The Rose of Tralee International Festival is a very popular event during the summer in the Tralee town and it attracts many people from all over Ireland and also all over the world.

Over 100,000 people visit the International Rose Festival every year. Clare Kambamettu who comes from London won the title of The Rose of Tralee this year. Many families watch the Rose selection on the Internet which is shown worldwide and it is also shown live on Irish television.

This International Festival has lots of entertainment such as music concerts, fun fairs, fashion shows, circus, markets and street entertainment. The Festival is enjoyed by adults and children as there are so many events to be enjoyed – not just the Rose selection. Women of Irish descent travel from all over the world to compete in this International competition and contestants from the UK, America, Australia, Europe, Middle East, all over Ireland and many more countries try to win the crown of The Rose of Tralee.

Over 30 Roses competing in the Rose selection bring their family and friends with them for support, which is a great boost for the Hotel sector in Tralee. Guest Houses and also B&B’s are delighted with the festival as this is a popular time for many people to stay in the town ans surrounding area.

The Dome is constructed every year for the Rose of Tralee and is transformed into a beautiful ballroom for the Rose Ball, which is held to mark the opening of the Rose Selection and the festival. In 2010 Diversity (Britain’s Got Talent winners) performed at the Dome and 2009′s X Factor winner Alexandra Burke also held a concert there as a part of Radio Kerry’s “The Big Party”. Every year different acts play at the Dome for the festival, which is enjoyed thoroughly by everyone. Over the five-day festival, street entertainment is provided all day and night and many events are also included such as the Rose Parade.

Tralee is visited by tourists from all over Ireland and all over the world during this festival as there are so many activities to get involved in and great events to be enjoyed. There is a Rose of Tralee website where you find more information on this great, fun, exciting festival, this website is http://www.roseoftralee.ie. Many tourist offices both in Ireland and abroad have leaflets and brochures giving more details of the timetable of events for the week. Accommodation should be booked early as the best hotels and bed and breakfasts are often fully booked out well in advance of the festival.

Book a Tralee B&B at Tralee B&B or a Tralee Hotel at Tralee Hotel

Killarney has many activities and attractions which many tourist and locals come to visit all year round.

Charity walk / runs and Marathons are a popular activity in this area and these attract locals, athletes and also people wishing to raise money for worthy charities. These Marathons are held all year round, there are different runs which cater for people who just want to have a fun day out with family and friends. Different distances such as 5 km and 10 km marathons are held so that all people of various types of fitness levels can enjoy these outings.

Many people who attend these marathons come from all over Ireland and are welcomed by the hotel sector all year round. There is a wide range of accommodation which provides different packages for all budgets in Killarney town or outside of the town if you prefer a more scenic view of the beautiful surroundings.

The area is also known for its National Park which is surrounded by beautiful mountains such as the MacGillycuddy Reeks. There are many sights to see such as the famous Lakes of Killarney, waterfalls, woods and mountains where you can tour on foot on trails which are signposted around the park.

Muckross House is where you can enjoy activities such as pottery and weaving and there is also a craft shop, which is located on the grounds where you can purchase reminders of this beautiful place.

For the more adventurous types there are many enjoyable activities available such as hill walking, horse riding, kayaking, rock climbing, mountain climbing and walking around the many trails which are sign posted around the National Park. Other attractions include (1) Muckross House (2) Muckross Abbey (3) Ross Castle (4) Innisfallen (5) Old Copper Mines (6) Lady’s View and many more wonderful sights. Relaxing activities include golfing, fishing, walking and bird watching which are popular within the local community and also tourist visiting this beautiful National Park.

Wildlife is all around Killarney. Coolwood Wildlife Park which is situated on a 50 acre complex is worth visiting. There are various types of wildlife including red squirrels, monkeys, raccoons, pygmy goats, large birds of prey. Also around the National Park you will find wildlife such as Red Deer Stags, Roaring Stags, and White Tailed Eagles.

