Ireland (Lonely Planet, 9th Edition) - Fionn Davenport [615]
While Ireland is a land of opportunity for the angler, intensive agriculture and the growth of towns have brought about a general reduction in water quality in many areas, markedly so in some. Fáilte Ireland and the NITB produce several information leaflets on fishing, accommodation, events and licences required.
Licences in the Republic are available from the local tackle shop or direct from the Central Fisheries Board ( 01-884 2600; www.cfb.ie). An all-district license costs €31.74/£15, while a single district license costs €15.23/£12; both are valid for one year.
In the North, rod licences for coarse and game fishing are obtainable from the Foyle, Carlingford & Irish Lights Commission ( 7134 2100; www.loughs-agency.org) for the Foyle and Carlingford areas, and from the Fisheries Conservancy Board ( 3833 4666; www.fcbni.com) for all other regions. You also require a permit from the owner, which is usually the Department of Culture, Arts & Leisure, Inland Waterways & Inland Fisheries Branch ( 9025 8825; www.dcalni.gov.uk).
Golf
There are over 300 golf courses and links in Ireland. Despite the spread of new, American-style parkland courses over the last decade, golf in Ireland is best played on a links course, which can be found along the entirety of its coastline. Contact Fáilte Ireland, the NITB, the Golfing Union of Ireland ( 01-505 4000; www.gui.ie), or the Irish Ladies Golf Union ( 01-293 4833; www.ilgu.ie) for information on golfing holidays.
Green fees for 18 holes start from around €25 (£15) on weekdays, but top-notch places charge up to €200 (£150). Courses are tested for their level of difficulty; many are playable year round, especially links.
Hang-gliding & Paragliding
Some of the finest hang-gliding and paragliding in the country is found at Mt Leinster in Carlow, Great Sugarloaf Mountain in Wicklow, Benone and Magilligan Beaches in Derry and Achill Island in Mayo. Check the websites of the Irish Hang Gliding & Paragliding Association (www.ihpa.ie) and the Ulster Hang Gliding & Paragliding Club (www.uhpc.co.uk) for local pilots.
Horse Riding
Unsurprisingly, considering the Irish passion for horses, riding is a popular pastime. There are dozens of centres throughout Ireland, offering possibilities ranging from hiring a horse for an hour (from €25/£15) to fully packaged, residential equestrian holidays.
Recommended outfits are Canadian-based Hidden Trails (www.hiddentrails.com) and Ballycumisk Riding School ( 028-37246, 087 961 6969; Ballycumisk, Schull, Co Cork)
Walking
There are many superb walks in Ireland, including 31 ‘waymarked ways’ (designated long-distance paths of varying lengths). Individual chapters have details of recommended walks; for more inspiration see the boxed text, Click here.
There are, however, some issues that have made what should be some of the best walking in Europe a frustrating or even disappointing experience. Some trails run through miles and miles of tedious forestry tracks and bitumen roads. The ways are marked with signposts showing the standard yellow arrow and hiker – in theory at least: waymarking is often variable and in some cases totally nonexistent. Ireland has a tradition of relatively free access to open country but the growth in the number of walkers and the carelessness of a few have made some farmers less obliging. Unfortunately it’s not uncommon to find unofficial signs on gateways barring access, or physical barriers blocking ways. If you come across this problem, refer to the local tourist office.
The maintenance and development of the ways is administered in the Republic by the National Trails Office ( 01-860 8800; www.walkireland.ie) and in the North by Countryside Access & Activities Network (CAAN; 9030 3930; www.countrysiderecreation.com).
Some useful guides are Lonely Planet’s Walking in Ireland, Michael Fewer’s Irish Long-Distance Walks, or Best Irish Walks by Joss Lynam.
For mountain rescue call 999.
MAPS
EastWest Mapping ( /fax 053-937 7835; www.eastwestmapping.ie)