Top 10 Reasons to Vacation in Ireland in 2008

Here at DiscoveringIreland, we always like to ask our Guests why they love vacations to Ireland and what it is that makes them dream of coming back, because we all know its not the weather here!.
Based on feedback and numerous Discovering Ireland Vacation Reviews over the last year, here is a list of our Guests Top 10 Summer events for 2008.

1. Irish Seniors Open, Ballyliffin Golf Club – 19 to 22 June

The Old Links Course at Ballyliffin Golf Club, in Co. Donegal will see one of the strongest fields in the 12 year history of the Irish Seniors Open for the competition’s first visit from June 20-22 2008.

2. Cork Week 2008 – July 12 to 19th

Cork Week, commonly known as Ford week (The festival was sponsored by Ford Motor Company for many years), is Ireland’s largest international sailing regatta and is held in July every two years.

Entrants come from all over the globe to enjoy one of the sailing world’s premier events. In 2006 entrants included boats from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Channel Islands, England, France, Isle of Man, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Scotland, South Africa, Sweden, United States and Wales as well, of course, as Ireland.

3. The 2008 Galway Races – July 28th to August 3rd

The The 2008 Galway Races are a tradition that date back to 1869 and involves major race events over 7 days. The highest prize kitty is in excess of 200,000 euros, which will have more than the horses chomping at the bit. One of the highlights of the seven-day Galway festival is Ladies Day, which falls on a Thursday, where there’ll be some fine fillies on show, both on and off the course.

4. The Dublin Horse Show 2008 – 06 to 10 August

The Dublin Horse Show is a Dublin institution. A celebration of Ireland’s affinity with the horse, from the best show horses to the best international show jumpers. It is one of Ireland’s largest events, a highlight of the summer, each year welcoming tens of thousands of people Ireland and all over the world.

5. The 2008 Rose of Tralee – 22 to 26 August 2008

Ireland’s premier beauty festival The Rose of Tralee attracts contestants and visitors from all over Ireland and the World to the colourful town of Tralee in Co. Kerry.

6. Irish Match Making Festival Lisdoonvarna – Aug 29 to Sept

Throughout the month of September, the spa town of Lisdoonvarna close to the Burren in Co. Clare, celebrates the world famous Lisdoonvarna Match Making festival with music and lots of fun.

The small spa town of Lisdoonvarna, with a population of around 800 people, has attracted visitors from all over Ireland to its mineral springs, since the 18th century. A long held traditional in this central town on the southern edges of the scenic Burren area, is the matchmaking festival.

7. Galway International Oyster Festival 2008 – 25 to 28 September

The 2008 Galway Oyster Festival is the premier event in the Galwegian calendar, when people from all over the world descend on Galway to sample the world famous oysters of Galway Bay and the legendary craic of the West of Ireland.

On the last weekend of September each year, the cosmopolitan town of Galway hosts the Galway International Oyster Festival, one of the biggest events in Ireland’s social calendar. A feast of live entertainment, gourmet food, fine wine and of course Oysters and Guinness are enjoyed by some 10,000 people with guests and luminaries from all over the world.

8. Kinsale Food Festival 2008 – 10 to 12 October

In October 2008, Kinsale, the gourmet food capital of Ireland, holds the Kinsale food Festivalpromising a host of culinary delights, appearances from renowned celebrity chefs and a range of entertainments for all the family.

Situated on the West Cork Coast outside Cork City, the quaint fishing port of Kinsale has long been associated with the finest seafood and gourmet cuisine and has been at the heart of Ireland’s culinary circles for decades. Each year in October, the town holds the world famous Kinsale Food Festival, celebrating the very best of what the town’s numerous local restaurateurs, who make up Kinsale’s Good Food Circle, can offer.

9. Belfast Festival at Queens 2008 – October 24 to 27

One of Ireland’s largest international arts, the Belfast Festival at Queens 2008, takes place during the last two weeks of October with a host of internationally renowned acts in theatre, dance, music, comedy, literature and art.

The festival started out as a small event on Queen’s University campus, Belfast and has grown to become the largest event of its kind in Ireland. Now in it’s 45th year, the Belfast Festival at Queens attracts the cream of international acts to the city and celebrates the dynamic artistic talents of Belfast.

10. The Guinness Jazz Festival Cork 2008 – October 24 to 27

Ireland’s biggest Jazz Event, the The Guinness Jazz Festival Cork 2008 kicks off at the end of October this year and promises to be one of the biggest ever.

The Cork Jazz Festival is celebrating in association with Guinness with around 1,000 musicians from over 30 countries playing at over 80 venues throughout the city, along with a host Fringe events, in a weekend to remember in Cork.

All that should be enough to whet the appetite!