The views in Killarney are hard to beat compared to most countries. It is great for outdoor activities which is why the area has a high volumes of tourism from people all over Ireland and also all over the world. There is a tourist information centre located on Beech Road where you will be able to find out information on tours, local attractions and must see sights that you will not want to miss while visiting.

Visitors to Killarney can book Killarney Hotels or Killarney Bed and Breakfast at Stay in Kerry

In recent years Dublin has become a very popular destination for shoppers, party-goers and revellers because of its reputation as a fun location but there are numerous other interesting activities for visitors to Ireland’s Capital.

Visit The Guinness Storehouse. This was originally the location of the Guinness fermentation process and has more recently been converted into a visitor centre on five floors. The centre houses an exhibition area which illustrates the process for making a perfect pint of Guinness, a retail shop where merchandise and memorabilia can be purchased, a tasting laboratory, video centre, bars and a restaurant. A visit here can take anything from a few hours to a whole day – it’s up to you! This is now Dublin’s most popular visitor attraction.

Greyhound Racing is e very popular sport in Ireland and Dublin has two excellent stadiums, Shelbourne Park and Harolds Cross. Shelbourne Park Greyhound Stadium has an exciting atmosphere and great food and drink! Harold’s Cross offers good food and drink and betting on some great racing. One of these tracks is open most nights of the week.

If you’re a golfer you will be spoilt for choice in Dublin as there are over 50 golf courses in Dublin and its surroundings. Many of these are eighteen-hole championship courses but for the less experienced player there are numerous nine-hole courses and pitch and putt venues. Among the best golf clubs in the Dublin area are Royal Dublin, Portmarnock, Woodbrook, The K-Club and Druids Glen.

Trinity College is in the heart of Dublin City and as well as being of architectural interest, it is also the location of one of Ireland’s greatest treasures. The Book of Kells which is known throughout the world is housed there and on view to the public. This 8th century calligraphic illuminated manuscript depicting the four gospels is considered to be the finest of its kind in the world.

Gaelic Football and Hurling are Ireland’s national games and also the most popular. The year’s activity culminates in The All-Ireland Finals which are played every September in Croke Park in Dublin. Croke Park is Ireland’s premier GAA stadium and has a capacity of more than 80,000. Hurling is a bit like hockey but much faster and more robust and it is considered by many to be one of the most skillful games in the world. Tickets for the All-Ireland Finals are like gold dust and any visitor who can get one should not miss the chance.

The newly built Aviva Stadium is an ultra modern facility which was recently built on the Lansdowne Road grounds. This is now home to all of the Irish Rugby Team and Irish Soccer Team home International Matches. Other large scale events including music concerts are held there. In September Michael Buble performed to capacity crowds over two nights.

Dublin has an abundance of Museums and Art Galleries which are well worth a visit. The National Gallery houses collections of Irish and European art and admission is free. The Hugh Lane Gallery has a large collection of modern art including works by Renoir, Monet and Degas. The Irish Museum of Modern Art has an excellent collection at Kilmainham. The National Museum and the Natural History Museum have interesting collections of historical artifacts.

Visitors to Dublin can Book Hotels in Dublin or Dublin B&B at Dublin Overnight.

One of Ireland’s most advanced Conference and Entertainment Venues is located in Killarney, County Kerry. The INEC (Irish National Entertainment Centre) is equipped with the most modern and technically advanced sound, lighting and stage management systems available and is capable of hosting the most demanding of events.

Ideally located on Muckross Road Killarney, there are over 500 hotel rooms on site with many other good quality 4 star and 5 star hotels located within a 1 mile radius. There are also numerous bed and breakfasts nearby so visitors to events can be assured that suitable accommodation will be available within a reasonable distance.

The venue is located in one of Ireland’s most scenic areas just a stone’s throw from the famous Lakes of Killarney at the foot of Ireland’s highest mountain, Carrantouhill.

As well as the availability of good accommodation, Killarney has an abundance of excellent restaurants and pubs in the vicinity of the venue. Patrons can dine in Gleneagle hotel just nearby at their Flesk Restaurant or their Chesnut Tree Bar and Restaurant or have a light snack in The Argyll Bistro. The Brehon Hotel Provides excellent food in their Restaurant and bar food in The Brehon Bar.

