In the far west of Europe, against the winds and rain, facing the ocean, stands Ireland: a land of pride and passion. Despite the hostility of the climate and the elements, Ireland remains a unique region that attracts a little more visitors each year. At the origin of this success was the warmth of the Irish people. An island like a concentrate of landscapes. Nature insolent and wild, nothing seems to have given way under the hand of Man. Punctuated by green meadows running down into the sea, hostile moors, enchanting forests, ghostly lakes, the island environment is unquestionably free; a term that also perfectly describes the Irish people who have worked for centuries to build their freedom. Irish history, more than anywhere else, is sealed in stone and the mirages of the past, as if emerging from the mist, recall a painful history: the ghettos of Belfast, the docks of Dublin, the hell of Connemara... Streams of Guinness, ancestral Celtic songs, red hair, a wild game of hurling or rugby... the islanders do everything they can to make people discover and appreciate this magnificent land they cherish so much. In their songs and legends, they tell the history of the country with so many feelings that they contaminate the attentive walker in record time. The recalcitrant spirit may resist, but he will throw down his weapons by pushing the door of a pub! Warmth and hospitality are the key words of this exhilarating island, on the borders of Europe.

When to go Ireland ?

Ireland is best visited between May and September, but it is also the high season that drives up prices. In addition, Ireland lends itself wonderfully to off-season stays. And with a multitude of really cheap direct flights from all regions of France, it is very easy to get there, even if only for a weekend. However, weekends in Ireland require a little organization because the accommodations are often overcrowded and it is better to book. Finally, if there is a date not to be missed if you want to experience the Irish fervor, it is obviously St. Patrick's Day (March 17), the feast of the patron saint of Ireland: beer flows freely, and everyone is dressed in green.

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Practical information for travel Ireland

Ces dernières années, le tourisme est devenu l’industrie principale d'Irlande. Pour le visiteur et son budget, l’un des atouts de ce pays réside dans sa petite taille : 275 km d’est en ouest et 486 km du nord au sud. Cela permet de se déplacer assez facilement et rapidement, et de visiter les sites les plus importants. Chaque région est particulière. Au nord comme au sud, à l’est comme à l’ouest, les sites intéressants abondent. Il faut prévoir une escale dans les régions de Cork et du Kerry, dans le Connemara et en Irlande du Nord. Tout est beau ici, seule la région du centre est relativement pauvre, comparée au reste du pays.
En une semaine, on peut explorer de nombreuses régions, à condition de faire des escales assez rapides. Si votre séjour doit être court, choisissez plutôt une partie bien définie du pays, quitte à y revenir une autre fois. Un séjour d’un mois est conseillé et suffisant pour connaître le pays d’une façon détaillée.

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How to go Ireland

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How to go alone

Ireland is a very safe destination. Visiting it alone is therefore not a problem. Especially since it is easy to reach by plane (many companies serve Ireland), and can also be connected by ferry. As Irish parties are often drunk, you just have to be careful about alcohol-related excesses.

How to go on a tour

The offer is diverse and varied to discover Ireland on an organised trip, alone or in combination with Scotland, England and/or Wales. Discovery of the Irish countryside and meadows, city escapades in Dublin or Belfast, journey in Connemara: the possibilities are numerous. The destination lends itself to several types of stay. Considering the variety of offers, the prices are adapted to small budgets, but also to those who are looking for a charming stay.

How to get around

You will find a plethora of domestic flights, if the bus or train do not seem like options to you. If the rail network is not very dense, the bus is an excellent means of transport on site and many connections exist. Finally, the boat makes it possible to connect the major ports between them, and the main island to the other islands. To travel independently, visiting Ireland by car is also a very good option.

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Discover Ireland

Ireland is a multi-faceted destination that will delight the most demanding visitors. It must be said that the Emerald Isle offers an incredible nature, with sleeping lakes, breathtaking cliffs, moors and enchanting forests. But beyond the landscapes, the visitor will be immersed in the very rich Irish history. A history also marked by the separation in two of an island, three quarters of which became a republic in 1922. But also by famines, struggles against the yoke of the British Crown and by the eternal quest for freedom of a people so proud and brave. A people whose history is also marked by a dizzying immigration, like a survival reflex. Today, the island seems to live to the rhythm of family celebrations, pub outings, rich gastronomy, choice festivals or long walks on the superb hiking trails that criss-cross the country

Pictures and images Ireland

Petit-déjeuner irlandais. Bartosz Luczak - iStockphoto.com
Les paisibles moutons du comté de Kerry. Captblack76 - Shutterstock.com
The Temple Bar est un pub très fréquenté par les Dublinois. Lawrence BANAHAN - Author's Image
Boyne Valley, Newgrange Author's Image

The 12 keywords Ireland

1. #Beer

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Without a doubt the favorite drink of the Irish, including the famous Dublinstout: Guinness (or its equivalent in Cork, Murphy's). There are alsolagers such as Harp andbitter beers such as Smithwicks (pronounced "smithik's"). You can order a pint of beer or a half pint.

