Fodors - Fodors Northern Ireland: With Dublin

Editors: Robert I.C. Fisher, Salwa Jabado

Editorial Contributors: Paul Clements, Andrew Collins, Alannah Hopkin, Anto Howard

Copyright 2011 by Fodor's Travel, a division of Random House, Inc.

Fodor's is a registered trademark of Random House, Inc.

All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Fodor's Travel, a division of Random House, Inc. Distributed by Random House, Inc., New York.

No maps, illustrations, or other portions of this work may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

1st Edition

ISBN 978-0-307-92830-6

Excerpted from Fodor's Ireland (ISBN 978-1-4000-0490-4)

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Northern Ireland, with Dublin cover, Brian Morrison/Tourism Ireland. Northern Ireland, with Dublin, Dublin Tourism. Experience Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Tourist Board. Whats Where, Tony Pleavin/Northern Ireland Tourist Board. Top Attractions, Joe Gough/Shutterstock. Top Experience, Brian Morrison/Northern Ireland Tourist Board. Irish Family Names, Tony Pleavin/Northern Ireland Tourist Board. Ancestor Hunting, Peter Forde, Fodors.com member.Northern Ireland, Brian Morrison/Tourism Ireland. Introducing Northern Ireland, traveling, Fodors.com member.Northern Ireland Planner, Brian Morrison/Tourism Ireland. Getting Around Northern Ireland, Tony Pleavin/Northern Ireland Tourist Board. Belfast, RobertMayne/istockphoto. The Giants Causeway Coast, Josemaria Toscano/Shutterstock. Derry, Ardfern/wikipedia.org. The Western Border Counties, Geray Sweeney/Tourism Ireland. The Eastern Border Counties,Tony Pleavin/Northern Ireland Tourist Board. Northern Ireland In Depth, yvescosentino/Flickr. Dublin, upthebanner/Shutterstock. Introducing Dublin, dahon/Flickr. Dublin Planner, Razvan Stroie/Shutterstock. Getting Around Dublin, Amanda Bullock.Exploring Dublin, Dublin Tourism. Where to Eat in Dublin, Ludo Plichon. Where to Stay in Dublin, Marriott International, Inc. Nightlife and the Arts in Dublin, ctoverdrive/Flickr. Sports and the Outdoors in Dublin, Eoghan McNally/shutterstock. Shopping in Dublin, bjaglin/Flickr. Side Trips: North County Dublin, Amanda Bullock. Dublin in Depth, Nic McPhee/wikipedia.org.Travel Smart Ireland, beamillion/Flickr. Getting Here and Around, Hochgeladen von Tormod/wikipedia.org. Essentials, Laurent Walter.

Dublin. A transformed city since the days of OCasey and Joyce, Irelands capital may have replaced its legendary tenements with modern high-rises but its essential spirit remains intact. One of Europes most popular city-break destinations, it has art, culture, Georgian architecture, and, of course, hundreds of pubs where conversation and vocal dexterity continue to flourish within an increasingly multicultural mix. Get spirited (pun intended) at the Guinness Brewery, Rock n Stroll your way through hip Temple Bar, and be illuminated by the Book of Kells at Trinity Colleges great library.

Northern Ireland. This region has positively bloomed since the peace dividend of recent times, which finally nailed the coffin lid upon the Troubles. From the beauty of Antrims coastline to the vibrant cultural renaissance of Derry and Belfast, Northern Ireland has finally emerged from the yoke of its sectarian past into a present full of promise and possibility. Cross the Giants Causeway, slide into a cozy snug in a pub on Belfasts Golden Mile, and trail after Eires wee folk in the shimmery Glens of Antrim.

The Giants Causeway

Irish mythology claims that the warrior Finn MacCool laid the Antrim causeway himself to enable easy crossing to his lover on Staffa Island off the Scottish coast, where similar basalt columns are found. Formed by volcanic eruptions more than 60 million years ago, the area is a magical mix of looming cliffs and thundering surfand an awesome reminder of natures power.

Book of Kells

If you visit only one attraction in Dublin, let it be this extraordinary creation housed in Trinity College. Often called the most beautiful book in the world, the manuscript dates to the 8th or 9th century and remains a marvel of intricacy and creativity. Fashioned by monks probably based on the Hebridean island of Iona, and worked with reed pens and iron-gall ink on a folded section of vellum, the manuscript demonstrates a sense of sublime balance and beauty in elaborate interlaces, abstractions, and carpet-pages.

Belfast, Gateway City

As the locals put it, Despite what youve probably heard, Belfast is not what you expectso get ready to love this bustling city that bristles with Victorian shop fronts and hip restaurants.