There is a huge auditorium in the INEC which is capable of accommodating up to 4000 people on three levels and it can be configured in different ways to suit large or small audiences. The facilities backstage are second to none and include stage level truck docking.

2,500 conference delegates can easily be accommodated using the tiered retractable seating. All the necessary phone, fax, internet and email facilities are available to ensure the smooth running of a conference. Video and projection units are available as well as press room facilities and refreshment amenities.

Since opening in the year 2000 the INEC has staged some of the world’s top shows. Riverdance has been performed there repeatedly and other spectacular shows staged there include Blood Brothers, Joseph and the Amazing Tecnicolor Dreamcoat and Annie. Artists who have appeared there include Billy Connolly, Meatloaf, Stereophonics, Jose Carreras, David Gray, Morrissey and UB40.

During the remainder of 2010 there are some good acts lined up. Fame The Musical is due to be staged and Jedward (of X-Factor fame) The Waterboys, The Pogues, Colm Wilkinson, Jack L, Brendan Grace (Comedy) and Dara O’Briain (Comedy) are scheduled to appear before the end of the year. Tickets for these events are available from the INEC Box Office.

All the major Credit Cards can be used to purchase tickets. Cheques, money orders, postal orders or cash will be accepted at the box office at The Gleneagle Hotel

When visiting the INEC book your hotel at Hotels near the INEC or the Killarney Oaks Hotel

Many people will have heard of Mount Usher Gardens, a horticultural delight in the village of Ashford, County Wicklow, which was established in the middle of the 19th century by the Edward Walpole and developed by his family in subsequent years.

The Walpoles collected a vast array of shrubs, flowers and trees from around the world and planted them in Mount Usher. The natural setting surrounding the River Vartry was ideal for a Robinsonian garden layout which was not the usual style of Victorian times which preferred a more formal layout.

Because of the wide variety of plants at Mount Usher, many not native to Ireland, visitors can have a different visual experience at different times of the year. In Spring, rhododendrons and azaleas come to the fore while Summer produces lilies and eucryphias and displays of reds, golds and yellows are evident in Autumn. Even in Winter there are unusual flowering plants to be seen.

Mount Usher has an inventory of almost 4,500 species of plants. Some of these are nor grown anywhere else in Europe and the garden is unique in that it boasts varieties of plants from all continents grown in one location. Eucalyptus, Eucryphia, Magnolias, Camellias, Handkerchief trees are among the plants on display and it features the tallest Cornus capitata in Europe.

It is worth paying Mount Usher Gardens a visit regardless of what time of year you are in Wicklow. Because there is such an array of trees and shrubs you are likely to see a different view each time you visit.

Mount Usher also has some nice tearooms and a quality restaurant with an extensive lunch menu.

After you have left Mount Usher you may decide to take a stroll in the nearby Devil’s Glen. The Devil’s Glen Wood is owned by Coillte (The Irish Forest Management Company) and is fully accessible to the public with car parking, picnic facilities and a variety of forest walks and is open every day from 9am – 9pm. The Devil’s Glen consists of native Irish trees and species introduced from abroad. In recent years there has been an increase in the planting of broadleaf species and today almost 15% of the Glen is planted with broadleaves.

The Devil’s Glen is also home to Sculpture in Woodland, a collection of 13 wooden sculptures by different artists. Started in the 1990s a new sculpture is commissioned each year and added to the collection. Sculpture in Woodland has become a very popular attraction in the last few years.

Visitors to the Ashford area have a good choice of accommodation with many bed and breakfasts in the village and some good hotels nearby.

Visitors to Wicklow will find hotel accommodation at Hotels in Wicklow or bed and breakfast accommodation at Wicklow Bed and Breakfast

Killarney is known to be one of the oldest visitor locations in the world. There are records of visitors to Killarney long before Queen Victoria of England came in 1861. Her Majesty came with her husband Prince Albert and their four children.

