GoIreland Ireland's National Tourism Service on the Internet .Ireland is renowned as a land of sport and it has much to offer the visitor either as a spectator or participant. Perhaps the most important feature of the country's sporting life is the number and variety of activities associated with the horse which has a special place in Irish Life going back to antiquity. It is said that Ireland's temperate climate which in turn provides grassland of a special quality creates the circumstances where horses can be bred, nurtured and development into top performers in international competition. Trail Riding This is the most popular form of Irish equestrian holidays. The variety is an line with the different types of terrain in which the trail rides are located but these generally tend to be located in the most scenic parts of the country. Usually the trail rides are designed for riders who wish to stay at one accommodation but daily transfers to different starting and finishing points ensure that a new route is covered each day. Riding Centres There are many centres offering horse riding holidays in range of accommodation from farmhouses to manor style country house. Some specialise in hunting, others offer tuition and cross country riding through scenic areas. Horse drawn caravans A holiday in a horse drawn caravan provides both transport and accommodation for a holiday in a slow, relaced manner which offers the best opportunity to enjoy seeing the country and meeting its people. The holiday provides clean accommodation and adequate cooking facilities. The horse has been chosen for its suitability and the visitor will be instructed on harnessing and horsecare and on selected routes and overnight stops. Fishing Ireland is noted for quality and variety of its fishing and enthusiasts have been coming here for a long time to enjoy their sport in its teeming waters. Salmon and Sea Trout Angling on rivers and lakes is possible from as early as New Year's Day but angling opens on most rivers and lakes between February and April. In the west of Ireland, the Connemara and Mayo fisheries are the most well known and for genrations have attracted the expert game angler to pit his expertise against the elusive salmon and sea trout in the area. A state or in Northern Ireland, a Fishing Conservancy Board or Foyle Fisheries Commission licence covering salmon and sea trout is required plus a permit from the Department of Agriculture or owner of the waters. Brown Trout River and Lake Angling centres are much more widely distributed through the country and it is much more a late spring and summer month activity. No state licence is required in the South but reasonably priced permits are required on club-controlled brown trout waters or those controlled, stocked and managed by the fishery boards. Many Irish rivers and lakes do not require any permit but in Northern Ireland the FCB or FCC licence and permit from the Department of Agriculture or the owner of the water or a club is required. Coarse Fishing or Angling for Pike, Bream, Rudd, Tench, Roach and Perch is available all over the country and except in Northern Ireland does not require a licence or a permit. Ireland is famous for the size and the fighting qualities of its pike and it is a favourite catch for the Continental fisherman. The dace is only present in the Blackwater but provides great sport for those fishing with light tackle. Lough Melvin on the border between Counties Fermanagh and Donegal have brown trout, the separate trout of ferox, gillaroo and sonaghan and an Ice Age predecessor of the trout called the char. Sea Fishing is the outstanding sea angling holiday centre of Europe and has successfully hosted most of Europe's top sea angling competitions. All round the coast there are well developed sea angling centres which are well developed sea angling centres which have all the facilities required by even the most dedicated competition angler or the ordinary holidaymaker who just wants to fish or to help his children to do so. In Ireland sea fishing can be divided into 3 categories A)Shore angling-which the complete beginner can enjoy from rock, beaches or piers B)Inshore angling-which is carried out from small boats within bays and inlets. C)Deep sea angling-which calls for small motor vessels and heavy tackle to cope with the bigger fish that one is likely to encounter. For all typrs of fishing there are numerous competitions held through the year at which it is possible for even the newcomer to win a good quality prize. For salmon, sea trout and brown trout fishing there are angling schools and seminars during the season at which the techniques of trout fly casting and fishing are explained. Walking There has been a great increase in the number of visitors to Ireland who wants to get away from it all to view the country from an aspect that is not possible for the more mobile tourist to obtain. To cater for this demand, many areas of the country have been opened by the provision of waymarked trails through the loveliest areas in Ireland. It is hoped eventually to create a walking route all round Ireland, to date 12 trails totalling 200km have been completed and another 9 are in the making or planned. The trails are clearly waymarked at all junctions and are provided with stiles and footbridges as necessary. They give the visitor the chance to sample every aspect of the Irish countryside; walks along canal towpaths, tracks through woods, rambles over uplands and hills which provide glorious views of the countryside. This type of holiday is most suitable for youthful visitors who will have the strength and stamina for a long trek. However many of these walks can be taken in stages and in this way can appeal to young and old alike. Some of the more scenic walks are; the Wicklow Way from Marley park, Co. Dublin, to Clonegal, Co Carlow (132km); the Kerry Way, a circuit of 200km round the Ring of Kerry; the Slieve Bloom Way, a circular walking trail of 50km; the Ulster Way in Northern Ireland which is one of Europe's greatest long distance footpaths. Cycling Cycling is another way of seeing Ireland which has been popular since the country opened up to tourists. Cyclists may travel as individuals or as couples or in small and large groups and special holidays are being sold to cater for the demand. Ireland is traffic free compared with Britain and the Continent and for this reason is attractive to cyclists who also enjoy the scenic beauties of the countryside and the friendliness of the people they meet. The road surfaces particulary in the main tourist areas, are good and there are adequate facilities for spares and repairs in even the most remote areas. Some visitors who come here on holiday by sea or air and who are taking a based holiday may wish occasionaly to do some cycling. Cycle rental facilities are fairly general and prices are reasonable.