Limerick is a major city in the Republic of Ireland, set in Munster province in the south of the country. Its compact old town is known for the medieval-era St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. John’s square, which is lined with Georgian townhouses. Standing along the River Shannon, the 13th-century King John’s Castle is one of the city’s most recognizable sites.

The site on which Bunratty Castle stands was in origin a Viking trading camp in 970. It is the most complete and authentic medieval castle in Ireland construction completed in 1425AD. The present structure is the last of four castles to be built on the site. The Folk Park features 30 buildings in a “living” village and rural setting. From a fine Georgian House built 1804 to rural farmhouses, village shops and streets recreated in appearance from a time they would have appeared according to the social standing.

One of Ireland's most popular destinations is the Iveragh Peninsula — known to shamrock lovers everywhere as the "Ring of Kerry". The Ring, lassoed by a winding coastal road through a mountainous, lake-splattered region, is undeniably scenic. Visitors since Victorian times have been drawn to this evocative chunk of the Emerald Isle, where mysterious ancient ring forts stand sentinel on mossy hillsides.

The Dingle Peninsula stretches 30 miles (48 kilometres) into the Atlantic Ocean on the south-west coast on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. The peninsula is dominated by the range of mountains that form its spine, running from the Slieve Mish range to the Conor Pass and Mount Brandon, Ireland’s second highest peak. From crashing waves to cosy cottages, and medieval monasteries to music festivals, the Dingle Peninsula on the southwest coast is the perfect place to immerse yourself in rural Ireland life.

The Aran Islands are 3 rocky isles guarding the mouth of Galway Bay, in western Ireland. They’re known for their ancient sites. The largest island, Inishmore, is home to the prehistoric fort of Dún Aonghasa, perched on top of a high cliff. Nearby is the Worm Hole, a rectangular natural pool. The medieval ruins of the Seven Churches are in the northwest. Clochán na Carraige is a stone structure with a beehive roof.

Nestled away in the County Cork countryside, just outside the city, is the majestic Blarney Castle. One of the most famous castles on the island, Blarney is a romantic partial ruin set in glorious countryside. Built on the site of a 10th century wooden structure, the castle grounds are filled with wooded hollows, strange rock formations and a glistening flowing river.

Galway, a harbour city on Ireland’s west coast, sits where the River Corrib meets the Atlantic Ocean. The city’s hub is 18th-century Eyre Square, a popular meeting spot surrounded by shops and traditional pubs that often offer live Irish folk music. Nearby, stone-clad cafes, boutiques and art galleries line the winding lanes of the Latin Quarter, which retains portions of the medieval city walls.

The vast, moon-like Burren in County Clare is one of Ireland's most compelling landscapes. Here, cool grey rock etched with crevices and cracks tumbles down to the wild blue Atlantic Ocean. The result is one of nature's most extraordinary phenomena: a huge rocky pavement dotted with rock formations, caves and fossils, as well as an incredible array of flowers, from native species to Arctic, Alpine and Mediterranean plants.