BACKGROUND 68 B Special: Book of Kells 75 Irish Literature 14 The Emerald Isle 78 B Special: A Place to Sing 16 Facts 82 Famous People 17 Natural Environment 21 Population • Politics - Economy ENJOY IRELAND 22 D Infographic; Facts & Figures 94 Accommodation 24 B Welcom to Everyday Life 95 A Bed for Every Budget 32 Language 96 B Special; Like Staying 34 B Infographic: Irish- with Friendst Gaelic Culture 36 Religion 98 Travelling with 38 B Special: Ireland's Patron Children 99 Fun and Excitement are 44 History guaranteed 45 The Long Fight for Freedom 102 Festivals, Holidays 54 B Special: Reconciliation and Events at Last! 103 Lots of Variety 106 B Special: »Treats for 60 Arts and Culture Foodies« 61 Art History 64 B 3D: Testimony to Irish 108 Food and Drink Piety 109 Traditional and Modern 110 H Special: Green Grass, 181 Athlone Yellow Butter 183 Athy 112 H Special:Guinness is Good 185 Ballina for You 188 Ballinasloe 116 D Special: Traditional 189 Ballybunion Dishes 190 Bantry 193 Beara Peninsula 120 Shopping 196 Belfast 121 Ireland to Take Home 216 Birr 122 B Special: From Farm to 218 Blarney Fork! 220 Bloody Foreland 222 Boyle 124 Sport and Outdoors224 Boyne Valley 125 A Sports Loving Island 226 B 3D: Newgrange 126 B Special: »It was this big!« - the Realm of the Dead 130 B Special: »More than 228 Bray Sports« 229 Bundoran 230 Burren 234 Cahir 235 Carlow TOURS 236 B Infographic: Megalith Cultures 138 Tours of Ireland 239 Carrick-on-Shannon 140 Travelling in Ireland 240 Carrick-on-Suir 141 Trail of the Stones 241 Cashel 144 Forests, Monks and Long Beaches 147 Culinary Treats, Cliffs and Heritage 150 Whiskey, Salmon and the Wild West 152 From Sea to Sea SIGHTS FROM A TO Z 158 Achill Island 160 Adare 162 Antrim Coast & Glens 164 Aran Islands 168 Ardara 169 Ardmore 170 Ards Peninsula 174 Arklow 175 Armagh 242 H 3D: Rock of Cashel - As 396 Kilkenny if Raised to the Heaven ... 405 Killaloe 246 Castlebar 406 Killarney 248 Causeway Coast 412 Killybegs 252 Cavan 414 Kinsale 254 Cliffs of Moher 417 Letterkenny 256 Clonakilty 419 Limerick 258 Clonmacnoise 426 Lismore 261 Clonmel 428 Longford 262 Cong 429 Lough Corrib 263 Connemara 433 Lough Neagh 264 H Special: Bittersweet 438 H Infographic: 270 Cork Ireland's Bogs 280 Derry / Londonderry 441 Loughrea 288 fl Infographic: The Troubles 442 Monaghan 291 Dingle Peninsula 444 Monasterboice 295 Donegal 446 Mourne Mountains 298 Downpatrick 449 Mullet Peninsula 301 Drogheda 450 Mullingar 304 Dublin 452 Naas 308 D Special: Poets, Pubs and 455 Navan Pints 456 New Ross 320 H Special: A Literary 458 Omagh Guidebook 460 Portlaoise 332 fl Infographic: My Goodness 463 Ring of Kerry - My Guinness 468 Roscommon 347 Dundalk 470 Roscrea 351 Dungarvan 471 Rosguill Peninsula 352 Dun Laoghaire 472 The Rosses 355 Ennis 473 Shannon 360 Enniscorthy 478 Skellig Islands 361 Enniskerry 480 Skibbereen 363 Fanad Peninsula 481 Sligo 365 Fermanagh Lakelands 488 Sperrin Mountains 370 Fermoy 490 Tara 372 Galway 492 Thurles 379 Glencolumbkille 493 Tipperary 380 Glendalough 494 Tralee 383 Gort 497 Trim 385 Grand & Royal Canals 498 Tullamore 386 Horn Head 500 Waterford 387 Inishowen Peninsula 505 Westport 390 Kells 509 f l Special: The Pirate 393 Kildare Queen 394 Kilkee 510 Wexford 514 Wicklow 534 Prices and Discounts 515 Wicklow Mountains 535 Transport 519 Youghal 537 Time 537 Travellers with Disabilities 537 Weights and Measures PRACTICAL 538 When to Go INFORMATION 539 Index 524 Arrival • Before the Journey 548 List of Maps and 526 Electricity Illustrations 527 Emergency 549 Photo Credits 527 Etiquette and Customs 550 Publisher's Information 528 Health 552 HIreland Curiosities 529 Information 531 Language 531 Literature 533 Media 533 Money 534 Post and Communications.