Ireland Calendar of Events

Events in Ireland

March

St. Patrick's Festivities!  St. Patrick's Day is a very special day around the world, but nowhere in the world is it more special than Ireland. Ireland hosts the biggest St. Patrick's Day celebration - St. Patrick's Festival - with a five day street party to celebrate being Irish.  2005 is a special year with St. Patrick's Festival celebrating it's 10th Birthday! The Festival will run from March 16th - March 21st. Make sure to be in Dublin for the big party!

June

The Murphy’s Cat Laughs Comedy Festival takes place in Kilkenny each year over the June Bank Holiday Weekend (1st weekend in June) and will once again feature the world’s top stand-up comedians

July

Galway Arts Festival.  Described by the Irish Times as 'the biggest, most exciting, most imaginative explosion of arts activity this country has', the Galway Arts Festival is a truly international two week celebration of the performing and visual arts. Galway Arts Festival 2005 will take place from 11th – 24th July.

Reasons Why Stay in Ireland

1. Stay somewhere unforgettable
Fancy staying in a haunted lighthouse? Or what about a medieval castle? As well as top luxury accommodation, Ireland boasts eccentric and fascinating places to stay. Try the world-famous Ashford Castle for some sparkling old-world atmosphere and top-class luxury, and Hidden Ireland for unique and inspirational self-catering accommodation in beautiful and historic private houses. Seek out a traditional thatched cottage for you and your family, or get close to nature with a peaceful stay on an authentic rural farm with Irish Farm Holidays.

2. Bliss out in a spa
If trekking up the side of a mountain, or soaking up the atmosphere of Ireland’s misty countryside seems like too much hard work, then you can always indulge yourself in one of the country’s exceptional spas. Now a leading international spa destination, Ireland enjoys a multitude of wonderful spas set amidst breathtaking scenery.
Try Sámas at The Park Hotel, Kenmare, Co Kerry, the Molton Brown Spa () at the Killarney Plaza Hotel, Co Kerry, or The Well Spa at BrookLodge  at the foothills of a lush sloping valley in Co Wicklow. Experience the idyllic Inchydoney Island Lodge and Spa on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean in West Cork; the luxurious Culloden Estate and Spa overlooking Belfast Lough; the sublime Gate Lodge Spa at Kinnitty Castle  in Co Offaly; or the exceptional Villa Spa in Killashee House, just a stone’s throw from Dublin in Co Kildare. Of course, those seeking to hide away from all urban trappings should check out the remote Delphi Mountain Resort and Spa surrounded by the majestic scenery of Connemara in Co Galway. 

3. Drink in the world’s finest pubs
Believe the hype: Imitated by thousands the world over, the island of Ireland has the real thing lining its streets – wonderfully atmospheric pubs filled with enthusiastic customers, crackling fires, jovial bar staff and traditional music sessions that are the stuff of legends. Don’t believe us? Well, stop off for a drop of the Black Stuff in the Cobblestones, Keoghs, the Stag’s Head, or Mulligans in Dublin; Jack Meade’s in Waterford; Dick Mack’s in Dingle, Kerry; Durty Nelly’s in Banratty, Co Clare; Morrissey’s Bar in Abbeyleix, Co Laois; The Bridge Bar in Bundoran, Co Donegal; or The Crown Liquor Salon in Belfast – and we think you’ll leave convinced.

4. Immerse yourself in breathtaking scenery
The mythical beauty of the Irish landscape has inspired countless poets, musicians and artists over the centuries, and continues to captivate visitors year after year. From the barren and rugged wilds of Connemara, to the lush and luminous greenery of the rolling hills of County Wicklow, to the enigmatic lunar landscape of the Giant’s Causeway in County Antrim, Ireland’s natural wonders can be both awe-inspiring and softly romantic.
Gaze in wonder at the sheer Cliffs of Moher, which plummet 200 metres into the raging Atlantic below, experience the craggy charm of the wondrous Ring of Kerry and Ring of Beara, discover Stone Age ruins on the Burren, wonder at the spectacular Sligo Bay coastline, or enjoy the twinkling sea and glittering sands on one of Donegal’s famous beaches.

