GoIreland Ireland's National Tourism Service on the Internet .Tourist Attractions Leinster is a province of varied and lovely scenery, with fascinating bogland, fish filled lakes, the river Shannon, nature reserves, sandy beaches, stately homes and castles. There are more counties here than the other three provinces-12 of the 32-plus the Republic's capital, Dublin. Dublin City Abbey Theatre (Lower Abbey Street) Founded in 1904 by WB Yeats and friends for the performance of plays by and about the Irish, Yeats, Synge, Shaw, O'Casey and others have had their plays premiered here. The Abbey incorporates the smaller Peacock Theatre. Christ Church Cathedral (Christchurch place, Dublin 8) This historic Church of Ireland (Anglican) cathedral was founded in 1038 by Sitric Silkenbeard, King of the Dublin Norseman, who built a simple wooden church here. It was later rebuilt in stone by Richard De Clare, Earl of Pembroke (Strongbow) in 1169. There is a momument to Strongbow in the south aisle. Civic Museum (58 South William Street, Dublin 2) Devoted to the history of local commerce, industry, transport and politics, exhibits include coins from the Dublin Vikings' mint, flint axes, old maps and views of Dublin. Exhibitions on Dublin life are held periodically. Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am-6pm, Sunday 11am-2pm. Closed Monday. Free Custom House (Custom House Quay) Although not open to the public, the commanding exterior of the Custom House warrants more than a passing glance from the far side of the Talbot Memorial Bridge. This 18th Century Liffey side building, designed by James Gandon, was set on fire by nationalist forces in 1921 and severly damaged. Major restoration took place in the late 1980's. Dublin Castle (Dame Street, Dublin 2) Built in the early 13th century, only one of the four Normans towers-the Record Tower-survives. Presidents of Ireland have been inaugurated in lofty St Patricks Hall since 1938, and foreign dignitaries are hosted in the elegant State Apartments. Open Monday to Friday 10am-12.15pm, 2-5pm; Saturday and Sundays 2-5pm. Times may vary because of state functions. Admission Charge. Guinness Hop Store Visitors Centre (Crane Street) Off Thomas Street, Dublin 8. A cooperage display and transport gallery relating to the Guinness Empire are housed in a four storey, 19th century Hop Store on the brewery's original 26 hectare site. The World of Guinness exhibition includes an audiovisual presentation showing the history and manufacture of Dublin's most famous product. There are no public tours of the brewery but Guinness can be sampled at the Hop Store bar. Open Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm (excluding public holidays ) Admission Charge. MUNSTER As well as Co. Tipperary, Ireland's largest inland county. Muster contains the counties of Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Clare. Its terrain is as varied as Ireland itself, from the Golden Plain of Tipperary to the rugged coastlines of Cork, the mountains of Kerry and majestic Cliffs of Moher in Clare. Here the past and present merge. The ancient ringforts and dolmens and mystic Rock of Cashel share the province with three of Ireland's largest industrial cities; Cork, Limerick nad Waterford. Cahir Castle (Cahir) Built on a rocky inland in the middle of the River Suir, Cahir Castle, one of the best preserved in Ireland has been impressively restored. Built in the 15th and 16th centuries, its oldest parts date from 1164. Furnishings are authentic reproductions of the period. Scenes for the films Excalibur and Barry Lyndon were shot here, and there are guided tours. An audio visual presentation in the lodge highlights the area's antiquities. Open April to mid June, daily 10am -6pm; June to September, daily 9am-7.30pm; November to March, daily 10am-1pm, 2-4pm. Guided tours. Admission Charge. Rock of Cashel The Rock of Cashel- the Gaelic word means 'stone fort' soars 60m above the Golden Vale. Legends has it that the Devil took a bite out of the nearby Slieve Bloom Mountains and spat it out on to the plains when he was surprised by St Patrick. Crowning the rock is a wealth of medieval architecture. The oldest building, the Round Tower, is thought to date from the 10th century, but it is certain that the site was hallowed in pre Christian times. The High Kings of Munster are said to have been crowned on the summit. Reginal's Tower (The Mall, Waterford) Built by the Vikings, in 1003 as part of Waterford's defences, the squat but massive tower has walls 3m thick and stands 25m high. In its time it has served as a royal residence, a mint, a gaol and an arsenal. It is now a civic museum. Open Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm. Admission charge. Blarney Castle (8km northwest of Cork on the R617) Built around 1446, the castle was the stronghold of the MacCarthy, Lord Blarney, whose smooth talk and empty promises exasterated Elizabeth 1 and brought a new word into the English language. To acquire this 'gift of the gab' (eloquence), visitors must first climb over 120 steps, then lie on their back, hang over an open space and kiss the legendary Blarney Stone. The central keep, all