saturday and Sundays 10am-6pm.

Telephone: (01) 217 6130

The Lambert Puppet Theatre

Address: Clifton Lane, Monkstown Dublin

Admission: Ticket prices vary, check the website for specific shows. Shows run on selected dates. See the website for more information.

Telephone: (01) 280 0974

St Patrick's Street

Address: Cork

Church Tower of Shandon

Address: Church of St Anne Shandon, Church Street Cork

Telephone: +353 21 450 5906

The English Market

Address: Princes Street Cork

Galway City Museum

Address: Spanish Parade Galway

Admission: Free 10am-5pm Tuesday to Saturday.

Telephone: (091) 532 460

Killarney National Park

Address: Killarney

Admission: January to March, November to December 8am-5pm; April to May, October 8am-6pm; June to August 8am-7pm. Pedestrian access 24 hours a day.

Telephone: +353 1 8882000

Kilkee

Address: Limerick

Abbey Tavern

Address: Abbey St., Howth, Northern Suburbs Dublin

Food Type: International

Café Mao

Address: 2 - 3 Chatham Row Dublin

Food Type: Asian

Nosh

Address: 111 Coliemore Rd, Dalkey Dublin

Food Type: International

Jacob's Ladder

Address: 4 - 5 Nassau St Dublin

Food Type: Local

L'Ecrivain

Address: 109 Lower Baggot St, Fitzwilliam Square Dublin

Food Type: French

The Wicked Chef

Address: 73 Meath St Dublin

Food Type: Café

The Bad Ass Café

Address: 9-11 Crown Alley Dublin

Food Type: American

Tante Zoé's

Address: 1 Crow Street, Temple Bar Dublin

Food Type: Cajun

Yamamori Noodles

Address: 71 - 72 S. Great George's St Dublin

Food Type: Japanese

Juice

Address: 73 - 83 S. Great Georges St Dublin

Food Type: Vegetarian

Yamamori Sushi

Address: 38 - 39 Lower Ormand Quay Dublin

Food Type: Japanese

One Pico

Address: 5 - 6 Molesworth Place Schoolhouse Lane Dublin

Food Type: Irish

Gallagher's Boxty House

Address: 20-21 Temple Bar Dublin

Food Type: Local

Café Paradiso

Address: Western Road (across from Jurys hotel) Cork

Food Type: Fusion

Market Lane

Address: 5/6 Oliver Plunkett Street Cork

Food Type: Local