Ireland is a beautiful country with lots of open spaces and rolling green hills. The people are generally friendly and helpful and are proud of their country. Most people think of Dublin, Cork, Kerry and Galway when they think of Ireland but there is so much more to the country than these places. It's finding the small out of the way places and meeting the people who are genuinely glad to see you that makes a visit worthwhile.
A car is a necessity if you would like to make the most of your holiday. Public transport is easy to use and fairly cheap but will not get you to most of the off-the-beaten-path sites.
Required reading for visiting Ireland:
McCarthy's Bar by Pete McCarthyFor anyone not familiar with Pete McCarthy, he is a travel writer, television presenter and former stand up comedian. This is his first travel book and it is a very good read. Pete travels from Cork to Donegal trying to figure out why he feels so Irish and whether it is down to a 'genetic memory'. He has a very funny and warm, endearing way of writing. And always remember the eighth rule of travel: never pass a pub with your name on it!
If you are looking for more information on Ireland, have a look at
Suzanne Barrett's site and the
Everything Ireland site