Ireland

Ireland is known as ‘The Land of Saints and Scholars’, its monks having created elaborate records of history when the rest of Europe sank into the Dark Ages that followed the fall of the Western Roman Empire.  Ireland is a land of legends and folklore, where faeries and myth born of its pagan past sit uneasily with the Christian faith that has dominated it for the past 1500 years.  It is a land of beautiful, evocative landscapes, wild coastlines, peat bogs and mountains, whose music, literature and social history have had an enormous influence on the rest of the world.

For much of the past 400 years, Ireland’s history was marred by conflict, and after the Great Famine of the 1840’s, when a quarter of the population died or emigrated, it became known as a country that people left.  As a result of conflict, so much emigration and resultant poverty, up until approximately 20 years ago, Ireland was never a primary tourist destination, and is relatively undiscovered.  Despite this, Ireland has a great deal to offer visitors, from its natural beauty and the charm of its countryside, the friendliness of its people and its fascinating history, its haunting and lyrical traditional music to its convivial pubs and social banter.

From 2014, we will be offering four itineraries that will allow you to experience not only the history and culture of Ireland, but a wilder side of the country less known from its roads and to those travelling between its bigger cities.  Let us show you the rugged beauty of northern and western Ireland, from the north Antrim coast to Donegal and the beautiful white beaches of Sligo and Mayo; Inishbofin and the beautiful Connemara region; Galway and the Aran Islands; the majestic coast of Clare and the barren limestone topography of The Burren; the magical Dingle and Kerry Peninsulas, the rugged Blasket Islands, Killarney Lakes; the Skellig Islands and the Cork coast.

Our Irish itineraries will let you experience some of the best of Irish culture and history and some of its most beautiful and characteristic scenery.  They provide opportunities to visit the national parks at Glenveigh, in County Donegal, The Burren, in County Clare, Connemara, in County Galway and Killarney Lakes, in County Kerry, as well as a chance to visit some of the most beautiful beaches in Europe.  There will be plenty to keep birding enthusiasts occupied, and the prospects for seeing whales, basking-sharks, dolphins and seals are very good, and there will be ample opportunities for hiking and sea-kayaking and exploring in our inflatables.  We will also take time to explore some of the towns and villages along the west coast, sampling some of the fare, and, in particular, seafood, the region is now renowned for, and then, of course, there are the pubs!

Our Irish itineraries and prices will be published here in due course, but please feel free to make any enquiries at any time through either of the following links info@blueplanetexpeditions.co.uk or info@ursusinternational.org