Culture and Romance in Ireland
Romantic Ireland
Irish mythology is full of stories of love - love lost, love found and love ferociously fought for. Perhaps you will find a way to steal off as lovers Oisín and Niamh did to Tír na nÓg, the land of eternal youth!
All over the country you can lie in hidden places known as "Dermot's Beds", secret hideaways where the eloping Dermot and Grainne of Irish myth are said to have rested - according to legend there is one for every night of the year.
Image: Gougane Barra, Cork by Mablung Telrunya
With its exhilarating cliff walks, ancient castles and monuments, wild and beautiful countryside and deserted beaches, Ireland is a land where it is impossible to avoid romance.
Lifestyle & Culture
Irish people love to party and they love to talk. Striking up conversations with strangers is the norm, they are happy to speak with and assist visitors and it is not uncommon for them to go out of their way, literally, to be helpful.
Ireland is increasingly an urbanised country and the streets of even small towns are abuzz with life at weekends, with crowded pubs and restaurants.
The pub still has an important role in Irish social life, though they are no longer the smoky places of old, a law forbidding smoking in bars, restaurants and other public places has made them much more pleasant places to visit.
Crime in Ireland is relatively low but as anywhere late night streets in cities can be dangerous.
But for most people a visit to Ireland, for a wedding or any other reason, is an chance to explore the beautiful countryside and many historic sites.
Among the most popular places to visit are the Cliffs of Moher and the Ring of Kerry in the South, the Aran Islands off the West coast, Glendalough, the Wicklow Mountains and Bru Na Boinne in the East and the famous Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland.
Some of these places are even available as venues for wedding receptions or blessings.
While Irish Gaelic is officially the first language, English is by far more widely used and Irish is only spoken as an everyday language in pockets of the country, mainly in the West.
Ireland is a sporting nation and massive crowds attend Rugby and Soccer matches as well as those of the native sports - hurling and football. Horses and horse-racing are a national obsession and attending a race meeting is a good way to meet up with people and have a good time.
There is no shortage of higher culture either. The cities all have good museums and art galleries, theatres and cinemas and festivals celebrating various aspects of Irish culture - and other's - are held in towns and villages all over Ireland throughout the year.