Tourists can mark Valentine's Day by visiting the shrine reputed to hold his relics in Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church. They were donated by Pope Gregory XVI in 1835 to bolster the church.
Trinity College Dublin hosts a religious artifact called the Book of Kells. The book contains gospel readings illustrated by monks on the isle of Iona in 800 A.D.
History buffs will be amazed at the remarkably well preserved peat-bog bodies on display in the National Museum of Ireland. Scientists believe the bodies were likely victims of human sacrifice who lived more than 2,000 years ago.
Drink connoisseurs can tour the Guinness brewery. Brave souls can access the roof and enjoy the great views of the capital. For those in search of greater warmth, the Jameson Whiskey Distillery offers tours and free samples.
You cannot travel far in Ireland without coming across a castle. Tourists can kiss the Blarney stone at Blarney castle, near Cork, in a tradition that goes back generations. A historic folk park recording Ireland's past surrounds the popular Bunratty caste. Visitors can experience 14th century life during the twice-nightly medieval banquets. The restored Kilkenny castle is one of the largest and most visited castles in Ireland. It sits beside the river Nore, and guests in February can enjoy the 45-minute tours without enduring the long wait times that can occur in the summer months.
Belfast is the capital of Northern Ireland and the seat of its parliament. Visitors can watch the government in action at the Stormont Parliament Building from the public gallery before enjoying one of the daily tours of the building.
Belfast provides a number of museums where visitors can escape the chilly February air. The Ulster Museum offers free admission and features a variety of exhibits including dinosaur fossils, Viking artifacts and an Egyptian mummy. The Ulster folk museum, established in 1958, records the history and traditions of the northern Irish people. Travelers seeking further insight into the past can glimpse the life of fishermen from a century ago at the Cockle Row Cottages in Groomsport just outside Belfast. Tourists should keep an eye on the ever-changing list of pop concerts and musical events at the Ulster and Waterfront halls.
