Like an emerald jewel shining in the Atlantic, Ireland is truly a wonderful and alluring island. Boasting a history that includes both world-changing battles and classic love stories, this welcoming island has hidden delights for all who venture onto its shores.
There are so many reasons to call Ireland home including some of the mildest weather in Europe, beautiful cities and small towns, friendly people and great tax rates. From one end of the beautiful island to the other there are places to explore and you can do it all by car. Be sure however when you drive, you have insurance. And when you purchase car insurance in Ireland you will become familiar with chill.ie, an Irish sounding word that means great car insurance.
The island country sits west of and shares its northeastern portion with the United Kingdom, but it is a country all its own with its own attractions and style that is world renown.
There is so much to love here that picking where to start is a monumental task, but certainly one of the favorites is the amazing castles. Here are a few we recommend.
Blarney Castle and the Blarney Stone
The iconic Blarney Castle sits on one of Ireland’s oldest castle sites dating back to the 10th century, even though current structure is not quite that old having been built around 600 years ago.
This carefully preserved castle contains courts and caves and even a dungeon, all of which will delight visitors of every age. The grounds are perfect for family picnics which usually agree with the Irish weather. And the mood around the place is simply magical.
Of course the most famous attraction at Blarney Castle, is the world famous Blarney Stone, also called the stone of eloquence. It attracts visitors from around the world each year who want to come and kiss the stone while hanging upside down. The promise in doing so is that you will never be lost for words. For over 200 years, world statesmen, literary giants, and movie stars have joined the millions of pilgrims climbing the steps to kiss the Blarney Stone and gain the gift of eloquence.
Dublin Castle
At the heart of Ireland’s capital sits Dublin, site its most famous landmark, Dublin Castle. Originally built in the early 13th century as a defensive fortification for the Norman city of Dublin, it later evolved into a royal residence, resided in by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland or Viceroy of Ireland, the representative of the Monarchy.
This massive fortified structure was selected to serve as a headquarters for the English, and later British, administrations who presided over Ireland. When Ireland received its independence in 1922, Dublin Castle was given to the Irish government and the castle was handed over to the new Irish government. After that time it was no longer used as an administrative hub, but did serve as Ireland’s judicial home for a time, and since has come to be used as a government head office and hosts a number of high level state functions. It is also one of Ireland’s top tourist attractions. The castle is open to visitors seven days a week, mornings to evening and there are guided tours to explore the castle, the gardens and the grounds.
The country has more than a dozen castles you can visit each one more beautiful than the next and some that have been transformed to five star hotels. Whether it is for the culture, the nightlife, the quiet, or the castles, Ireland is one of the more desirable places to call home.