The visit of the queen was a great boost for tourism in Kerry and thousands of visitors followed in her footsteps and have continued to come in millions ever since then. The Lakes of Killarney are well known worldwide and the mountains and forests which form the backdrop offer some of the most stunning views in the world. Some tourists come for the views alone and are always delighted with what they see.

Accommodation is never a problem because Killarney has many hotels ranging from three star to five star as well as scores of bed and breakfasts and some cheap hostels. Many of the hotels offer a fantastic view of the mountains and lakes.

Muckross House and Gardens are situated just south of Killarney in the National Park. This Victorian heritage house is owned by the state and is a major visitor attraction.

The house itself is a very good example of big Victorian house and it has been restored to its former glory, preserving its stately rooms, servants quarters, kitchens and workshops.

The extensive grounds form part of the National Park which you can see on walking, cycling or horse riding or you can can take a horse and trap (open carriage) which can be hired in Killarney. The guides called Jarvies can take you from the town through the park and back in a few hours while giving you a history of the area.

The National Park contains some of Ireland’s highest mountains including Carrantouhill (the highest). Mangerton and Purple Mountain are others and every year hill-walkers and mountaineers are attracted to the area to overcome the challenges of these steep climbs. Although Carrantouhill is the highest mountain in Ireland there are some approaches to the top which are relatively easy but there are some extremely difficult climbs which should be be attempted by only the most experienced climbers. Every year the Kerry Mountain Rescue Team is called out on numerous occasions to rescue climbers from the mountain.

Boat trips on Killarney’s Upper and Lower Lakes are popular outings in Killarney. Trips of a few hours duration are usual, either on a pleasure boat or on one of the many small open boats which are available for hire, complete with driver.

Killarney is well known for its bars which usually have a traditional Irish Music session every night. But there are also clubs and venues for more contemporary music. The INEC – Irish National Entertainment Centre – is Killarney’s biggest venue and this regularly has world-famous stars appearing in concert.

The problem with eating out in Killarney is the wide choice available. As well as the usual fast food outlets there are numerous really good restaurants which serve up high quality fare in Irish, French, Italian Thai, Chinese and other flavours.

There is something for everyone in Killarney and visitors of all ages are made feel welcome.

Visitors to Killarney can book Killarney Hotel online or Bed and Breakfast in Killarney for a quieter more personal stay.

The wild landscape is one of Clare’s main attractions and this is really seen to its finest in the world-famous Burren, a limestone area which is very popular with botanists, hill walkers and cavers.

There is plenty of good accommodation throughout the county with numerous bed and breakfasts and some very fine hotels available. The quality of accommodation has improved greatly in the past few years.

Nowadays all accommodation is of very high standard and hotels and bed and breakfasts serve good fresh local food in their full Irish Breakfast or Continental Breakfast.

One of the most famous sights in Clare is The Cliffs of Moher on the west coast. These spectacular cliffs which reach a height of 214 meters (702 feet) rise above the Atlantic Ocean and attract up to one million visitors per year. The village of Doolin is nearby and this place has become very popular with young people, students, new age travellers and people seeking a haven from the rat-race of urban life.

County Clare is one of the famous places for Irish Traditional Music and there are many festivals throughout the county which celebrate this. The most famous of these is The Willie Clancy Festival which is held annually in the town of Milltown Malbay. The music, dancing, Drinking and ‘craic’ usually goes on for a full week.

Clare has had a long history of producing top-class traditional musicians. Apart from the great Willie Clancy other famous names are ; Miko Russell (Tin Whistle), Tony McMahon (Accordion), Tommy Peoples (Fiddle) and Martin Hayes (Fiddle). The two most famous Ceili Bands also come from Clare: The Tulla Ceili Band and The Kilfenora Ceili Band.

Another famous festival is held each year in the town of Lisdoonvarna. This is mainly a matchmaking gathering and it attracts thousands of single men and women seeking a partner. The traditional matchmaker is often employed to bring together people who may not have the know-how to find a partner themselves. This is a tradition which has lasted for centuries and has survived the coming of technological age.

