East & Dublin

Tench is widely distributed in the loughs, rivers and canals of the region. Pike is a speciality, with the Shannon, the River Inny, Lough Derravaragha and the Gowna Lakes offering some of the best action in Ireland.

If you fancy testing your skills against the wilds of nature, try the white water stretch at Ballymahon, County Longford.

The Royal Canal, Lough Ree and River Shannon all provide beautiful scenery along the many cruising ways in the area.

Take one, three and five day trail rides through the Slieve Bloom Mountains to explore Ireland’s hidden treasures, from Cromwell’s Camp to the Ridge of Capard.

Fairyhouse is the home of Ireland’s premier National Hunt race, the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National, which is run every year on Easter Monday.

The East Coast and Midlands boasts lots of golf clubs where you can take to the course by day and enjoy luxurious accommodation by night. Try Ballymascanlon Golf Course in County Louth; Nuremore Hotel Golf and Country Club in County Monaghan; County Cavan Golf Club; Druid’s Glen Golf Resort in County Wicklow; Portmarnock and Castleknock Golf Clubs in Dublin; and the famed K Club in County Kildare, which will play host to the 2006 Ryder Cup.

The Curragh Racecourse in Kildare has been the headquarters of horse racing in Ireland since the first race took place in 1741. It’s also one of Ireland's premier sporting venues and is home to the undisputed highlight of the Irish racing calendar, The Curragh Irish Derby. Fairyhouse in County Meath is the home of Ireland’s premier National Hunt race, the Powers Gold Label Irish Grand National, which is run every year on Easter Monday. And the Irish National Hunt Festival in Punchestown, County Kildare is a four-day spectacle that attracts the cream of National Hunt racehorses from across Europe.

Take to the road in Wicklow and Portaloise, County Laois, and see Ireland at your own pace with a truly unique and memorable holiday.

Carlingford Lough, County Louth, boasts a natural beauty that makes activities such as sailing, fishing and walking all the more breathtaking. Likewise, Dublin Bay is a breathtaking place to take out a sailboat, with marinas dotted up and down the shoreline.

There are seven sales spread throughout the year, and even if you’re not quite in the market for a thoroughbred, it’s definitely worth a look.

The biggest sports museum in Ireland houses an excellent interactive exhibition on Irish life and heritage.

Dublin’s waters may look icy, but that doesn’t put off the locals who swim at South County Dublin spots like Seapoint (with its Blue Flag), and the 40ft at Sandycove right throughout the winter – Christmas Day even sees swimmers taking the plunge by the dozen.