Ireland is one of the most diverse and beautiful places in the world. With rolling hills and unique architecture, the landscape of the country is truly distinctive and memorable. The Irish people are renowned for their hospitality and traditions and you will totally enjoy immersing yourself in their culture.

Ireland has no shortage of beautiful scenery such as the Cliffs of Moher that rise nearly 600 feet from the Atlantic Ocean affording expansive views. People don't think about Ireland having pretty beaches but it does. All of the nicer ones are in the Southwest of the country. If you like beaches, try Barleycove in West Cork, it's a big beach with dunes and pretty water.

Of course the Emerald Isle is famous for the pubs that are all over the place as well and after hanging out at a few of them you will have a hard time finding any that can match them. Do your research before you go and have a list that you want to visit, it doesn't matter what part of the country you stay in there will be plenty to choose from.

The music of the country is another reason people love to visit, you will hear plenty of traditional Irish music at the pubs with many of them having live music nightly. The town of Cork hosts the Cork Jazz Festival which is always a fun time filled with food and music.

Of course the things that many people think about when thinking of Ireland are the castles, of which there are many. If you like, you can even arrange to stay at some of the castles as they have been renovated for such use. The Blarney Castle is the home of the world famous Blarney Stone and is always a favorite with tourists as is the Dublin Castle, which you will definitely want to see while you are there. One of the favorite castles to stay at is the Ashford Castle in Mayo on the west coast of the country. It has been renovated to include a resort with many dining rooms, unique activities and even a health spa. By the way, if you are into spas, try out the Samas Spa at the Park Hotel in Kenmare.

Don't be a stick in the mud while you are visiting the beautiful country, get out and enjoy the area and take advantage of activities like horseback riding or golf. The golf courses in Ireland are some of the most beautiful in the entire world. If you are a golfer you must golf while in Ireland, your friends would never let you live it down if you didn't.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about Ireland and Irish Gifts at http://www.uniqueirishgifts.com

The lush and verdant island of Ireland has long been beloved of the British and American and now it is becoming a more popular European destination for travellers from further afield as well. Part of the popularity of the location lies in the fact that its people are so hospitable and the Irish way of life so laid back and easy to get used to!

If you're looking for a striking holiday location for all the family, where you can enjoy everything from castles to beaches and outdoor activities from hiking to mountain biking and you don't mind so much about the weather - visit Ireland.

Many American and British families can trace their ancestry back to Irish roots and so this may spawn the idea of travel to the Emerald Isle, as it is popularly called. And if you too have Irish heritage and Irish roots you can spend many enjoyable hours plotting your family's path across the Irish landscape. You can visit the libraries and public record offices in main towns from Clifden to Galway, Castleport to Dublin and trace your family tree.

On the other hand, if you're simply lured by all the tales you've heard about how stunningly beautiful the west Irish coastline is or how exciting Dublin's nightlife and how high-end its shops, why not fly in to the international airport on the outskirts of the capital city and then have a multiple destination stop on your itinerary.

In Dublin you can visit the historic centre, you can take in the university and even head out to the seaside, you can then head across country and enjoy the wild and rural interior, the breathtakingly dramatic mountains and some of the barren yet beautiful landscapes that have fuelled a thousand poets and a thousand novelists.

When you reach the west Irish coast you will again be struck by the majesty of the windswept vistas, the dramatic cliff formations, the pure sandy beaches and the green, green sea.

Ireland is a truly vibrant and passionate land that you will find it hard not to love. Many who have visited in recent years have found that a thriving real estate industry has made it an attractive place to buy a second home or an investment property. But now that the Irish housing market is being impacted by affordability issues and a strong euro situation, that may no longer be the case - at least for the short term. Despite this fact, nothing can detract from the appeal of Ireland on all levels, which is why many who visit vow to return and stay for longer.

If you want to take an extended vacation in the Emerald Isle what about living and working in Ireland for a year or more? Depending on the country you come from it can be a relatively painless process to expatriate to Ireland or to get a working visa for a fixed length of time.

There are plenty of employment opportunities, and because the native tongue is certainly English despite the presence of traditional Irish now being everywhere you turn, if you herald from the US, Canada, UK, Australia or New Zealand for example, you will find it easy to adapt.

Why not take a short trip first to determine whether you enjoy the nation enough to want to live there before enquiring at your nearest Irish embassy about your eligibility for a visa.

Rhiannon Davies writes about living and working abroad, to read more about living and property in Ireland as well as visiting Ireland, check out her site ShelterOffshore.com

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