Ireland...thelandofLeprechaunsandPotsofGold,the TuathaDDanann,thefairiesandCuchulainn.Itisa landofmythandmagic,storiesandsongs,festivals, celebrations,heroesandgreatliterature.Butthe "Emerald Isle of Europe" has its secrets as well.T h e M a r i t i m e E x p l o r e r | w w w . t h e m a r i t i m e e x p l o r e r . c a 02 T h e M a r i t i m e E x p l o r e r | w w w . t h e m a r i t i m e e x p l o r e r . c a 03 SKELLIG MICHAEL LocatedinCountyKerry,Ireland,SkelligMichaelisoften regarded as one of the countrys best kept secrets. Onlyafewhundredvisitorsareallowedontheislandeach day,givingyoutheuniqueopportunitytoexploreallon your own. Thousand-year-oldstonestepsabout600ofthem- corkscrewinandoutofsite,towardsanabandoned monastery. Christianmonkslivedandsurvivedonthisislandfromthe 6thtothe12thcentury.Oneofthemostremarkablethings about this architecture is that it survived. T h e M a r i t i m e E x p l o r e r | w w w . t h e m a r i t i m e e x p l o r e r . c a 04 THE ARAN ISLANDS Located in County Galway, Ireland, there are a total of three islands. Gaelic is still spoken on the old fashioned islands, and foot, bike,orhorse&buggyremaintheprimarymeansof transportation. InisMor(orIrishmore)isthelargestandmostpopular island,offeringmanyoftheconveniencestravelershave come to expect. InisMeainandInisOirraretheothertwoandareless travelled, leaving more uncharted territory to explore. T h e M a r i t i m e E x p l o r e r | w w w . t h e m a r i t i m e e x p l o r e r . c a 05 THE MOURNE MOUNTAINS Iffantasyistoyourliking,checkoutthelushious landscapethatinspiredthesettingfortheChroniclesof Narnia among others. FansofHBO'sGameofThronesmaybeinterestedtoknow the show was shot on location here. If there was a part of Ireland where you could expect to see theweefolkorperhapsaleprachaun,thestunningforests, rivers and caves of the Mourne Mountains would be it. T h e M a r i t i m e E x p l o r e r | w w w . t h e m a r i t i m e e x p l o r e r . c a 06 HORE ABBEY LocatedinCountyTipperary,thedesertedruinsofHore Abbeyhavebeenknowntoattractsomehauntsfromtime to time. Therearenotourguides,entrancefeesorcrowds,justyou and the marvelous collection of medieval architecture. This would be the perfect place for a legend or twoto come to life. T h e M a r i t i m e E x p l o r e r | w w w . t h e m a r i t i m e e x p l o r e r . c a 07 DUNMORE EAST Located in County Waterford, Dunmore East is exactly what you would expect a quaint fishing village to be. ItisaspotfordiversinterestedinWorldWarOneera wrecks. This has been named one of Europe's "Secret Villages". T h e M a r i t i m e E x p l o r e r | w w w . t h e m a r i t i m e e x p l o r e r . c a 08 CARRICK-A-REDE ROPE BRIDGE This66-footropebridgedangles98feetovertherocks belowinCountyAntrimofNorthernIreland,andprovides spectacular views to those brave enough to cross it. Thebridgeconnectsthemainlandtotheislandof Carrickarede. Itisinfrequentlyvisitedandhasalimitof8personsata time. Manytouristsareunabletobravethebridgeandneedto leave the island by boat. SowhileIrelandisaplacefortourists,withmany thingsyoumustseeandmustdo,thereissomething to be said for venturing to the places less that are less visible.Theplaceswherethemythsandlegendscan come alive, where your imagination can take you back intime,towriteyourownstory,inalandofmyths, legends and dreams. T h e M a r i t i m e E x p l o r e r | w w w . t h e m a r i t i m e e x p l o r e r . c a 09 www. t he ma r i t i me e xpl or e r . c a