As Clare is mostly a rural and coastal County, fresh fish, meat and vegetables are always in abundance. All over the county there are numerous good restaurants serving dishes made from fresh local produce. In the west of the county fresh fish including lobster, bass, plaice and sole are used to make the finest seafood dishes.

Visitors to County Clare are rarely disappointed with the variety of attractions available.

Get your hotel accommodation in Clare at Hotels in Clare or your Bed and Breakfast accommodation at Bed and Breakfast in Clare

Dingle is a very popular holiday destination for visitors from all over the world. Dingle is situated in the far west of Ireland in the middle of wild mountainous coastal terrain.

Fishing was the main source of income in this area for many years but since the 1960s tourism has become the primary earner. Fishing is still important and Dingle harbour is often home to big international trawlers.

In the past 25 years, as well as scenery and Irish culture another big attraction has appeared. Fungi, a dolphin, has lived in the harbour for at least that length of time, and is seen daily feeding, playing and enjoying life in Dingle Bay. He has become famous worldwide and is now a major local tourist attraction.

He was adopted by local people as a mascot and given the name Fungi. Nobody can remember where this name came from but it may be that he was originally called ‘The Fun Guy’. He became quite friendly so that people could swim with him, touch him and play with him.

As his fame grew more and more visitors came to see him and very soon a whole industry developed with Fungi at its centre. Now there are quite a few boats which carry visitors around the harbour to meet Fungi. He rarely fails to please visitors, greeting, playing and swimming with them and generally showing off. Everybody speaks highly of their encounter with Fungi. Children are fascinated by him.

For most of the year there is a plentiful supply of fish in the harbour and Fungi can be seen every day happily feeding on the local diet but for a few months during the Winter he has to leave the harbour to get sufficient nourishment. However he always returns to the comfort of his own home.

It is estimated that a dolphin needs to eat about 30kg of food per day. Dolphins have a sort of sonar detection equipment with which they can find fish easily and despite their size they are quite speedy so that they can outrun salmon and other suitable fish. Luckily there is an abundance of fish in Dingle harbour which enables Fungi to survive in such a small area.

Fungi is the No. 1 untamed cetacean tourist attraction worldwide. The number of people who have come to see him hasn’t been recorded but by now it has certainly reached hundreds of thousands which is a world record for a single wild animal of any species. The monetary value to Dingle is unquantifiable but is probably tens of millions.

Anyone wishing to see a preview of Fungi can see numerous videos of him on Youtube.

People wishing to visit Fungi can find plenty good quality hotel and bed and breakfast accommodation in the Dingle area.

Visitors to Fungi The Dingle Dolphin can find Dingle hotel accommodation at Dingle Hotels or Dingle B&B Accommodation at Dingle B&B

The Jeanie Johnston was a three masted barque built as a cargo ship in Quebec in 1847. John Donovan, a merchant from Tralee in Ireland bought it and used it as a passenger ship between 1847 and 1855. The potato famine was raging in Ireland in those years and people were leaving in large numbers to escape starvation and disease. The Jeanie Johnston was one of many cargo ships which were used to transport passengers to North America.

The maiden voyage of the Jeanie Johnston was in April 1848 when she set sail from Blennerville near Tralee with about 200 passengers bound for Quebec. Over the next few years she carried over 2,500 emigrants to North America and has the distinction of never losing one passenger. This is in contrast to many of the ships of the time which were known as “coffin ships” because so many passengers died en route.

On board there were over 200 passengers crowded together below deck, fearful of what lay in store for them on their journey into the unknown. Many had never seen a ship or the sea previously but their fear was trumped by their desire to escape from the horrors of the famine they were leaving behind.

Accommodation on board was simple, consisting of bare bunks, where the emigrants were cramped together, with four people having to fit into a six metre space. In spite of the long trip in desperate conditions, not one passenger died on the Jeanie Johnston.

The new ship was designed by the English architect, Fred Walker.

In 1993 a project to recreate the Jeanie Johnston was started at a specially commissioned shipyard at Blennerville, near Tralee. Built from larch planks on an oak shell as close as possible to the original design, it was completed in 2000. The official naming and launch took place in May of that year.

