Galway City

Arty and bohemian, Galway is famous for its electric night life, colourful street buskers, lively pubs, stylish restaurants and world renowned festivals including:  the Galway Arts Festival, the Galway Oyster Festival, and the weeklong Galway horse racing festival. The beautiful medieval city is a very popular destination for Ireland short breaks and weekend breaks  and has a fine array of Ireland hotels and Ireland accommodation options to suit all pockets.

The Ring of Kerry

The world famous Ring of Kerry is a beautiful scenic drive located in County Kerry on Ireland’s stunning South west coast. County Kerry is famous for its wind swept rugged mountains, spectacular coastline, magical lakes, peat bogs, stunning thatched houses and Ireland’s tallest mountain. The main Ireland accommodation towns on the route include Killarney, Kenmare, Sneem, Waterville, Cahersiveen and Killorglin. These charming towns offer quality Ireland hotels and Ireland Self catering options to suit all budgets.

The Aran Islands

Visitors love to explore the three mystical, Irish speaking Islands off the coast of County Galway. The Aran Islands are famous for their traditional thatched cottages, fabulous clean beaches, centuries old stone walls, small roads, Irish music and culture, ponies and carts and the wonderful pre historic Dun Aonghasa fort on Inishmor. There are no Ireland accommodation options on the islands except for a few Aran Islands B&B’s

Connemara

World famous Connemara is a beautiful scenic region located in County Galway on Ireland’s stunning west coast. The region is famous for its ever changing landscape of majestic mountains, spectacular beaches, the wild Atlantic, mist covered lakes, pre historic bogs, thatched cottages and beautiful off shore islands. The regions landscape is peppered with beautiful villages and small towns including: Clifden, Leenane, Maam, Roundstone,Cleggan, Spideal, Barna, Furbo and Letterfrack . These attractive towns and villages offer fine Ireland hotels and Ireland Self catering facilities

The Burren & Cliiffs of Moher

The Burren is a nature lover’s paradise. It stretches across northern County Clare, from the Atlantic coast to Kinvara in County Galway. This unique geographical landscape is completely covered with Limestone rocks, beautiful alpine flora, caves, narrow roads, traditional thatched houses, stone walls and pre historic dolmens. The regions highlights include Corkscrew Hill, Ailwee Caves and the majestic Cliffs of Moher one of Ireland’s top visitor sites attracting over a million visitors a year. Looming over County Clare’s west coast, the Cliffs stretch for 8 kilometres and 215 meters over the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. There are great Ireland short breaks and on offer in the region’s main towns: Ennistymon, Lisdoonvarna, Ballyvaughan and Kinvara.

County Wicklow

Wicklow is often referred to as “The Garden of Ireland “for its wonderful scenery; golden beaches, rolling mountains, wooded glens, waterfalls, lakes, magnificent houses and gardens.  Wicklow is popular distination for Ireland short breaks due to its close proximity to Ireland’s capital Dublin. Wicklow is also home to “Glendalough” one of Ireland’s top travel destinations. This fascinating early Christian monastic settlement located in County Wicklow, is set in a glaciated valley overlooking two lakes; the monastic remains include a superb round tower, stone churches and decorated crosses. Glendalough is located near the village of Laragh high up in the Wicklow Mountains south of Dublin.  There are numerous hotel breaks and Ireland Accommodation options on offer in the region’s main towns : Bray, Wicklow Town, Rathdrum  and Arklow.

Cork City

Cork City is Ireland’s third biggest city and like Galway it is a popular destination for Ireland breaks.  It was voted European capital of culture in 2005. Cork is famous for its electric nightclubs, lively pubs, stylish restaurants and world renowned festivals including:  St. Patrick’s day festival (March 17th), the Cork International Choral Festival (2th May – 6th May), Beamish Folk Festival (30th September –3rd October) the Cork Jazz Festival, (28th October – 31st October) and the weeklong Cork Film Festival (6th  -13th  of November). Check out www.rediscoverireland.com  for Ireland short breaks and Ireland hotels in Cork plus  Ireland Self catering options in cork .

