Places to Visit in Ireland

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With incredible landscapes, castles and spectacular geological formations, Ireland is a special place to visit. They have legends and myths that date back more than 6000 years. You can tour castles and manors, visit ancient ruins or sit in a pub listening to tales as you enjoy a pint of ale. Ireland is filled with interesting places to visit. A popular attraction in Dublin, the Guinness Storehouse is situated on the site of the original Guinness brewery.  Even though the tour of the brewery is not allowed, they have a guide who can give visitors the history of the beer, how it is made and how it became the best known export of Ireland.  There are exhibits you can view and even sample a pint of Guinness. Dublin Castle has been rebuilt several times. It dates back to the 13th century and was used as a military fortress, a prison,

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Castles of Ireland

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Ireland is not only famous for its pubs and Guinness, it is also well known for its beautiful castles. There are hundreds of castles in various stages of restoration or ruin. Some have been converted and operated as hotels. Here are a few castles that you may want to visit. Trim Castle is a 12th-century Norman castle. This is the most famous  and largest  castle in Ireland. It has an area of 30,000 square meters and was built in three phases over some 30 years by Lord of Meath, Hugh de Lacy and his son Walter. The castle has a distinctive, cruciform-shaped three-story keep with 20 corners which was unique for a Norman castle. The castle is located on the south bank of the River Boyne in Trim, and was used in one of the settings for the epic film Braveheart of Mel Gibson. Originally established in 1200, Blarney Castle

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Irish Beer

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For centuries, beer has been brewed in Ireland and in the mid-1800s, there were over 200 breweries in Ireland. Next to whiskey, beer is the drink most heavily associated with Ireland. In the past, the Irish brewed mostly ale, although today the country consumes more lager than any other type of beer. Today, beer is still an important product to the Irish economy even if there are only 12 breweries left.  Three main kinds of beer are produced and consumed in Ireland today; lager, stout and Irish ales. Heineken, Ireland is noted when it comes to lager and has the largest share of the market. Harp Lager, originally brewed by Guinness, but now owned by Diageo, is one of the popular varieties in Ireland as well. Irish ales have a few microbreweries and has the smallest market share. A few of the more popular companies include Franciscan Well Brewpub, Porterhouse

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