Cruisers stretch their legs on the grounds of the historic Crom Castle during a trip along the Shannon-Erne waterway. Photograph by John Kernick

In the October issue, writer Patricia Twomey Ryan takes readers through a seven-day trip along Ireland’s interconnected loughs (lakes) and rivers aboard a 42-foot (13-meter) cruiser. Here, we offer the very best links on traveling to Ireland.

BASICS

Getting There
www.irelandvacations.com/there/
The best ways to travel to Ireland from the U.S., provided by the Irish Tourism Board

Determining Time Difference
www.timezoneconverter.com/cgi-bin/tzc.tzc
The current date and time in Ireland

Making Telephone Calls
www.att.com/traveler/tools/
City and country codes for various countries, including Ireland

Checking Weather Forecasts
www.weather.com/intl/countries_index/Ireland.html
Seven-day forecast, current weather conditions, satellite maps, and severe-weather alerts, as reported by the Weather Channel

ESSENTIALS

Where to Eat
www.holiday-ireland.com/NorthWest/dining.html
Restaurant, bar, and lounge listings—with links, locations, and cuisine types

www.tasteofireland.com
An extensive site with an informative restaurant guide, gourmet food market guide, and recipe listings

Where to Stay
www.northwestireland.travel.ie/pts/index.asp
Links to castles, inns, hotels, and bed-and-breakfasts, searchable by county

www.holiday-ireland.com/NorthWest/accommodation.html
Listings and links for about 20 hotels, guest houses, and bed-and-breakfasts along the waterway

THINGS TO DO

River Cruises
www.emeraldstar.ie
Extensive information about Emerald Star Ltd. cruises on the inland waterways

homepage.tinet.ie/~barrowline/
Information on Barrowline Cruisers trips along the Grand Canal and River Barrow

www.cruise-ireland.com
An information-packed site on Cruise Ireland’s river cruises

www.silverlinecruisers.com
Information from an outfitter, Silverline Cruisers, that conducts various river-cruise trips

Cultural Activities and Festivals
http://www.ireland.travel.ie/thingstodo/searchlocation.asp?
categorycode=01&subCategoryCode=009
&subjectCode=042®ionCode=1
Search engine to locate festivals by county, city, and month

www.holiday-ireland.com/NorthWest/activities1.html
Information on theaters, museums, parks, and activities, listed by county

MEDIA

Books
www.appletree.ie/books/catalogue/genbackl/waterway.htm
Ordering information for Ruth Delany’s Ireland’s Inland Waterways

www.irelandplus.com/readireland/2000/04_apr/119_01.html
Recommended books about Ireland, including The Inner Islands: A Journey Through Ireland’s Inland Waterways by Kevin Dwyer

Newspapers
www.ireland.com/newspaper/world/2000/0629/wor12.htm
Information on news, sports reporting, and editorials from the Irish Times

www.mayo-ireland.ie/News.htm
Links to Irish newspapers, magazines, and books

TRAVEL GUIDES

Map Links
imdweb.infj.ulst.ac.uk/Webdocs/akane/holiday/maps.html
A map of Shannon-Erne Waterway

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Inland Waterways Association of Ireland
www.iwai.ie
Provides information on environmental concerns and water levels in the waterways

Ireland National Tourism Service
www.goireland.com/Low/VisitorsGuide/
Includes information on history, attractions, shopping, restaurants, accommodations, and recreation