Original post: Ireland's Top Sights

Affordable Health Insurance Plans

Nowadays, many people prefer Ireland to visit especially in Holidays with family or friends, as this place is enriched with various cultural places and events where they can enjoy a lot. Main Ireland tourist attractions are Cruit Island, Bunratty Castle, Reginalds Tower Museum, Mount Stewart House, Folk Park, and many more. Besides this, Ireland is also considered best place to visit because of many magical occasions that happen there during the year. People, who will visit this place, will come across many interesting activities and events that can be enjoyed by both the old and young.

Based on this fact, numerous tourists visit Ireland to enjoy the splendid beauty of this area, which is indeed a cultural heritage in this modern era. Moreover, due to the welcoming nature of the residents of Ireland, this place is considered the best one for spending vacations with family and friends to enjoy the beauty of beaches, castles, gardens, museums, etc.

Many cities of Ireland are worthwhile to visit because of the superb places and the lifestyle of locals due to which you can come to know more about the culture and traditions of that place. Some of the cities, which are center of attraction for tourists, are as follows:

Dublin

Dublin is famous as the heart of the cities due to many reasons. Two of the major reasons are presence of historical buildings in that place. Many historical places that should be visited by the tourists are The Malahide Castle, The Custom House, The Garden of Remembrance, and Ardgillan Castle. The second reason is its magnificent nights’ life due to which many tourists visit this place every year.

The Irish Midlands

The Irish Midlands is the place that split Ireland into many parts and becoming center of attraction for many tourists due to the existence many worth watching places. County Cavan is one of the well-known places, which is becoming popular because of River Shanon as well as Killygeen Forests. Besides this, tourists can also enjoy many recreational activities in The Irish Midlands. These recreational activities can be boating, horse riding, fishing, and many more.

South Ireland Region

South Ireland Region is composed of many worth watching countries. Country Mayo is one of them, which is famous for having beautiful lakes, cliffs, and many other places full of natural sceneries. Country Mayo is also famous for its recreational activities like fishing and boating. Many tourists prefer to visit this place just to enjoy these recreational activities especially in summer. Besides this, musical heritage is also one of the reasons based of which South Ireland Region especially Country Mayo is a center of attention for many tourists.  

Northern Ireland Region

Like South Ireland Region, Northern Ireland Region is also composed of various cities. One of them is Belfast that is famous for its fascinating places like Belfast Zoo, Belfast Gardens, Ulster Museum in South, Neolithic Caves in North, and many more.

Thus, people, who are planning to visit a place in summer for vacations must consider Ireland and for this, they should consider online consultants, who offer discount coupons to the visitors. In this way, they will be able to visit all main Ireland tourist attractions at affordable rates.

Read this article: Ireland – A Region with Many Tourist Attractions

Online Article Spinner

We are living in this computer world so looking for love online is common these day. There are thousands of Ireland single women at Ireland dating online services for men to meet with. It is totally free to use Ireland dating sites. Ireland singles should join Ireland dating sites to find Ireland men and women. A Ireland woman seeking a Ireland man at the bars or nightclubs is the old way. People rarely go to the clubs to find Ireland singles. Seeking dates online is the new way for Ireland people and online singles. We have seen many online Ireland dating services booming on the Internet in the last few years. Many popular Ireland dating web sites offer 100% free Ireland dating services which help many online Ireland singles to find love and romance without a fee. That’s wonderful, isn’t it? Some Ireland dating services provide free membership for a limited time but some Ireland dating sites offer free for a life time to the members. There are pay Ireland dating services that were created long time ago and they charge members some fee a month. Big Ireland dating services have the amount of joined members to two million and the number of members are going up. We can see how on line Ireland singles and Ireland personals like Ireland dating services on the Net. 

The main purpose of online Ireland dating services is to provide single men and single women to know each other on Net. Some Ireland dating services focus on specific area, such as Northern America, UK, Russia, Asia, or Europe regions, and there are Ireland dating services are world-wide. Single men and single girls can meet thru the on line Ireland dating sites for friendship, relationships, or marriage. On line Ireland singles, in a moment, can see other Ireland personal ads in front of computer. Statistics usually shows that profile with pictures are viewed much more than profile without pictures on these Ireland on line dating services. Selecting the best online Ireland dating services that matches your dating style is not easy. Some members use their photos that they took 20 years ago to post on the on line Ireland dating sites to attract on line Ireland singles. So, you sometimes get surprised when you meet some specific members in person. So, before make decision to meet that specific person that you know on these Ireland dating sites, make sure you ask for their latest photos. Registering a profile takes a few minutes at these Ireland dating sites and we recommend that you upload your photo to increase your chance in getting more attention from other members. 

