Explore every corner of this beautiful island (North and South) with the revised eighth edition. The full-colour introduction will inspire you on where to go and what to see, from the spectacular scenery of the west coast and the strange geometry of the Giant''s Causeway to the wild Aran Islands and lively bars of Dublin. In addition, you’ll find full-colour sections throughout ''Irish Music'', ''Under-rated Cuisine'' and ''Lively Festivals'' and now an additional insert on ''Gaelic Games''. The guide features listings for all the very best hotels and restaurants, plus information on all the top bars, shops and the best places to hear traditional Irish Music. Take a detailed look at Ireland''s history and culture with background on everything from the megalithic remains at Bru na Boinne to how to play the uilleann pipes. This updated edition includes contexts sections on history and traditional music and features a brand new literature section. The guide comes complete with maps and plans for the whole island with new maps of Wicklow mountains, Kinsale, Cashel, Dingle town, The Burren and Westport. Make sure your trip the Emerald isle is one not to forget with this ultimate guide. Make the most of your time with The Rough Guide to Ireland
Very briefly, Rough Guides remain for me the best guides - detailed, opinionated, well-written - whenever I'm about to go abroad (I leave for Ireland in mid-May) I consult this series - check it out!
Buying a superseded Rough Guide (for next to nothing) should always be done with an awareness of its limitations, particularly as regards accommodation. That said a lot of the recommended hotels, hostels and B&Bs listed in the 2003 guide I acquired seemed to have survived the tumultuous economic times of the last decade, if their internet presence in 2018 is anything to go by. So, recommended, but check for up-to-dateness.
I am using a digital guide to assist in planning our trip from my local library. What is strange is it is a 2008 guide- back when the rough guides were quite cheeky. It is still surprisingly reliable, although food and lodging are a bit spotty( but also un-necessary). The first digital Ireland travel guide I borrowed was from 2024 but AI generated and completely useless with 84 pages of general travel tips and no specifics.
This was the book I ultimately chose to accompany me on my travels. What decided it for me was this book, unlike the others I researched pre-trip, included a town I stayed in that wasn't in any of the other books. For including less touristy and more off the beaten path locales, this one gets a full five stars from me.
This Rough Guide was very good at pointing out sites to visit, in chapters grouped by region. In particular, it had handy route descriptions, such as for following the Ring of Kerry from one end to the other, and typically included good recommendations for accommodations and pubs. In particular, we found my favorite B&B of the trip - The Bastion in Athlone - using this Rough Guide.
Like any travel guide, while it hits many of the high points, it often results in your trip crossing paths with everyone else who has the same guide. In addition, you are left to discover many of the off-the-beaten-path attractions on your own, which is actually not a bad way to go either. Regardless, it's a good jumping off point for starting your explorations.
One of the three best Irish travel guides I've consulted. (The others being Fodor's Ireland 2009 and Moon Ireland.) Easy to use, it includes more maps than some. A nice blend of history and current information.