Ireland

Wow, talk about Green! I always heard how green Ireland is but the shades of green are spectacular and varied! A recent visit to Ireland to Ireland included Kilkenny, Killarney and Kinsale. Ireland is rather shaped like a plate in that it is flat in the center and mountains surround the edges. Farming in the number one industry and the green pastures offer constant proof. Approximately 10% of the population is employed in farming. There is a current population of 4.6 million people, 8 million sheep and 6 million cattle.

Ireland is made up of Northern Ireland and The Republic of Ireland in the south. My recent visit was to The Republic of Ireland. Northern Ireland is part of Great Britain and in The Republic of Ireland where I was it is a sovereign nation of The Republic of Ireland. The monetary system is the Euro. One of the reasons that it was so easy to travel around Ireland is the vast majority of Ireland speaks English as their primary language.

Folks always ask about the weather - There is a saying, "Don't come to Ireland for the weather." ed rain in all four seasons! I found several t-shirts that commented on the weather - most involv I found Ireland to be very pleasant mild and as expected to be so green there is some rain. There was also some mist rain and sunshine. Historically it is 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter and 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. The weather can change quickly turning from mist to rain followed by bright sunshine and back to rain all in a day. The weather is due to the effects of the gulf stream on the island and as with most islands the weather changes quickly. I was there in October and found it to be quite lovely and wore a sweater most evenings and some days.

When traveling from the US stay awake the day you arrive and try to go to bed at 9 PM or later local time to help your body adjust. Just plan some light sight-seeing that first day and enjoy some of the tea and scones during your breaks, a personal favorite of mine!

More to come on specific towns visited and general travel tips for Ireland.