The old saying said that one picture worth thousands words which is always true. When a member look at your photo, they will contact you right away if they are interested in your photo, without reading all the information you write on your profile. So, posting your profile with a picture or two photos increase your profile values. Usually, online Ireland dating services have new members on the homepage, which have newest members with photos. Profiles without pictures are usually not displayed on the front page of these Ireland dating web sites. Let us put it this way, when you search for a profile, you always look at profiles with pictures at these Ireland online dating services. Ireland singles are waiting for you at these Ireland singles dating sites. So, are you ready to meet that special Ireland singles? Join these free Ireland dating services and meet your other half who is waiting online to see you.

View original post here: Ireland Single Women at Ireland Dating Online Service

Health Insurance Quotes

Autumn Wedding Flowers Autumn is a beautiful time of year when the temperatures are cool yet mild and the leaves turn from green to dazzling shades of orange, red and yellow.

If you’re in the midst of planning your wedding in ireland, there’s so many ways you can incorporate the beauty of Autumn into your special day.

Along with figuring out what dress you’re going to wear, who you’re going to invite to your wedding ceremony on your wedding day, where you’re going to get married  will it be a church ceremony or will you hold a civil ceremony in an alternative wedding venue which there will be many to choose from Dublin Zoo to a floating Wedding Venue on the River Liffey to the Guinness Storehouse, the choice is all yours, also you will have to choose  what kind of wedding food and wedding cake you’re going to serve, you will also need to figure out your wedding floral choices.

As there are so many ways to celebrate the beauty of the season of Autumn with a wide variety of  wedding flowers to choose from.

Below we’ve listed some great flowers you can use for your Autumn wedding, organized by month:

September — The aster is the traditional flower for September. This small flower resembles a daisy and is often used as a filler material in your wedding bouquet. Other great September flowers include roses, sunflowers, iris, lily and carnation., and with the help of sex in the city carnation came back in fashion.

October — For October, how about gerbera ? These cute flowers come in all sorts of colors like white, red, orange, pink and purple. You can also try the following flowers like  roses, hydrangea, and gladiola for your October wedding.

November — The Chrysanthemum is the traditional flower for November. These pretty flowers come in a wide range of colors like white, yellow and pink. Other great November flowers include gardenia, freesia, delphinium and as always, roses. You can have lovely orange lilies with all kinds of rich red berries.

Floral Wedding Decorations: You can incorporate the colors of autumn into your floral arrangements. Use bright autumn leaves and decorations in earthy colors to add beautiful fall flair.

Read the rest here: Wedding Flowers for an Autumn Wedding in Ireland

Debs Ireland - Girls Some Planning Tips for that perfect Debs Ball

Tickets

If dinner is not served at Debs then the tickets usually cost between €30-€500 per couple. If dinner is included in the ticket price then it could cost between €90- €150 per couple. If this is the case, you may want to offer to split the cost of the ticket with your date.

Dresses

The style of dresses varies from year to year. Looking in magazines can give you an idea of what is popular. You can go to a dressmaker to have one custom made, but that can get very expensive. Shopping around in local stores and bridal shops will give you a chance to check out the latest fashions in your area. Shopping on line has become a very popular way to see a variety of debs dresses in one place. Many on line retailers offer detailed instructions on sizing and selection to insure proper fit. Most girls spend between €200-€550.

Accessories

Stay away from big earrings. Try on stockings beforehand to make sure the color looks right. Carry a small purse that is just big enough to hold lipstick, money, an extra pair of hose, and possibly a camera.

Photographs

There will be a photographer at the Debs. These picture packages can be rather expensive. Get the price list at school before the night of the Debs so that you can plan accordingly. Most photographers take checks with the proper ID or credit cards. That would be safer than carrying cash. You could spend between €50 – €150 on pictures. Check with your schools photographer for packages and payment options.