2. #Buskers

Buskers are street musicians. In Irish cities, especially in Dublin or Galway, you can hear musicians of all styles in the streets. Most of the time, they are not beggars, but quality artists or students looking to collect a few coins for a drink. Here's to your good heart!

3. #Celtes

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According to the stores, one would only come to Ireland to reconnect with the history of the Celts, Vikings and other barbarians! Certainly, the Celtic history with the arrival of the Gaels is fascinating, but if the Gaelic, and all that is Irish, has a Celtic origin, it is the whole history which makes Ireland as it is today.

4. #Connemara

Connemara © LOUIS-MICHEL DESERT - Shutterstock.com.jpg

Celebrated by a timeless song, this region remains the favorite of French tourists, with its preserved natural environment where moors, peat bogs, marshes and lakes are mixed. In spite of its very wet climate, this corner of Ireland remains a paradise for hikers who love wide open spaces. The landscapes give a real impression of immensity.

5. #Races

The national pastime is a combination of pleasures, offered by the pubs: enjoying a Guinness, talking to all sorts of people or listening to traditional tunes. However, greyhound or horse racing can also be considered a typically Irish pastime, provided that the passion for gambling does not end up winning!

6. #Family

It is through and in the family that Ireland is pursuing its renewal, making it one of the youngest countries in Europe (almost half the population is under 25). However, changes are coming fast: marriage, still relevant, is getting later and later, as well as the first child. The traditional family is changing.

7. #Gaeltacht

The Gaeltacht are regions of Ireland where Gaelic is the common language. They can be found in the west, around Galway, in counties Kerry and Cork or in county Meath. In the center of the island, Gaelic is heard in County Waterford, on the east coast and in the region of the Rosses where the indications cease to be bilingual.

8. #Leprechaun

You'll easily come across this strange character in souvenir stores, where many items are related to him, or at St. Patrick's Day parades. The leprechaun is a small creature, associated with the leprechaun in France, represented as a little old man with a beard, red hair, dressed in green and carrying a four-leaf clover. He is a shoemaker.

9. #Pub

A trip to Ireland wouldn't be complete without a visit to one of its traditional pubs. The heart of social life, the pub is the place where the Irish gather with friends and colleagues, to eat (traditional cuisine such asIrish stew), to listen to good music or simply to drink a beer and chat.

10. #Shamrock

The shamrock is the emblem of the country. It is found everywhere and is sewn on the jersey of the rugby players of the Irish XV. Saint Patrick, who evangelized Ireland in the5th century, would have used the three-leafed plant to explain to the pagans the Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, three components of one and the same God.

11. #Green

In Celtic mythology, the island of the Blessed, Ireland, was the green Erin. It is the beautiful green landscape that attracts tourists. The pastures are intensely green. The color green dresses all Irish national teams. Green is omnipresent during the parades of St. Patrick's Day, the national holiday, on March 17.

12. #Whiskey

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After Guinness, whiskey is the other national drink. You will notice that the Irish do not make whiskey, but whiskey. And there are many who like the more rustic flavors ofIrish whiskey. It is said thatIrish coffee was invented by the Irish so that they could enjoy their whiskey even in a tea room.

You are from here, if...

You spend an evening (or several!) in a pub and offer to buy your round.

You listen to traditional music (in a pub or at one of the many festivals).

You feast on local delicacies like Irish stew and guinness.

Never order a half! A pint is de rigueur, and you have no desire to be labeled a "tourist"!

You regularly attend a hurling or Gaelic soccer match, especially at Croke Park in Dublin. And what's more, you understand the rules of the game!

You never forget your umbrella when you go out.

You know the slang expressions "craic" (fun) and "wee" (small) that you say at every turn!

You naturallydrive on the left and look to the right before crossing the road!

Above all,you enjoy spending time with your family, at the table with even the most distant cousins.

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