that remains of the old castle, is set in pleasantly landscaped gardens and there are good views of the surrounding Lee Valley. Open: May, Monday to Saturday 9-7pm, Sunday 9.30-5.30pm June and July, Monday to Saturday 9-8.30pm, Sunday 9.30-5.30pm August, Monday to Saturday 9-7.30pm, Sunday 9-5.30pm September, Monday to Saturday 9-6.30pm, Sunday 9.30-5.30pm Off season, Sunday 9.30-sunset. Admission charge. CONNAGHT Connacht where Irish is a living language and University College Galway is a centre of Gaelic culture has a range of beautiful scenery-from tranquil to wild and craggy. Its lakes and the shore of the River Shannon attract thousands of fishermen every year, and its extensive coastline caters for the sea angler, the yachtsman and the beach addict. Lively Galway City combines a medieval atmosphere with a musical and cultural tradition which draws in young people from Europe and beyond each summer. Thousands more pour into Knock as pilgrims, worshipping in a church built in the 1970s to accommodate 20,000. Connemara National Park (Letterfrack, western Co. Galway) This 2000 hectare area encompasses a range of habitats -heath, bogland, woodland and grassland-including four peaks of the Twelve Bens mountain range. There are stunning views and a well established here of Commemara ponies roams the park. The visitor centre provides detailed information on a variety of walks and nature trails. Open May to September, daily 10am-6.30pm. Admission charge. Thoor Ballylee (Gort) This former summer house of WB Yeats, where he wrote most of his works, has been restored to look as it did in his time. The 16th century tower house contains a display of first editions of his work and visitors can 'climb the narrow, winding stair'. There is an audio visual presentation of the poet's life, as well as a bookshop, craft shop, tea room, gardens and picnic area. Open Easter to September, daily 10am-6pm. Admission charge. Ceide Fields (8km west of Ballycastle) Ceide Fields is the site of an environmental interpretative centre, set up in 1992, at what is described as the world's most extensive Stone Age settlement, with 5000 year old tombs and dwellings which reveal that a well organised society once lived here. Also of interest are rare wild plants and rock formations. Open June to August. Tours available. Admission charge. Knock Shrine Pilgrims from around the workd flock to Knock, where apparitions of the Virgin Mary were reported in 1879. Since then it has been regarded as the Lourdes of Ireland. A 20,000 seat circular church was built at the site in 1976 to accommodate the huge pilgrimages. Its finest hour came when Pope John Paul || visited the site in 1979. The shrine is freely accessible. GALWAY CITY Prosperous, vibrant and compact, historic. Galway is ideal for touring on foot. Allow 11/2 hours. Eyre Square The square is sjurrounded by Galway's liveliest pubs and eating places. Its central area-Kennedy Park- is the setting for outdoor performances during the city's many festivals. The 6m steel sculpture, the work of Eamonn O'Donnell, symbolises the Galway 'hookers', traditional ships that once plied Galway Bay. ULSTER The ancient province of Ulster encompasses not only the six counties of Northern Ireland but also Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan in the Republic. There is much to see - the incredibly beautiful Sperrin Mountains, the Antrim Coast Road and the glorious lakeland of Fermanagh, or travel across country to Londonderry and Donegal where beauty is revealed round every corner. City Hall Just a village in the 17th century by 1888 Belfast has nearly 300,000 people, and Queen Victoria gave it city status. Work began on the ornate City Hall, built in classical style with a high dome based on that of St Paul's Cathedral in London. It opened in 1906. Open tours Wednesday 10.30am, or by arrangement. Free. Queen's University (Near the Botanic Gardens, University Road). The architectural style of the main building, designed by Sir Charles Lanyon, standing beyond a wide, grassed area, with paved cloisters and tower entrance, has echoes of Magdalen College at Oxford University in England. Other university buildings are dotted about the Stranmillis Road area. Ulster Museum (Botanic gardens, Stranmillis Road) Gold and silver jewellery from the Girona, a Spanish Armada vessel wricked off the Giant's Causway in 1588, can be seen among exhibits covering 9000 years. International art, Irish furniture, glass, and countless items of interest are on display. The museum has become an important world centre for Spanish Armada studies. Open Monday to Friday 10-5pm, Saturday 1-5pm, Sunday 2-5pm. Free Mount Stewart House and Gardens (Greyabbey, Newtownards) The magnificent gardens created by Lady Londonderry in the 1920's, support an enormous plant collection which enjoys the mild climate. Each garden has a theme-the Italian garden, the Spanish garden, the Shamrock garden, the Peace garden. The house contains antique furniture from Europe, collections of porcelain and important paintings. Open June-August, Wednesday to Monday 1-6pm May, September and October, weekends and public holidays only. Admission charge.