Ireland page 2-6

Counties Of Ireland            Carlow Carlow is a tiny inland county in the shape of an upsidedown triangle, south of County Kildar and south west of County Wicklow. The River Slaney flows through its eastern part, which is an extension of the granite area of County Wicklow. West of this lies the fertile limestone land of Barrow Valley, and beyond to the north west is pleasant upland country. The county has much to offer the sightseer, the sportsman and the climber. In the Province of Leinster, Carlow is one of the 12 counties in Ireland that are land-locked. The main town is Carlow, a bustling market town with an ancient history and tradition. Carlow was a Gaelic stronghold, long before it was a Viking and Norman settlement. Nowadays, many castles and monastic ruins attest to rich history of this fertile hinterland. Fiach McHugh, a 12th century chieftain sacked Carlow in an illfated uprising, but is memorialized in Christy Moore's/Planxty's song about the event, from which it could be said the current Celtic music revival got its nascence! Famous for its Hurling tradition, Carlow has also produced many wonderful folk singers and musicians. Cavan, the most southerly of the Ulster counties, Is greatly diversified in surface. Its highest point is Cuilcagh Mountain (2,188 feet) in the mountainous projection of the county which reaches northwestwards between Counties Leitrim and Fermanagh. Ireland's longest river, the Shannon has its source on the southern slopes of Cuilcagh. Most of the county is undulating land, with low round hills and myriad lakes. The River Erne, rising in Lough Gowna and flowing northwards through the centre of the county, spreads itself in a maze of small sheets of water separated by promontories and islands of every shape and size. Many of the Cavan lakes are very beautiful and offer first class coarse angling. In the Province of Ulster, though not one of the Six counties that make up Northern Ireland, Cavan is home to a thriving agricultural industry, ranging from poultry to pigs to cattle. Cavan Town, with its beautiful cathedral, is home to the popular Cavan Crystal brand of hand-cut glass, and also to Killykeen Forest park, on Lough Oughter, one of the finest coarse fishing lakes in Ireland. In song, Cavan is most famous because of Percy French's song, 'Come back Paddy Reilly to Ballyjamesduff'. Cavan is dotted with numerous lakes, and small picturesque villages and is very popular with visitors. Cavan Cavan the most southerly of the Ulster counties is greatly diversified in surface Its highest point is Cuilcagh Mountain (2,188 feet) in the mountainous projection of the county which reaches northwestwards between Counties Leitrim and Fermanagh. Ireland's longest river, the Shannon has its source on the southern slopes of Cuilcagh. Most of the county is undulating land, with low round hills and myriad lakes. The River Erne, rising in Lough Gowna and flowing northwards through the centre of the county, spreads itself in a maze of small sheets of water separated promontories and islands of every shape and size. Many of the Cavan lakes are very beautiful and offer first class coarse angling. In the Province of Ulster, though not one of the Six counties that make up Northern Ireland, Cavan is home to a thriving agricultural industry, ranging from poultry to pigs to cattle. Cavan Town, with its beautiful cathedral, is hom to the popular Cavan Crystal brand of hand-cut glass, and also to Killykeen Forest park, on Lough Oughter, one of the finest coarse fishing lakes in Ireland. In song, Cavan is most famous because of Perry French's song, 'Come back Paddy Reilly to Ballyjamesduff'. Cavan is dotted with numerous lakes, and small picturesque villages and is very popular with visitors. Clare The River Shannon and Lough Derg form the eastern boundary of County Clare. On the west is then The wonderfully varied Atlantic coast, with mighty cliffs, caverns and sandy bays. To the north this rugged coast rises nearly 700 feet above the sea in the sheer Cliffs of Moher.On the south is the broad Shannon estuary, where Ireland's greatest river meets the sea The magnificent Poulnabrone Dolmen in the Burren in County Clare is both impressive and awe inspiring. Dating back to 2000 - 2500 BC, this magnificent megalithic tomb sits in the middle of the limestone plateau known as The Burren, a unique geologicalCork city, the second City of the Republic of Ireland, has a population of 140,000 people, Like Venice, Cork City is built upon the waters, and the City Centre is built on an island in the River Lee just upstream of Cork Harbour. The two channels of the River Lee which embraces the City center are spanned by no less than sixteen bridges and this gives the City a distinctive Continental air. However it is often said of Cork City that it has all the amenities of a large City, but still retains its pleasant atmosphere, and extreme friendliness, Cork County Cork derives its name from the County Town that has now become Ireland's 2nd City. From the Irish word Corcaigh - meaning marsh, the city was founded by St.. Finbarr in A.D.650 on the marshy land banks of the River Lee. The narrow waterways, river and alleys give the city a continental feel with the heart of the city lying on an island between two arms of the river. Many fine buildings and churches are dotted around the city and the steep lanes that rise from the north and south of the central island offer great views of the city. The county is the largest in Ireland with many pretty towns and villages as well as a spectacular coastline. formation which brings visitors from all over the world for the flora and fauna as well as the pre-historic landscape. County Clare has more than it is fair share of interesting geology. Derry Derry is mainly a hilly county, with scenic hills, glens and river valleys. To the south the Sperrin mountains, culminating in Sawel (2,240 feet), mass along the border with County Tyrone; in the north is the Atlantic coast, fringed with magnificent beaches of surf-washed sand. Derry City, on a commanding hill overlooking a broad tidal curve of the River Foyle, is an ancient and historic town. On the northern coast near Downhill is Benone beach, and throughout the county there are numerous tourist attractions. In the northwest of Ireland, is at once one of the counties of Ulster and of the Six counties that make up Northern Ireland. It's capital is Derry city. It was the home of the O'Donnell clan, who with the O'Neills, were known as the Earls of Ulster, and whose tales of conflict with the Crown forces would fill many books. Derry has been a seaport for thousands of years, a point of departure from Ireland, and is mentioned in this context in hundreds of songs, the most famous of which is probably the song 'Danny Boy' which is set to the music of 'The Derry Air'. Nowadays, a bustling business center for the north-west, it still has a charming feel to it, with music at every turn, no wonder then that it is the home of Dana and Phil Coulter, two of Ireland's most successful modern-day lyrical