Ireland’s Wild Ride: From Celts, Saints, and Vikings to Guinness & Independence

What’s Up with Ireland? A Real Look at History, Culture, Life, and Must-See Spots: First off, Ireland (yeah, the Republic, not just that bit glued to the UK) sits out in the northwest corner of Europe, all windswept cliffs and storybook hills. It’s famous for a reason: green as heck, full of stories, and the kind of place where you’ll get lost in a pub and come out with three new friends and a vague hangover. A Quick Stroll Through Irish History: If you like your history old—like, “older than your grandma’s grandma’s grandma”—Ireland’s got you. People were chilling here around 10,000 BC. Fast forward a bit, and the Celts roll in (around 600 BC), bringing their own language and wild customs that are still kicking around today. Saint Patrick (yes, the one with the snakes and all that jazz) showed up in the 4th century and basically set up Christian shop. Then came t...