Debs Hair/Nails/ Debs Make-up

Usually girls have these done professionally for their Debs night. Some salons will do all three for you, or you could schedule appointments at different places. Look at Debs Zone to get ideas or check with friends to see what they like. If you do your own hair and want to try a new style or temporary perm be sure to experiment before Debs.
You should try different styles up to six weeks before to work at a look you like best. If you use a professional, make sure the stylist knows what you want, otherwise you may dislike the results. Take in a picture from a magazine that show’s the look you’re going for. The cost for a manicure can vary from €40-€80. You can have extensions put on or just a manicure with your own nails. You can also get a pedicure, but have this done 2-3 days beforehand. Most make-up artists charge €50-€100.

4 Months Before your  Ball
1.    Make a checklist.?
2.    Find out how much money your parents will contribute.?
3.    Start saving your money ?
4.    Pick out that special debs dress ?
3 Months Before your Debs…
1.    Begin to maintain your hair and nails.?
2.    Pick out your accessories to coordinate with your dress.?

6 Weeks Before the Ball
1.    Purchase your Debs tickets.?
2.    Make an appointment to have your hair, nails, and make-up done.?
3.    If you are doing your own hair, start trying out different styles.?
4.    If you have not been asked for a date yet, check to see if the one you would like to go with has asked anyone, or ask a close friend before it’s too late. You can also go with a group of friends and have just as much fun and sometimes more.?
5.    Discuss your plans for Debs with your parents.?

4 Weeks Before the Ball

1.    Start wearing your Debs shoes around the house to break them in.?
2.    Pick up your Debs dress.?
3.    If you haven’t already done so, introduce your Debs date to your parents so there are no surprises on Debs Night!

2 Weeks Before Debs
1.    Confirm all reservations and appointments you have made for the day and night of Debs.?
2.    Take care of last minute details: pantyhose, film, etc.?
Debs Day
1.    Pick up your date’s boutonniere.?
2.    Go to your hair, nails, and makeup appointment(s).?
3.    Put some extra cash in your purse.

History of the Debutante Ball or Debs Ball
The debutante ball is European in origin. In fact, the word “debutante” is derived from the French word “debuter,” which means, “to lead off.” In the English court of St. James,
the parents of young and affluent girls were looking to join the girls in marriage to men of comparable social standing and pedigree.
During the court’s season of April through July, many parties were held among the upper-class royals.
the emerging, yet extremely wealthy, middle class soon sought sponsors to present their daughters to this group of entitled bachelors and their families. The first party of the season involved the presentation of these women to the Queen.
The bow to the Queen is now referred to as the St. James bow, and is the highlight of the debutante balls of today. According to Wikipedia, Queen Elizabeth II abolished the formal presentation of debutantes to the court in 1958.??
Significance
The original purpose of a public debut was to announce a young girl’s eligibility for marriage. Debutante balls are also known as “coming-out-parties,” cotillions and debuts. The debutantes wear white formal ball gowns and pearls.
Modern debutante balls or debs balls in ireland signify the end of secondary school and teenage years and transition to adulthood as most debutantes are in the age category of 17-18 years old. In Ireland Debs Balls are held during the months of July to November

See the article here: Debs Ireland – Girls Some Planning Tips for that perfect Debs Ball

Appco Ireland, in a short span of time, has become the most influential force in the direct marketing sector in Ireland, making things tick in the most perfect of manners.

Represented in different industrial sectors like Energy, PayTV, Charity and Home Security, Appco Ireland has a very impressive clientele comprising of leading names in these sectors. These companies are offered comprehensive solutions in promoting their products and services. High-profile and highly effective marketing campaigns are run by the company for this purpose in lieu of these clients. The customers are offered products- world class ones- at the most attractive of prices. Satisfying both clients and customers in the best of manners, the company manages to tick perfectly well.

In the charities sector, the company has been helping charity organisations and non-profit making organisations in spreading awareness about their activities and also helping them in fund acquisition. The donors get to make the donations directly to the charities through the company’s DDDP (The Direct Debit Donor Programme), directly into the bank account owned by the charity concerned.

