Be the king (or queen) of the castle in Ireland

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Royal Rests
Experience Ireland’s history and authenticity - stay in a castle!

INTERACTIVE

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Activities
One distinguishing Irish activity Matt didn't cover is the annual Matchmaker Festival. This festival is Europe’s biggest singles event located in Lisdoonvarna, and it is one of Ireland's oldest traditions. It starts on August 31 and ends on October 7. Over 40,000 singles attend from around the globe. There is dancing, night clubs, speed dating weekends, horse races, prizes and competitions. (www.matchmakerireland.com/)

The Wee House of Malin
The Wee House of Malin is actually a cave off the beach at Malin Head — legend has it that it was the home of St. Muirdealack, who also built a church in that area that is only partially standing today. It is also said by the locals that the cave was a hiding place for the priest and local Catholics to secretly have Mass during the Penal Days of England in Ireland.

Mount Usher Gardens
The Mount Usher Gardens are located in Ashford village. They are open daily from March 10 to October 31. The admission is about $9 for adults and about $8 for children. What I found particularly interesting is that despite its size, the Gardens are home to approximately 5,000 different species of plants, shrubs and trees. (www.dublingardens.com/mount_usher.html)

Jerpoint Abbey
Jerpoint Abbey is located on the road between Kilkenny and Waterford, near the village of Thomastown. Founded in the 12th century, there are ruins from the 14th and 15th century including the outlines of the cloister and some unbelievably beautiful sarcophagus. It is said that the remains of St. Nicholas, the ancient Bishop of Myra in Turkey, who was the original Santa Claus (ok, how many places claim to have the “original” Santa Claus? Let's just say this one's ... old), were moved to Jerpoint Abbey by Crusaders who reburied him here in a tomb that now is marked by a broken slab decorated with the carving of a monk.

The Megalithic Passage Tombs
The Megalithic Passage Tombs of Newgrange, Knowth, Dowth, Fourknocks, Loughcrew and Tara are located in the present day County of Meath on the east coast of Ireland. The Boyne Valley Mounds at Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth were built around 3200 BC making them older than the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. The Megalithic Passage Tomb at Newgrange is a kidney-shaped mound that covers an area of over one acre and is surrounded by 97 kerbstones, some of which are richly decorated with megalithic art. The 19-meter long inner passage leads to a cruciform chamber with a corbelled roof. It is estimated that the construction of the Passage Tomb at Newgrange would have taken a workforce of 300 at least 20 years.(www.knowth.com/)

How expensive is a tour through Ireland? It's still surprisingly affordable.
One ten-day tour is run by Authentic Ireland. (www.authenticireland.com/)

Cost:

$780 per person (low season)
$825 per person (mid season)
$930 per person (high season)

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Destinations: Dublin, Silgo, Boyne Valley, Kilkenny, Killarney, Dingle and Bunratty

On this tour, you will visit ancient dolmens and stone circles, the Cliffs of Moher, Ailwee Caves, Dysart O'Dea Castle, the Boyne Valley, which is home to one of the oldest burial grounds, the 12th century Kilkenny Castle, St. Canice's Cathedral, the Black Abbey and the Dingle Peninsula, which has one of the world’s largest collection of beehive huts.

Brendan Worldwide Vacations offers a six day trip through the country. (www.brendanvacations.com/ireland.asp?id=3)

Cost: from $650 (land only)

This escorted tour takes you to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Trinity College Library and the Book of Kells, Blarney Castle and Blarney Woollen Mills, the Ring of Kerry, where you will meet a farming family and watch them carry out their everyday chores, the Cliffs of Moher, the Rathbaun Farm and the Rock of Cashel, an impressive pre-Christian settlement.

On this tour, you can choose to spend your last night in Ireland at a historic castle. (My advice: Do it.) The Dromoland Castle is a Renaissance structure built in the 16th century, and it was once the royal seat of the O'Brien clan. It sits on a 375-acre estate and boasts woodcarvings, stone statuary, hand-carved paneling and fine antique furnishings.

Your stay at the castle includes a full Irish breakfast and transfers to Shannon Airport on day six. A single room price costs $210 (November 1 to March 31), $435 (April 1-31), $575 (May 1-September 30) or $435 (October 1-31).

Golf
You can't talk about Ireland without talking about golf.

Ballybunion Golf Club is a private members golf club founded in 1893. Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, Vijay Singh and Ernie Els have played it. And so can you. Outsiders can play either one or both of the championship courses throughout the year.

Located on the Shannon estuary, this seaside links course is virtually treeless and has sharp contours throughout. In fact, the contours on the fairways and on the greens are what make it a particularly challenging experience. You get treacherous uphill, downhill and sidehill shots, The 11th, a 446-yard, par 4, perched right on the seaside cliffs, is one of the tougher holes you can ever play. (Ballybunion, County Kerry, Ireland, www.ballybuniongolfclub.ie/index.htm, +353 68 27146)