Published: August 01, 2009 03:51 pm      

Take a tour of Belfast

High winds delayed her April Fools departure. A day later, with cheering onlookers crowded into and on top of every available space, the largest moving manmade object in the world left her birthplace in Belfast, Ireland.

On April 15, at 2:20 a.m., after having hit an iceberg at 11:40 p.m., that ripped a 300 foot hole in her hull, the Titanic plunged three miles down into the murky depths of the frigid Atlantic Ocean. She took 1517 souls to a watery grave. 711 lucky survivors were amazed that in less than three hours the unsinkable ship was gone, leaving nothing but themselves and bits of floating debris in the frigid waters.

The Titanic was launched and sunk in 1912. It seems to have been an omen for Belfast, the capital city of Northern Ireland, whose subsequent years proved to be fraught with economic disasters, political unrest and physical violence.

The past decade has seen an enormous turn for the better. Since the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, Belfast has transformed itself socially, economically and culturally. World opinion has greatly improved as well. Peace, as it turns out, is much more prosperous than war.

Belfast currently hosts over 6 million visitors yearly, spending over 285 million pounds, and providing employment for over 15,000 people. As a matter of fact, Belfast has the fastest growing economy in the the United Kingdom.

Tourism has played a major roll in the planning and development of Belfast. The City Council has developed several cultural districts. The Cathedral Quarter, the Gaeltacht Quarter, The Titanic Quarter, and the Queen’s Quarter, each have must-see components. The Queen’s Quarter is home to the Botanic Gardens, visited by over 700,000 tourists annually.

The Belfast area has been occupied since the Bronze Age. The Giant’s Ring, a 5,000 year old henge, is located near the city and is a must see. The tomb at the center of the henge dates back to 3000 BC. View this henge on Google Earth (and while you’re at it, take a look at the Giant’s Causeway as well).

Belfast City Hall, Linen Hall Library, Stormont House, Grand Opera House, St. Anne’s Cathedral and the Ulster Museum are all notable sights that should be included in your itinerary. Belfast is officially “open for business”.

Cavan is a town where everyone seems to have the surname of O’Reilly. The O’Reilly family built a castle in Cavan in the 13th century. County Cavan is located in the heart of Irelands Lakeland region. I’m willing to bet you’ll never enjoy a scenic drive more than one through this gorgeous region.

No trip to Ireland is complete without a castle stay. Kingscourt is a town on the County Cavan-County Meath border. Near the town, the Norman-style Cabra Castle was originally called the Cormey Castle and was destroyed during the Cromwellian War. Rebuilt, and recently restored, this castle is now a four star hotel renowned for it’s’ destination wedding services. I’ll spend two nights here in 2010, but there are many other castles/hotels to choose from as well.

From Cabra Castle it’s a short drive back to Dublin and your flight home. I hope you have enjoyed our counterclockwise tour of the Emerald Isle. With so many gorgeous sights, historic places, innovative and energetic experiences, and pricing that reflects the current economic reality, Ireland is the perfect trip for you in 2010 and a great “first trip to Europe for Americans.

Joy Gawf-Crutchfield owns The Joy of Travel. Contact her at www.thejoyoftravel.us.Take