Appco, always concerned about the welfare of its customers, have been making all efforts to create awareness among customers about the need of keeping their homes safe. Comprehensive solutions too are offered, in the form of wired and wireless alarm systems.

The company also has a strong presence in the utilities sector. The energy needs of Ireland are met with in a very effective manner, with the company taking care of customer acquisition in a big way. In the Pay TV sector, the company has been trying to bridge the digital divide and make it all more eventful.

Appco Ireland does this all by using innovative strategies, effective marketing techniques etc and with the backing of a dedicated team of sales and marketing professionals.

Originally posted here: Appco Ireland: Making It Tick Perfectly Well

Are you Thinking of Having a summer wedding in ireland? Then there is a great choice of summer wedding flowers for you. In fact it is the time of year when there is a natural explosion of colourful blooms available..Lots of flowers in season, this makes them cheaper to buy and better quality and bigger flowers, some flowers that are great to use are,

Stock has pretty white and pink varieties, and a strong sweet scent. It is generally available around late spring and summer. Some people think of stock as a bit old-fashioned , but they do have an appeal and beauty all of their own. Roses well what can you say about roses one fantastic ,beautiful flower that you just can not go wrong with. Delphiniums area wonderful tall blue flower available at this time and these work well in ceremony arrangements, as do gladioli. Calla lilies great flowers to set your dress off and come in delightful colours, Iries great if your going blue or purple Gerbera a very affective flower , large head and great for impact.

Wedding Flowers that are great in the summer,

The popular wedding flower favourites are all available at this time of year and make excellent summer wedding flowers. Roses are out in all colours and are a popular choice for many brides. Nowadays there is no problem in getting roses year round from florists  and irises.Lilies and calla lilies will be seen at many summer weddings in ireland. Calla lilies can make the most perfect white wedding flowers.They are beautiful on there own and can come in all different beautiful shades  They can be mixed with other flowers,and are very delicate and stunning looking.

Lilies such as ‘stargazer’ can be used in venue arrangements. Their large blooms and scent make them popular choices. Gerbera are another well-liked alternative. These perfectly round flowers are great for bridal bouquets ), as well as for adding fun and interest to reception arrangements. As you can imagine, summer weddings are our most busy time but also the time of year that I enjoy the most. I love doing Summer weddings in ireland

See the original post: Wedding Flowers for a Summer Wedding in Ireland

Best WordPress Plugins

Dublin is known to be one of the most charismatic capitals of Europe. The city has a lot of character, is cosmopolitan and multicultural owing to the large number of people who have settled down in this city from around the globe, making it truly a melting pot of cultures and traditions.

When you travel to Ireland, give yourself a few days to stay in Dublin in order to actually understand what the country is all about. Some of the best places in Dublin that you must visit are:

Trinity College and library: one of the oldest buildings in the city dating back to 1700 AD.

O’Connell Street: the main street of the city with several historical monuments and statues in the center and posh buildings all around it.

National museum of archeology and history- one of the best museums in the country.

Temple Bar: the hangout place for the bohemian chic crowd with several pubs, bars and street entertainers.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral: the largest medieval Cathedral in the country founded in 1191 AD.

Dublin Castle: a medieval castle with impressive gardens and state rooms.

Grafton Street:  Dublin’s most exclusive shopping street and a magnet for colorful street performers.

St. Stephens Green: Dublin’s best parklocated at the bottom end of Grafton Street Numerous horse and carriages pass by the park every day and some of the Best hotels in Dublin Ireland overlook this green.

Dublin is a city with that can evoke mixed emotions in you, there are traditional architectural wonders and modern hip crowds all co existing in unison, something that can take you by surprise. Options for Dublin hotels Ireland are plentiful.  Dublin has a wide range of luxury properties, elegant boutique hotels as well as budget hotels and guest houses available. Dublin accommodation can prove to be quite pricey if you book at the last moment owing to the throngs of tourists that visit here every year.

Some of the best  high end category hotels in Dublin Ireland  are:

Gresham Hotel- this landmark hotel has been in business since 1817.

Herbert Park Hotel- a modernist hotel with several amenities.

