This ninth edition is the latest version of an excellent guide to the beautiful land and lovely people of Ireland. Situated on the edge of Europe, between Britain and the North Atlantic, Ireland offers something for practically everyone: its scenic rugged coasts and surprising beaches, its incredibly green hills and rugged valleys, and its cities, fascinating mixture of the ancient and the modern. Ireland has a Christian tradition dating back to the dawn of the common era, well marked by cathedrals, chapels, monastaries, and hermits' hut. It is one of the bastions of Celtic culture. Ireland's more modern history is both thrilling and heartbreaking, and can be found in modern Dublin and in a 19th century famine cottage.
The guide offers the standard travelers information on Ireland, along with sections on its unique culture, sports, and food and drink. Subsequent chapters explore each of its counties and major cities. A concluding section offers a sampling of Ireland's history, literature, and music. There are suggestions for room and board. The informative text is supplemented by lots of maps, graphics, and photographs. Coupled with a good motoring map, this guide may be all most tourists need to explore Ireland.
As a sample, consider County Kerry in the west of Ireland. From the principal town of Killarney, one may visit Killarney National Park, which features Ireland's highest mountain, reached through the picturesque Hag's Glen. Beyond the beautiful Killarney Lakes is the stunning Black Valley, home to an extended trek around several small lakes and farms. Beyond Killarney is the Ring of Kerry, a driving tour around a beautiful peninsula jutting into the Atlantic. At its tip are the Skellings, small islands once home to a remote colony of Christian hermits. On the adjacent Dingle Peninsula are the remains of an Iron-Age fort, only a few miles from views of the Blaskett Islands, once an isolated community whose heritage is celebrated in a unique cultural center on the mainland. Just down the road is the Gallarus Oratory, a dry-stone early Christian chapel.
"The Rough Guide to Ireland, ninth edition" is very highly recommended to those travelers planning a visit to Ireland.