Essential Guide for New Immigrants to Ireland:
Ireland, a place where time seems to slip away unnoticed yet feels profoundly worthwhile. With its vast, boundless sky and ocean, like an ancient, distant ballad, please follow the people who have lived here for generations in their quiet smiles and gentle singing. Thus, the footsteps of Riverdance are passionate and spirited, the songs of the band U2 are mellow and vast, and even the coffee can be stirred with the rich aroma of whiskey... Ancient legends still echo in the wind, the beautiful scenery is enchanting, and the hospitable locals seem more than happy to share the secrets of their happiness with those who arrive here.
The first impression upon stepping onto this island must be the green created by grasslands and forests. Ireland is known for its rich greenery; it is said that the entire country can be distinguished by more than forty different shades of green. Without delving into the accuracy of the data, the spring scenery seen with one's own eyes, with large swathes of green piled together, makes the title of "Emerald Isle" well-deserved. Negative oxygen ions, here I come!
The Astonishing Beauty of the Magnificent Coastline
Ireland boasts a coastline of over 1,400 kilometers, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Irish Sea to the east. Consequently, towering cliffs, spectacular seascapes, intricate caves, and clear rivers and lakes can all be found here. The seawater and sandy beaches have brought great gifts to the nearby fishing villages; not only are there leisurely seascapes where the sea and sky meet, but they also provide the freshest and most delicious seafood in the world. More importantly, there is a magnificent coastline here that one could not even imagine elsewhere in the world.
The Causeway Where Giants Are Said to Roam
Perhaps the peculiar crescent-shaped landscape of the County Antrim coast is ultimately formed by volcanic eruptions and the rapid cooling of magma, but the Irish will tell you a completely different story about the Giant's Causeway:
The giant Finn McCool built this causeway to accept the challenge of the Scottish giant Benandonner. But when Benandonner finally attacked, his size exceeded Finn McCool's expectations. Feeling timid, he was instigated by his wife to disguise himself as an infant, wearing diapers and biting a baby bottle while lying in a cradle. When Benandonner saw Finn McCool, he mistook him for Finn McCool's child. Benandonner thought that if even the child was this big, how big must his father be, so he retreated without a fight. To prevent the imagined father of the child from catching up with him, Benandonner also kicked and broke the causeway, so the remaining part of the causeway became what we see today.”
More than 40,000 hexagonal basalt columns, with diameters between 38 and 50 centimeters, are incredibly bundled together like a road without an end, extending into the sea in a stepped fashion. The scenery of the County Antrim coast has become even more beautiful because of this spectacular Giant's Causeway. The sea caves eroded by seawater still echo with the roar of waves that has lasted for millions of years. The sea continues to polish the beauty here, while the strange gorges and rocks stand like giants, watching over this sea for generations.
Listening to the Sound of the Sea on the Cliffs
The slowly rising cliffs wind for 8 kilometers, with the highest point 213 meters above sea level. The dense rock layers are like a heavy, ancient book, so steep that they are almost perpendicular to the Atlantic Ocean. On the top of the Cliffs of Moher, the highest in all of Europe, the eternal sea breeze has been blowing for thousands of years. The coast here is different from all others; the sound of the sea is mixed with the sound of the wind, calm and empty, making one sigh that perhaps only the Irish coast could nurture the ethereal, otherworldly voice of Enya.
For the Irish of the past, the Cliffs of Moher carried deep nostalgia. After the Great Famine broke out, countless Irish people boarded ships to the United States to make a living. As they drifted further and further away on the Atlantic, the Cliffs of Moher between the sea and the sky became their last impression of their homeland. Standing on the Cliffs of Moher and looking into the distance, one cannot see through the waters of the Atlantic, but one can see the helplessness of leaving one's home.
The fantastical geographical environment of the Cliffs of Moher has become a filming location for many movies, the most famous of which should be "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince". In the movie, Harry Potter and Dumbledore flew to a cave on the Cliffs of Moher to find the reason for Voldemort's immortality. Coming here, one can recall scene after scene from the movie, only wishing one could transform into that once-handsome young man and soar through the sky in style.
