Vacation Guide

Ireland golf vacation guide :
Facts on Ireland

The Majesty of Connemara
Quite aside from offering countless superb golf courses, Ireland is without doubt one of the finest destinations for the visitor in the world. Though continuous days of sunshine cannot always be guaranteed, in terms of culture, history, friendliness, countryside and coastline, Ireland is simply without parallel.

The island of Ireland comprises the Irish Republic (26 counties) and Northern Ireland (6 counties), which is governed by the United Kingdom. In golfing and tourist terms however, the entire country is perceived as one and visitors are free to travel without restriction. Past troubles in Northern Ireland have been well documented but talks are perpetually progressing in order to resolve the remaining difficulties and peace currently exists throughout the North.

Known universally as the Emerald Isle due to its lush greenness, Ireland sits in the Atlantic Ocean, separated from the United Kingdom by approximately 50 miles and some 3,000 miles from the east coast of America. And while the island of Ireland may only be of similar size to Lake Superior, the Irish people and in particular the hoards of Irish emigrants, have profoundly influenced the cultural, political, historical, architectural and economical environs of the world today.

In terms of industry, agriculture has historically been the mainstay of the Irish economy and while the importance of agriculture is reducing relative to other sectors today, it remains a hugely important industry. Recent years have seen tourism grow in importance to the Irish economy and today is Ireland’s single largest industry. Technology too, has played an important role in the ever-increasing roar of what has become known as the Celtic Tiger, with Ireland ideally situated to act as a gateway between the US and mainland Europe.

It is said that Ireland, once visited, is never forgotten and for once the blarney rings true. And if Ireland isn’t quite the land of the little people, fairy forts and leprechauns (which some still insist it is by the way), there is still something magical about the place. Perhaps it’s the ghostly presence of castle ruins and ancient Celtic graves, perhaps it’s due to the impossibly lush countryside and magical coastline or maybe it’s the inherent gregarious nature of the people. Whatever the reason, Ireland remains a beauty to behold and a treasure to be remembered forever.