A multinational crew of young people, coming from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland from both Protestant and Catholic traditions, the United States, Canada and other locations worldwide, built the new Jeanie Johnston under the supervision of experienced shipwrights. This revolutionary project showed how young people from various cultures could co-operate in peace.

Since her launch the Jeanie Johnson has gone on numerous voyages. She did a tour around the coast of Ireland stopping at most of the main ports and was seen by thousands of visitors.

In 2003 the replica ship left Fenit in County Kerry to start a nine week Atlantic crossing to re-enact the famine voyages. She made land in Florida on the fifeteenth of April and commencing an eight month tour of ports along the Eastern seaboard of the US and Canada followed by a return voyage to Ireland. In the years 2004 and 2005 the ship made many voyages around Ireland, Britain and Europe.

In 2005 The Dublin Port Authority bought the Jeanie Johnston and turned it into a maritime museum and berthed her in Dublin Docks where she is now open for visitor tours.

You get a really good impression of life on a famine ship on the tour. Visitors are very impressed with the tour.

Visitors to the Jeanie Johnston can book suitable Dublin Hotel or if you are in Tralee you can book Tralee Hotel

Travelers from Dublin to the cross-channel ferry at Rosslare must pass through Wicklow to reach their destination. If they have time they would be advised to stop for a few days in Wicklow because it is one of Irelands most scenic counties. Mountain, woodland,lakes and sandy beaches are among its attractions and it has become a favourite destination for the outdoor enthusiast.

There are many B&Bs available for the traveller all over County Wicklow, mostly of very high standards and moderate prices. There are very reasonable hotels to be found in the towns of Bray, Wicklow and Arklow. The quality of places to stay has improved greatly in recent years and tourists of all types will be happy with the level of comfort they will receive. A full Irish Breakfast is provided at most hotels and bed and breakfasts. Cheaper accommodation can be found at Wicklow Bed and Breakfasts and this is usually of very high standard also. Many owners will give early breakfast and packed lunch for their visitors. B&B’s are usually smaller and more personal than hotels and often suit people who require a quieter place to stay.

Visitors to Wicklow will be struck by the variety of plants, shrubs , flowers and trees throughout the county. As well as the natural flora, there are also some notable cultivated gardens containing many unusual plants.

Powerscourt in Enniskerry has a majestic house dating from the 12th century but rebuilt to its present form in the 17th century. Following a huge fire in 1996 which gutted the building, the house was restored to its former grandeur and with its formal tiered garden, fountains and lakes Powerscourt Estate is one of the most visited attractions in Wicklow.

The village of Ashford contains another gem – Mount Usher Gardens. Thousands visit this area each year to see the huge variety of unusual and exotic plants which cannot be found elsewhere in Ireland.

Wicklow has many fine sandy beaches including Brittas Bay, Silver Strand, Bray and Greystones. These are very popular resorts during the Summer months especially in years when we get sunny weather!

There is accommodation of all types available at these resorts. Bed and breakfast accommodation, mobile homes ans self catering can be found at all these and Bray and Greystones have some good hotels.

Wicklow has become a well-known destination for those interested in equestrian pursuits. There are many riding schools in the county and horse trekking is a feature in a few locations. Treks can last from a few hours to a few days with riders stopping off overnight at bed and breakfast accommodation en route. A mountainous wooded area near Ashford called The Devil’s Glen is on e of the best locations for horse trekking.

Nobody can describe Wicklow without talking about Glendalough which is the ruins of a medieval monastery situated in the valley between the Wicklow hills. The name Glendalough means ‘The Valley of the Two Lakes’ and is aptly named because because of the two beautiful freshwater lakes there. Glendalough is one of the most visited sites in Ireland and is just one of the treasures of County Wicklow.

There is no shortage of good quality accommodation of all types including hotels, bed and breakfasts, hostels and self catering accommodation available for the visitor to Wicklow.

Visitors to Wicklow can stay at Wicklow Hotels or Wicklow B&B