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" The way that the Irish live and enjoy themselves on a night
out was the trigger for the CREATION of the M.I.B. Hundreds of
hours inside Irish pubs, thousands of litres of beer and never
ending discussions with Irish barmen all over the world, resulted
to a small Irish community at our city centre. " |
 Éreland.
A land
that for many has a lure that is almost mystical. A land for many
that is their true home. A land for many that is their ideal
destination. A land for many that is the source of the finest
writings every to be produced, the finest music ever to be
composed. Ireland, a land for all.
More and more as the years go by, and as travel grows ever easier,
people who have previously cast longing glances in the direction
of this small island on the west of Europe, make that pilgrimage
and return to find out what Ireland is really about. And as is
common when it comes to people and their perceptions, Ireland is
many things to many people, and while some come to search out
their family, and establish the location of their family's roots,
others come purely to enjoy the magnificent landscapes, the craic,
and the hospitality of the people of Ireland.
So if you are one of those thinking of coming, what do you need to
know? Well for starters, you should know that we've quite a mild
climate, albeit a bit wet, and that while you won't be needing
your oilskins, a raincoat of some shape or form is a necessity for
when the weather turns (and it will - this is the land of the four
seasons in one day!).
 Then
of course there's accommodation while you're here - And what an
array of lodgings to choose from! Be it hostel or hotel,
self-catering or castle, you'll find yourself spoilt for choice.
If there's one thing we can guarantee you, it's that you'll be
received royally wherever you go.
And so onto things to do. Well, where to start? - that's the
question - in the capital, Dublin, or in one of the other 31
counties of this island, each rich in natural beauty, culture,
entertainment, and activities. You could try Cork in the
southwest, and see Cobh (formerly Queenstown), last port of call
of the Titanic, and the spectacular Head of Kinsale, or try Kerry
, and tour the Ring of Kerry or swim with the now famous Fungi the
Dolphin.
 From
there you could head north, hitting Limerick along the way,
following with Ireland's most bohemian and laid back city, Galway.
There you can choose between kicking up your heels and supping
back a pint or two in a snug of the many pubs at your disposal, or
opting to brave the elements and take the ferry out to see the
storm-ravaged beauty of the Aran Islands.
ÌAnd so into the North then, to enjoy the Glens of Antrim and the
spectacular and curious beauty of the Giants Causeway's basalt
formations. Belfast's nightlife is not to be missed either, and a
stay there is almost a prerequisite if you're planning an
itinerary. Of course this is but a sample of what's available to
the visitor, there is so much more the only you're sure to find
out, is if you come yourself!
 But
what about the politics of the island, and its people, and the way
they go about things? Well as you most likely know, the island is
divided into two jurisdictions, 26 of the 32 counties constituting
the Republic of Ireland, with the other six counties (taken from
the nine county province of Ulster) make up Northern Ireland, part
of the United Kingdom. The Government in the Republic is based in
Dublin, in a building called the Dáil, while in Northern Ireland,
thanks to the progress brought by the Good Friday Agreement, a
regional government run by the political parties of Northern
Ireland is now based in Stormont, in Belfast, County Down.
In recent years Ireland has experienced unparalleled economic
growth, earning it a reputation at home and abroad as the Celtic
Tiger. With annual economic growth in double figures for the past
few years and unemployment down to the lowest levels ever recorded
in the history of the state, some economists are insisting that
the bubble must soon burst on Ireland's economic miracle, but even
if it were to, the strides taken towards economic vitality and
widespread improvement in people's earning ability, are unlikely
to be undone.
 As
for the people themselves, well it's fair to say that the Irish
for the most part remain the mass-going, pub-frequenting people
others know them as. While the Catholic Church has experienced
significant decreases in mass attendance in these recent years of
prosperity, when asked most respondents will insist that they
consider themselves members of the Roman Catholic faith, albethey
poorly attending ones! And as for that cliched image of the Irish
as being a nation of drinkers, that too is still true, although
the pint o' plain has been usurped by the more modern tipples of
foreign lagers and cocktails - a sign of Ireland's opening up to
the outside world, if nothing else.
However, while one could go on forever waxing lyrical about the
virtues of this wet, green island off the coast of Western Europe,
it goes without saying that it would be impossible to do the
emerald isle justice, and so all that remains to be said is to
instruct you to get over here to find out for yourself. Come on -
Ireland awaits!
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