As far as tourist appeal goes, the small island of Ireland punches far above its own weight. The country is so packed with
delights that visitors are often reduced to describing its
charms in hyperbolic clichés: it is the
greenest country, full of the
friendliest people, all of whom would be geniuses if they weren’t distracted by the lure of the
pub.
Ireland is indeed a
green country - so much rainfall must have its benefits - and the people are justifiably renowned for their
friendliness. As for the geniuses, well, the Irish
will proudly point to their four
Nobel Laureates for Literature and declare that the success rate is unmatched in any other country of its size, all the while ensuring that the sacred ’round’ system (where everyone buys a drink for everyone else in turn) is strictly adhered to.
Yet Ireland’s charms run far deeper than the
legendary craic of the pub or the accomplishments of a bunch of (mostly) dead writers. It has a remarkable history that is woven into virtually everything, from the
prehistoric stone monuments of the Boyne Valley to the monuments honoring its fallen patriots, men and women who dared challenge the imperious might of its longtime occupier and contemporary friend,
Britain.
It has a vibrant and dynamic capital,
Dublin, which has spearheaded a stunning period of economic growth that has seen the country transformed from rural backwater to the envy of
Europe. As a result, the Irish have grown in
worldliness that continues to propel them to greater heights of achievement. Even the thorniest issue of all - Northern Ireland - has seen a kind of resolution and Ireland looks to the future with untrammelled confidence.
GeographyThe Republic of Ireland lies in the north Atlantic Ocean and is separated from Britain by the Irish Sea to the east. The northeastern part of the island (Northern Ireland) is part of the United Kingdom. The country has a central plain surrounded by a rim of mountains and hills offering some of the most varied and unspoilt scenery in Europe – quiet sandy beaches, semi-tropical bays warmed by the Gulf Stream, and rugged cliffs make up the 5,600km (3,500 miles) of coastline.
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