Customer Reviews

Bord Failte Ireland Guide, 4th Edition

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I've been to Ireland several times, including a year spent at university in Dublin, and I learned more from an evening with this book than I did from all others (and most human contacts). This book by the Irish Tourist Board is written by people who know, love and travel the country. It has just enough history to be fascinating.
From Newgrange in the east to Staigue Fort in the west, from the Rock of Cashel to the Giant's Causeway, from the oceans to the salmon streams, from the bustling streets of Dublin to the quiet country around Emly and Kilteely, this book is about IRELAND. It does talk about places to eat and drink, but it concentrates on the country, and what to see to sample its fantastically unique soul. Dublin and its environs, especially, have changed a lot in the last 20 years, and this book both talks about why it has, and how to get around this new/old place.
Some of the history in the older editions is gone from the newer one, probably for space reasons, but the book still points you in a lot of very good directions.
The newest edition (2001) includes pre-designed trips and things to do inside and outside (in case it rains...). The maps in the new edition are very good and the book is bound tightly with a cover than bends nicely and with flaps to serve as bookmarks - all features that make this book easy to take with you and easy to use.
One complaint - some of the printing is laid on top of an image that goes from light to dark but the printing remains 1 color. This makes some of the pages hard to read. But a small point in such a great book.