Kilkenny against Cork playing Camogie. Photo / Getty Images
Eleanor Barker answers your travel questions.
I want to visit Ireland but I don't drink. Pub culture is obviously a huge part of daily life there, how do I not miss out completely on locals?
Sarin
Ireland has a lot to see and packages it very well. By way of example,
in Dublin, the National Library, National Museum and the National Gallery are right by the Oscar Wilde Statue, Proclamation Square, and Merrion Square (on Sundays, artists sell their works on the park railings). Just up from that is Trinity College with its famous library, home of Ireland's "greatest treasure", the Book of Kells. Close by is The Little Museum of Dublin, shopping on Grafton St, Stephen's Green park … All in one small area of the city. One local sums it up, "Just because it's an Irish tourist attraction doesn't mean it's bad. Except Temple Bar, which is robbery".
If you're in Belfast at the weekend, go to St George's Market. On a Sunday there's a band playing music and lots of nice stalls, a great way to spend the morning.
Another way to connect with locals is to catch a hurling (men's) or camogie (women's) game at Croke Park just north of Dublin. The sport is a great one, a thrilling Gaelic stick and ball game that predates recorded history and is recognised by Unesco as an element of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
An unmissable day trip is The Cliffs of Moher, an Unesco Global Geopark. If you're able-bodied, the walk along the trails is a must-do; the views are astonishing and the birdlife is diverse. Take the 10km Cliff Walk from Doolin, along the coastal paths and consider going late or very early for better views and fewer people.