5. Seek out the urban buzz
Ireland’s cities are big on buzz and bustle, and overflow with hip places to eat, drink and shop. Revitalized and rejuvenated, Belfast’s shopping and nightlife are a big draw so for a chic city break stay at Malmaison, drink at The Apartment and check out the style at Belfast’s upmarket clothes store, The Bureau.
Make the most of Dublin’s shopping scene by visiting boutiques on Clarendon Street and South William Street, look for one-off designer pieces at The Design Centre (Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, Dublin 2), and Brown Thomas (Grafton Street, Dublin 2), and rummage for something cool at the Cow’s Lane Market (Saturday 10am-5pm, Old City, Temple Bar, Dublin 2).
Unearth your arty side in Cork, the European Capital of Culture 2005, with a host of events taking place throughout the year. Soak up the bohemian vibe in the colourful city of Galway, or look on one of Ireland’s greatest private collections of art and antiquities at Limerick’s famous Hunt Museum.

6. Discover an island dream
Hovering on what feels like the edge of the world, Ireland’s Atlantic coastline is studded with the fabled Aran Islands of Inis Mór, Inis Meáin and Inis Óirr. Accessible by ferry from Galway, Rosaveel, and Coolin, Co Clare, the islands are ideal for day trips, or longer tranquil breaks spent cycling around the pretty rural countryside. For other remote spots with lashings of windswept charm and rugged island beauty, head out to Tory Island, 11km off the North West Coast, Achill Island (accessible by bridge from the mainland of County Mayo, Coney Island, off the coast of Sligo, or the wild, unspoilt Rathlin Island off the Northeast Coast.

7. Head for the history
With a phenomenal array of historical attractions, Ireland is a thrilling destination for anyone with even a fleeting interest in the relics of the past. Older than the pyramids, the megalithic passage tomb at Newgrange is a UNESCO World Heritage site and draws over 200,000 visitors a year.
The island of Ireland is rich with castles, including the famous Blarney Castle with the kiss-me-quick Blarney Stone, Bunratty Castle in Clare, the stone ruins of Dunluce Castle in Antrim, and Dublin Castle, which is at the very heart of the capital’s history. Clonmacnoise in County Offaly gives a beguiling insight into what monasteries were like at the time and is currently the most important monastic site in the country. For information on heritage sites around Ireland, log on to www.heritageisland.com and www.heritageireland.ie.

8. Track down a tune
Ireland is famous for impromptu traditional music sessions that break out in crowded pubs all over the country, and a love of music lies at the very core of Irish culture. If you’re looking for the perfect place to enjoy a pint with a traditional session then log on to. Beyond the world of the public house, Comhaltas, an organisation that promotes traditional music at home and abroad, runs a Seisúin Trail in July and August, with nights of music and dance, as well as other music events.
And if you like your music less traditional, you can always opt for a bout of cool with sizzling events like the Cork Jazz Festival, the Blues on the Bay Festival in County Down, the Budrising rock festival in Dublin, and the wide-ranging Killarney Summerfest.

9. Discover your wild side
You could happily spend much of your trip in the confines of a cosy Irish pub, but Ireland also has a host of attractions for those with get up and go. Do you fancy horseriding down a pristine stretch of beach? Golfing your way around some of the best courses in the world? Learning to dive with world-class PADI instructors? Cruising down the glistening Shannon, or around County Fermanagh’s picturesque Lough Erne? Or you could even test your stamina with a scenic cycling holiday around the challenging but spectacular Dingle Peninsula.

10. Satisfy your inner desires
Ireland is now a hotspot of fine dining and finger-licking seafood beyond compare. Café Paradiso in Cork has an international reputation as one of the finest vegetarian restaurants in Europe. While Dublin is home to a number of internationally renowned spots, including L’Ecrivan, two Michelin-starred Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud and Thorntons, and contemporary young contenders like Eden, The Mermaid Café and The Tea Rooms at the Clarence Hotel (owned by U2’s Bono and The Edge).
The West and South of Ireland are legendary for their fine seafood and gourmet cuisine, with the villages of Kenmare (try Packie’s or La Cascade), Dingle (try the Charthouse), and Kinsale (try the Fishy Fishy Café or Casino House) fast becoming a magnet for foodies. Meanwhile the critically-acclaimed Cayenne in Belfast has already become a culinary landmark. And if that’s not enough to sate your appetite, then head straight for Galway in September for the fantastic International Oyster Festival, or the Gourmet Food Festival in October in Kinsale.

AFFORDABLE HOTELS IN IRELAND

SouthTravels.com
Copyright© Southtravels.com. All Rights Reserved.