The Morgan- a contemporary designer hotel.

Clarion Hotel- an elegant, swanky and sophisticated hotel.

Morrison Hotel- one of the trendiest hotels in the city.

Apart from the above mentioned four and five star hotels in Dublin Ireland there are several other mid range and budget hotels dotted all over Dublin. There are also a few guest houses and service apartments that can be quite light on the pocket without compromising on the basic facilities and comfort that you would want in an accommodation.

When travelling on a tight budget the best thing to do is to book your hotel well in advance and travel during an off season.

See the original post: Dublin- The Jewel of Ireland

Russborough House & Demesne

This great 18th century stately mansion in Blessington, County Wicklow is beautifully maintained and lavishly furnished, containing fine furniture, tapestries, porcelain and much of the Beit collection of paintings. The house also contains delightful parkland with magnificent views of the Blessington Lakes and Wicklow Mountains,as well as a 20,00 square feet Maze for the more adventurous visitor.

Powercourt House and Gardens

Powerscourt House in county Wicklow is home to one of the world’s great gardens. It is situated in the village of Enniskerry, 20km south of Dublin in the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains. The amazing garden was begun by Richard Wingfield in the 1740′s and stretches out over 47 acres.

Dublin is the ideal base for exploring the stunning rural charms of county Wicklow and the fine stately homes of Powerscourt House and Russborough House. Thanks to the easy availability of cheap flights to Dublin, the city has emerged as the number one destination for holidays in Ireland and has the largest selection of hotels in Ireland. If looking for hotels in Dublin Ireland check out www.rediscoverireland.com  its packed full of  hotels in Ireland, adventure activities, tours, cultural events, holiday homes and holiday apartments.

Emo Court mansion and gardens

The village of Emo in county Laois is home to the stately Emo Court mansion and gardens, designed by James Gandon for the Earl of Portarlington in 1790. The house is surrounded by beautiful gardens and parkland that date from the 18th century and contains formal lawns, a lake and wonderful forest walks. County Laois is about one hour’s drive south of Dublin and is home to the Slieve bloom mountain, popular with hill walkers and nature lovers.  For those visitors who wish to stay in County Laois there are numerous holiday homes and holiday cottages dotted throughout county Laois.

Stradbally Hall

Stradbally Hall is also located in County Laois and is one of Ireland’s finest stately homes. The Cosbys’ stately home was begun in 1772 and greatly enlarged and embellished in the 1860′s in its present Italianate style.  The Irish Steam Preservation Society holds its steam rally here every year during the August Bank Holiday. Also in the grounds is the Stradbally Hall Narrow Gauge Railway.

Bantry House

Bantry House in west Cork is not only one of the finest historic houses in Ireland, but it also commands one of the best views overlooking Bantry Bay. It has been open to the public since 1946, the first to do so in the country. The house is still owned and lived in by Egerton Shelswell-White, who is a direct descendant of Richard White (1, Earl of Bantry), and his family.

The Hutchinson family built a mansion on the shore of Bantry Bay c 1740. The house was enlarged in 1765 by the White family. Many treasures can be viewed including extensive art collection and tapestries.  The West Cork regions  is a popular destination for holidays in Ireland, the region’s main towns: Bantry, Clonakilty, Skibberian and Kinsale have some of the best hotels in Cork and have an abundant supply of  and  holiday cottages, holiday homes, holiday rentals and holiday apartments to suit all budgets.

Fota House Arboretum & Gardens

Enjoy Regency period architecture and a wonderful neoclassic interior at Fota House Arboretum & Gardens near Cork City. Visitors can walk through the two floors of this extensive country house and see beautifully decorticated formal rooms, servants quarters, the restored original kitchen and game larder. The house contains one of the most important collections of Irish art and furniture in Ireland.

The world renowned arboretum and gardens, with its beautiful orangery, formal walled gardens, and 12 acres of parkland was begun in the 1850′s , and today boosts one of the finest collections of rare and tender trees and shrubs grown outdoors in Ireland.

