Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle because of its great beauty and vast amounts of green countryside.
However, on St Patrick's Day, every one wants to be green!
But did you know that St Patrick was not actually from Ireland?
In fact he was captured and enslaved by the Irish for six years when he was just 16 years of age.
However, he used this captivity to great effect by learning the Irish language and culture. After escaping captivity in Ireland, he was again captured and held captive in France! During this time he learned about French monasticism and had a vision of Victoricus (a martyr and saint) giving him the quest of teaching Christianity in Ireland.
Symbol of Christianity
Using the knowledge about Ireland he had acquired previously, St Patrick brought Christianity and monasticism to Ireland and managed to have over 300 churches built and over 100,000 Irish people baptised!
One of many churches
The colour green and the shamrock are still significant symbols for St Patrick, and you will find both of these in abundance in the evergreen country of Ireland!
Gorgeous green shamrock
Did you know that there are numerous tours that can take you all the way around the stunning Beauty of Ireland? You can go full circle from Dublin to Killarney to Bunratty and back again.
Bridge over Liffey River in Dublin
You can visit many places on the way including Blarney Castle to kiss the famous “Stone of Eloquence.”
Blarney Castle
Drive around the Ring of Kerry or take a 20-minute ferry ride across the wide River Shannon Estuary. Even continue along the Clare coast to the Cliffs of Moher, a spectacular wall of limestone that reaches nearly 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean.
Stunnimg Cliffs of Moher
You can also travel north bound and visit the Titanic Belfast to learn about this ill-fated famous liner that traces the development, building and sinking of RMS Titanic through state-of-the-art displays - a must see!
Also see the Giant’s Causeway, huge hexagonal columns formed by volcanic activity 60 million years ago.
There is so much to see and do in Ireland that it is difficult to know where to start, but the start of the journey is only the beginning of a deep and meaninful journey that will take you to some of your wildest dreams!!