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As the 'voice of the community' the murals were rarely permanent, but changed to reflect the issues of the day. The gable walls of Belfast have become an important tourist attraction, depicting the Troubles of the 1970s and 1980s. Climbing the 764m holy mountain is an act of penance for thousands of believers on the last Sunday of July (Reek Sunday)On a clear day, the tough two-hour climb rewards with stunning views over Clew Bay and its sandy islets.Д«est for understanding Ireland's recent history From here, pilgrims climbCroagh Patrick, the mountain where Ireland's patron saint fasted for 40 days and nights. Mayo has wild beauty and haunting landscapes, but you'll find few tourists here, which means there are plenty of untapped opportunities for exploration by car, foot, bicycle and even horseback.Bright and vibrant even in the depths of winter, Westport is a photogenic Georgian town with tree-lined streets, riverside walkways and a great vibe. Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox with our weekly newsletter.

CLEW BAY WESTPORT FREE

Visiting the Giant's Causeway itself is free of charge but you pay to use the car park on a combined ticket with the visitor centre parking-only tickets aren't available. The phenomenon is explained in the Giant's Causeway Visitor Experience, housed in a state-of-the-art ecofriendly building half-hidden in the hillside above the sea. This spectacular rock formation вЂ“ Northern Ireland's only Unesco World Heritage site вЂ“ is one of Ireland's most impressive and atmospheric landscape features, a vast expanse of regular, closely packed, hexagonal stone columns looking for all the world like the handiwork of giants.

Among them, in the county's southwest, is Rossnowlagh, one of EuropeвЂ™s premier surf beaches and a hotspot for big-wave surfers. IrelandвЂ™s northwestern corner is an untamed collection of soaring cliffs (the tallest in Europe), lonely, sheep-speckled headlands and, between them, secluded coves and long stretches of white, powdery sand. Depending on what direction you travel, the craggy, crenellated Donegal coastline is either the dramatic finale of the Wild Atlantic Way or its breathtaking beginning. No visit to Ireland is complete without tackling some part of the 1555-mile long Wild Atlantic Way. The tour is gripping, but maybe not suitable for younger children, as it ends in a courtyard where the leaders of the 1916 rebellion were executed. A threatening grey building, Kilmainham Gaol was builtin 1796, it's played a role in virtually every act of Ireland's painful path to independence, and even today, despite closing in 1924, it still has the power to chill. If you want to understand Irish history, especially the long-running resistance to British rule,then a visit to this former prison is an absolute must. The turf covered visitors centre, cut into the hillside, has engaging exhibitions covering the fauna, flora, geology and climate of the cliffs.Д«est for learning about IrelandвЂ™s struggle for independence Sunsets here see the sky turn a kaleidoscope of amber, amethyst, rose pink and deep garnet red. Views stretch to the Aran Islands and the hills of Connemara.

The entirely vertical cliffs rise to a height of 214m, their edge abruptly falling away into a ceaselessly churning Atlantic. One of Ireland's blockbuster sights, the Cliffs of Moher are staggeringly beautiful, and as a result a visit there is high on every visitors agenda вЂ“ so be warnedit will be busy here. HereвЂ™s our guide to the places that will make a trip to Ireland one to remember, for a long time.

You'll the Irish are genuinely warm and welcoming, and there are few more enjoyable ways of gaining a greater understanding of the island's inhabitants than a chat with a local. With breathtaking views and stunning landscapes throughout the whole country, Ireland's scenery is among the most spectacular in Europe.Yes there are many famous places to see, but if you get off the main roads some of the countryвЂ™s most stunning scenery can be found on secondary roads that wind their narrow way through standout photo ops.

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