The Never-Ending Pub Night
As the capital of Ireland, Dublin, with its thousand-year history, is a city that is both ancient and young. Modern buildings are dotted with ancient churches and castles everywhere. The city's population tends to be young, and energetic young people can be seen everywhere on the streets. During the day, they strive for their ideals, and at night, they follow the traditional Irish pub culture, pouring out another kind of vibrant passion in the never-ending pub night.
When mentioning Ireland, the first things that come to mind are inevitably the three famous drinks: whiskey, Guinness, and Baileys. After traveling through Ireland, Haruki Murakami once wrote: "If our language were whiskey, we wouldn't have to go to such trouble. I would just silently hand you a glass, and you would take it and quietly swallow it; it would be very simple, very intimate, and very accurate." It is indeed so. In Ireland, whiskey means "water of life." From the heyday of pub culture in the 18th century to the present, the largest whiskey manufacturers like John Jameson and John Power have all been concentrated in Dublin.
There are pubs of all sizes on the streets of Dublin; according to statistics, there are about 850 of them! Stroll into one, whether you are fond of the intensity of whiskey, the mellowness of Guinness, or the sweetness of Baileys, accompanied by friendly Irish country music, it is the perfect place to chat about friendship, family, and love.
Tips: On March 29, 2004, Ireland became the first country to ban smoking in all enclosed public places (including more than 10,000 pubs throughout Ireland). In Ireland, 70% of adults do not smoke, and with a maximum fine of $3,900 as a strong backing, nearly 94% to 97% of people strictly comply with this ban. According to a study by Harvard University on 128 Irish pubs in 15 countries across North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia, since Ireland began banning smoking in pubs, the level of pollution in the air has decreased by 91% compared to those pubs that allow smoking.
The Comfortable Life in Countryside Castles
In Ireland, as long as you leave the slightly larger cities, it is basically the countryside, with emerald green grasslands, simple little stone houses, flocks of black-faced sheep, solemn churches, and majestic castles... These are the most typical Irish rural landscapes. Perhaps one needs to fully appreciate these to carefully experience the authentic rural style of Ireland.
The Pastoral Taste of the Countryside
It is more appropriate to go to the countryside to experience the real Ireland. Scattered houses, large swathes of green space, cattle, sheep, and horses everywhere, under the clear sky, a vibrant, quiet, and free European-style landscape is a series of natural pastoral songs. Between the emerald plains and highlands, dotted with sparkling lakes, where wildflowers bloom everywhere, it is a scene from a painting and a shadow from a dream.
There are many nameless beautiful sceneries in the Irish countryside, especially along the banks of the River Shannon. The River Shannon is about 344 kilometers long, the longest river in the British Isles and one of the most beautiful rivers in Europe. This natural river winds through most of Ireland and finally flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The banks are full of spectacular natural beauty. The magnificent scenery, rich wildlife resources, and numerous beautiful villages make this a paradise for nature lovers. Those who like boating and are fond of a quiet life will fall in love with this river without hesitation.
The Infatuating Castle Complex
Ireland's ancient castles are the places that can touch the depths of one's soul. These castles are not only magnificent but also closely related to certain historical events or historical figures. Among the series of towering ancient castles along the River Shannon, the most unforgettable is Bunratty Castle. It is said that the original builder of this castle was a Norman in the 13th century. After changing hands several times, it now collects many of the finest medieval furniture and decorations, and has left behind many military facilities; even a few cannons are preserved outside the castle.
The banquet held in the castle's medieval banquet hall has begun, and dishes are passed from one end of a long table to the other. Without knives and forks, everyone eats with their hands and has a great time. Traditional Irish music and pleasant local folk songs ring in the ears, making people from all over the world intoxicated and dancing, unconstrained.
Locally, even activities organized by travel agencies do not include accommodation, but they will lead tourists to places where hotels or "B&B"s are concentrated, and tourists can choose their own lodging. More popular is a small family hotel with a "B&B" sign. As long as you see this sign, it means you have found a family hotel that meets local government standards. Staying here can provide a "Bed" and "Breakfast." The prices of these small hotels are much more favorable than star-rated hotels, but you can enjoy a special experience of living with the locals. "B&B" hotels are the homes of local people, usually with two or three floors, often with a few small empty rooms for tourists to stay in. You can even have breakfast with the host family the next morning, which feels quite warm.