Things to see and do in Ireland

Set in idyllic Irish countryside, Blarney Castle is home to the famous Blarney Stone. Situated high in the battlements of the castle, the stone is thought to be half of the Stone of Scone, an ancient Scottish stone believed to have special powers. Those that kiss the stone are said to inherit the gift of eloquent speech. The castle itself began life as a 10th-century hunting lodge and was rebuilt in stone in 1210, only to be demolished and reconstructed in its original form by Dermot McCarthy, King of Munster, in 1446. Today, much of it lies in ruins.

Wonder at the breathtakingly beautiful rare books and artefacts of the Chester Beatty Library (www.cbl.ie) in Dublin, whose collection includes some of the most outstanding examples of decorated Qu'rans in the world, as well as one of the world's oldest biblical fragments.

The culinary offerings of County Cork are a definite highlight. Head to the pristine little town of Clonakilty for the best black pudding in the world, and explore the whole area to experience a myriad award-winning local cheesemakers. Take more than a taste home by enrolling in a cooking course: Darina Allen's Ballymaloe House (www.ballymaloe.ie) offers the most famous.

Located in the heart of historic Dublin, Dublin Castle was built on the orders of King John, the first Lord of Ireland, in 1210 on the site of a former Danish Viking Fortress. Much of the castle has been rebuilt several times over its history with most of the modern day structure built at points during the 18th century. Of the original structure, only the Record Tower still stands today and is now more like a palace than a castle with lavish architecture and opulent rooms. Over the years the castle has been used as a royal residence, court house and prison, and the Irish Crown Jewels were kept here until they were stolen in 1907. Nowadays, the castle is used for ceremonial procedures and to entertain visiting heads of state. It remains one of the most lavish places in Dublin.

Ireland's most famous World Heritage Site is a natural wonder spanning around 40,000 basalt columns, mostly in hexagon shapes. These awe-inspiring sights were formed by a volcanic eruption. Also considered among Ireland's top heritage sites is Brú na Bóinne, of the Palace of Boyne, in County Meath: an important prehistoric site with henges, tombs, and standing stones dating back to the 35th century BC.

Opened in December 2000, the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin is a whole museum dedicated to Ireland's most famous export, Guinness stout. Arthur Guinness first began brewing the 'black gold' on the site in 1759, with the present-day building being designed by the architect A H Hignett in 1904. Used for fermenting and storing Guinness until the 1980s, the Storehouse is a listed building with exhibitions spanning over six floors. Entry to the Guinness Storehouse is through a pint glass-shaped atrium capable of holding 10,000 pints of stout, and there is a free pint of the magic brew for every visitor in the spectacular Gravity Bar, which offers spectacular views across the city.

Find flocks of art-lovers in the medieval city of Kilkenny, enjoying theatres, galleries, and scores of charming buildings steeped in history. The city's lively pubs and nightlife are best enjoyed during one of the yearly festivals, which include the superb Cat Laughs (www.thecatlaughs.com) comedy festival and the Kilkenny Arts Festival (www.kilkennyarts.ie).

Get to grips with the hard edge of Irish history with a visit to Kilmainham Gaol (www.heritageireland.ie), Dublin, where most of the rebels against British rule were incarcerated and where the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising were executed.

Explore the magnificent Ring of Kerry, a stunning, 180km (112-mile) scenic drive around the Iveragh Peninsula, with numerous diversions along coastal roads and out to islands like Skellig Michael, one of the most rugged corners of Ireland. Beginning at Killarney, visitors can travel in either direction (although tour buses should travel anti-clockwise) on the circular route which passes through Kenamare, Sneem, Waterville, Cahersiveen, Kells, Glenbeigh and Killorglin, with specific sights of interest in each location. Highlights of the trail include the Bog Village, Derrynane House – former home of Daniel O'Connel, the 15th-century Muckross Abbey, Staigue Fort and Ross Castle. Natural attractions along the route include the picturesque Rossbeigh beach, the thundering waters of Torc Waterfall, and the spectacular Blue Pool Nature Reserve. There are also established Ring of Kerry walking and cycling routes that use, where possible, quieter roads and tracks with the cycling route taking in the additional sights of St Finian's Bay and the island of Valentia.

Visitors can drift through the college among the numerous artistic ghosts in one of the world's most famous centres of learning. Jonathan Swift, Bram Stoker, Oscar Wilde, Samuel Beckett and many other seminal thinkers and writers studied at Ireland's oldest university, which was founded in 1592. Its main attraction is the Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript dating from around AD800, which is displayed in the magnificent Old Library.