Heart of Ireland

Midlands offers wealth of travel fun

When visitors only rim the coast of Ireland -- hitting the high points from Dublin to Cork to Shannon to Belfast -- they don't realize that they are bypassing some of the best parts of Ireland. Neglecting to cut though the heart of the island is their loss. 

History, scenery and recreation opportunities wait for the adventurous guest who wants to get off the beaten path. The province of Leinster, with its eight counties in the Midlands-East region (Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath and Wicklow), has been inhabited for more than 5,000 years. The mound at Newgrange and the Proleek Dolmen near Dundalk are reminders of the earliest days, followed by the monastic worlds of Clonmacnoise and Glendalough and the Norman keeps, massive cathedrals and manor homes.

Golfers finding excellent links at the Kildare Hotel and Country Club where the Smurfit European Open is played and the Druid's Glen Golf Club which hosts the Murphy's Irish Open. Watch the Punchstown races in Kildare, the Irish Derby at the Curragh  and the Grand National at Fairyhouse if horses are your pleasure. Shore angling is great along the Wicklow beaches and Carlingford's charter fishing fleet aims for the deep, gray-green sea.Tour the formal gardens at Powerscourt, trek along the Royal and Grand canals and drop by the heritage village of Ardagh.

The Midlands are grand, simply grand.

Yet, as with the rest of Ireland, the Midlands tourism community has co-operated with the government in its efforts to prevent an onslaught of the dreaded foot-and-mouth disease affecting neighboring Britain. As a preventive measure in early spring, sporting activities were curtailed and farm visits limited. Some rural historic sits such as Clonmacnoise were shuttered.

Just prior to the discover of the disease in Louth, Jim McGuigan, executive vice president-North America of the Irish Tourist Board, the Bord Fáilte, said, "Many of the attractions that were closed are reopening. People should not be afraid of finding things to see and do." McGuigan suggested visitors check the Bord Fáilte's website for the latest information on touring the Republic (www.irelandvacations.com).