Motorcycle trip

Ireland

Ireland’s geography

This little island in the Atlantic Ocean is home to two countries: Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom, with Belfast as its capital, and the Republic of Ireland, which occupies most of the island and is where you’ll find Dublin, the lakes and hills of Connemara, the cliffs of Moher, Boyne Valley and the Dingle Peninsula. A land of rolling plains and small valleys, Ireland is also blessed with mountains, the highest being Carrauntoohil in Kerry at 1,041 m. During a motorcycle tour in Ireland, you will delve deep into the heart of wild landscapes of bogs, forests, lakes and lush meadows. The Emerald Isle gets its name from its abundant vegetation. Numerous bays, gulfs and islets mark out more than 1,800 miles of coastline. Beautiful coastal roads let you explore the whole of Ireland from the wilder, wind-beaten west coast to the east, covered in meadows and woodland. Close to Glendalough monastic site, you’ll discover the magnificent lake of the same name. Admire the Great Sugar Loaf, a mountain that is often mistaken for a volcano. As well as the natural wonders, you’ll discover historic sites and interesting cities like Dublin, Kilkenny, Galway or Cork.

Ireland's history and culture

During your motorcycle tour of Ireland, you'll get the chance to learn about this unique country’s rich history. The first inhabitants were the Celts who came from Eastern Europe in around 700 BC. They controlled the country for a thousand years and left a strong heritage: their language and culture, notably in the regions of Galway, Cork, Kerry and Waterford. Saint Patrick and other Christian missionaries arrived in the 5th century and Christianity replaced Celtic religion in the 7th century. The Vikings invaded the island in around the 9th century and founded Dublin. From the 12th century, the British reached the shores of Ireland, seized Dublin and ruled for centuries until the Irish rebelled. All Irish culture was destroyed and a strict set of laws were introduced bringing about restrictions for Catholics. In the 19th century, the country was affected by famine and many Irish emigrated. The bloody Easter Rising of 1916 gave the independence movement new impetus. In 1948, the south of the country was officially declared the Republic of Ireland. The other six, mainly protestant, counties remained part of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland was born. Northern Ireland was marked by a period of conflict during the 1960s and 1970s, known as the Troubles, and one of the most prominent events was Bloody Sunday, when the British Army shot dead many protesters at a peaceful rally. The peace process with Northern Ireland would be long and it was not until Tony Blair came into power in Great Britain that the Good Friday Agreement was signed.