Culture

Tens of thousands of traditional music-loving folk gathered in the town of Cavan for the 2010 Fleadh Cheoil and less than 24 hours into my maiden festival visit, I found myself smack bang in the middle of Lough Oughter. Dating back to the early 1950s, Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann (Festival of Music in Ireland) was established to promote Irish traditional...

Autumn is the ideal time to explore the island of Ireland’s fabulous landscape and enjoy the rejuvenating power of nature. Autumn on the island of Ireland offers the perfect combination of bright, crisp days and cosy evenings. As the leaves turn to red and gold, the landscape takes on a vibrant hue that is a gift to photographers and artists...

10 more places to visit on the island of Ireland Even if you’ve been to Ireland before, there’s always something new to enjoy. Here are 10 recently opened attractions you should add to the to-do list. 1 Derry Girls Experience, Tower Museum, County DerryThe walled city of Derry has a new attraction for fans of the award-winning TV sitcom Derry Girls. An...

Ireland is going green (and not just on St Patrick’s Day)   The world goes green on St Patrick’s Day to celebrate all things Irish, but the island of Ireland is also going green in a different way. Ireland has committed to cutting greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 and to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. It’s a commitment that is...

The big day – 17 March – will soon be here, and once again people all around the world will be inspired to pay homage to St Patrick, Ireland, and Irish culture and heritage. As one of the most popular cultural events on the planet, St Patrick’s Day is celebrated by millions every year. Yet the enigmatic and larger-than-life figure...

Simple, splendid, traditional, contemporary, quirky or quintessentially Irish, there’s a perfect self-catering home from home waiting for you on the island of Ireland. Self-catering is a great way to holiday, offering maximum freedom and flexibility. And on the island of Ireland, you can make your break truly memorable with a stay in a castle, cottage, beach house, historic tower or...

Belfast 2024 celebrates the city’s creative culture Belfast is embarking on an ambitious cultural celebration in 2024 which will see the city come to life with creative projects, events and civic initiatives. Under the themes of Our People, Our Place and Our Planet, Belfast 2024 will present a year-long programme of exciting projects and events that will celebrate the city’s people,...

Explore the island of Ireland’s awesome UNESCO sites The island of Ireland’s UNESCO sites are destinations of world-class natural and cultural heritage that should top your to-do list. Despite being small, the island of Ireland looms large when it comes to the number of UNESCO designated sites and cities it harbours. From ancient geological phenomena to vibrant cities steeped in culture,...

By Karl Doyle After upwards of 200,000 punters turned up to 2019’s sold-out Open Golf Championship at Royal Portrush Golf Club, Northern Ireland is firmly front and centre in golfers’ minds once again. While millions around the globe watched avidly as the finest players on the planet battled it out for the prestigious Claret Jug – bagged in impressive fashion by...

Feast on award-winning food on the island of Ireland The island of Ireland has made a name for itself as a world-class foodie destination and there are lots of great ways to discover its culinary charms. With award-winning restaurants and gastro-pubs, fabulous food markets and tours, and artisan producers around every corner, the island of Ireland should be on every epicure’s...