Cork city is also a very popular destination for holidays in ireland and is an ideal centre from which to explore both Fota House and Bantry House.  Did you know  hotels in Cork are among the very best hotels in Ireland and there are numerous hotels in Cork  to suit all budgets and tastes, there are also numerous holiday cottages, holiday homes, holiday rentals and holiday apartments dotted all over the city.

Original post: Ireland's Top Stately Manor Homes

Ireland’s Top Christian religious sites

Knock

Ireland’s holiest site is located in rural village of Knock in County Mayo, in 1879, fifteen people saw an apparition of the Virgin Mary in August outside the south gable of the parish church in the centre of the village.

She was accompanied that day by St Joseph and St John the Evangelist, behind the figures, an altar bore a cross and the Lamb of God. Two official Vatican enquiries found the testimony of the witnesses to be trustworthy. Since then, pilgrims have been flocking to knock. In 1979 Pope John Paul II prayed and preached at this Shrine. The small village is home to several religious stores and a few restaurants.

Croagh Patrick

Croagh Patrick, one of Europe’s best know places of Pilgrimage, is only a few minutes drive from Westport in County Mayo and has provided a tough ascent for many pilgrims each year, climbing barefoot in the memory of St. Patrick, who spent forty days and forty nights fasting on the summit more than 1,500 years ago. A small church at the summit of the mountain welcomes penitents, while magnificent views of Clew Bay, with an island for every day of the year, provides inspiration for many walkers and visitors throughout the year. After climbing Croagh Patrick, one can relax and dine out in Westport, one of Irelands top tourist destination for hotel breaks and Ireland short breaks.

Clonmacnoise

Clonmacnoise in County Offaly is Ireland’s foremost monastic site it is an early 6th century monastic site located on edge of the River Shannon. As a city of learning it was the most eminent University in Europe and older than both Cambridge and Oxford.

The site includes the ruins of a cathedral, seven churches, two round towers, three high crosses and the largest collection of Early Christian grave slabs in Western Europe. Clonmacnoise is only 13 miles from Athlone town in County West Meath. Athlone is Ireland’s Cruising Capital and has numerous Ireland hotels to suit all pockets.

Fore Village

Fore Village is set in a valley between two hills, a miles north west, of Mullingar in County West Meath. The village is home to the ruins of an ancient Christian monastery, founded by St. Fechin in 630 A.D. The village is also home to the Fore Crosses one of which is in the village and the other 18 are spread out over 10 km of roadway and in surrounding fields.  Check out http://www.rediscoverireland.com for all your Ireland holiday needs.

Lough Derg

St. Patrick’s Purgatory on Lough Derg, County Donegal is a very unique pilgrimage site. Pilgrims have been travelling to this sacred site for centuries on a spiritual quest or journey seeking something deeper, getting closer to their authentic selves, continuing a ritualistic tradition of their ancestors.  Quiet a lot of these visitor walk around the island barefoot, saying prays on a 24 hour fast. The island is open from May to September and is close to the town of Pettigo.

County Donegal is regarded as one of nicest counties in Ireland and is a popular destination for Ireland short breaks. Lough Derg is only 12 miles from Donegal town and 25 miles from the sea side resort of Bundoran. Both towns have fine selections of Ireland hotels, holiday cottages and holiday homes. Derry City in Northern Ireland is also a good location for accommodation near Lough Derg  as it is only 35 miles away and is famous for its wonderful preserved city walls, elegant architecture and electric night life.  The city has a good selection of Northern Ireland hotels to suit all budgets.

.

The Skelligs Islands

The Skelligs are a group of three world famous rock islands located a few kilometres off the coast of the South Kerry. The most spectacular of these islands, Sceilg Mhichíl, is designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Over five hundred steps up a 1000 year-old stone stairway leads you to one of the most magnificent monastic sites in Europe. Stone beehive huts where monks lived and prayed centuries ago cling to cliff edges alongside oratories, a cemetery, stone crosses, holy wells and the Church of St. Michael. The smaller Island An Sceilg Bheag is a great seabird sanctuary and is regarded as been one of the world’s greatest gannetries. Boats to the Skelligs depart regularly from Waterville, Ballinskelligs and Portmagee. There are no accommodation facilities on the islands

Originally posted here: Ireland's Top Christian Religious Sites