Ireland is an island in the North Atlantic to the west of Great Britain. Politically the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, a part of the United Kingdom. The first official language is Irish (Gaeilge), though English is also spoken everywhere. The national currency is the Euro.

The climate is mild oceanic, due to which the island boasts lush vegetation, praised in poetry. Rain is a very often occasion even in the middle of summer.

Ireland is beloved by tourists from all over the world. Here you can see such wonders as

the Cliffs of Moher - one of Ireland's largest and most popular tourist attractions. The Cliffs are 230-meter-high and tower over the Atlantic Ocean;

the historic Blarney Castle, situated in County Cork and famous for its Blarney Stone. Legend says that those who kiss it will be blessed with great eloquence;

the Burren - a national park in the west of Ireland, well-known for rocky Martian landscapes, ancient burials and interesting underground caves;

Rock of Cashel, a castle and a royal residence, erected in the fourth century. After Cromwell's invasion Cashel became a symbol of the resistance of Irish people. Here you can still see many picturesque historic buildings and the ruins of a cathedral;

the Ring of Kerry with its ancient monuments, superb romantic castles, amazing gardens and bright towns and villages;

Lough Corrib - the second largest lake in Ireland, where in May you can enjoy the Mayfly festival -- an interesting fisherman tradition;

Newgrange or the Hill of Tara in County Meath, captivating by their ancient history and unrevealed mysteries.

And of course there is a lot to see in Dublin, including Trinity College, St. Patrick's Cathedral and the Guinness Storehouse.

Airports

The Republic of Ireland has 4 international airports:

Dublin (DUB),

Shannon (SNN),

Cork (ORK)

and Ireland West, Knock (NOC).

Diving in Ireland

The North and Northwest coasts of Ireland feature a wealth of wrecks. The rugged coastlines of Cork and Kerry can boast sheer rock faces and stunning topography under water. And the west coast has very colorful walls.

The marine life in Irish waters is very rich. While diving, you can meet lobsters, crayfish, conger eels, cuckoo wrasse, pipefish and even seals, dolphins and basking shark.

Near Baltimore, County Cork, you can explore the Kowloon Bridge, the largest wreck by tonnage in the world, sunk in 1986. The depth is from 6 to 36 meters.

Another popular wreck is the U-260, German submarine, sunk in uncertain circumstances in 1942.