A FESTIVAL FOR THE VAMPIRE LOVERS

All those fans of bloodsucking vampires...your day has come, when you can dance and prowl the streets of Ireland with your favourite bloodsuckers.

Gothic ghouls, marauding vampires and dancing zombies are just some of the creatures that will prowl the streets of Dublin, Ireland during the Bram Stoker Festival in October (24–27), when the city takes a look at its darker side. Inspired by the Dublin-born horror novelist and his creation — Count Dracula — the annual festival returns this year with the aim of awakening the city’s Gothic heart. The festival offers a wide range of indoor and outdoor events — from large-scale spectacles to intimate performances in unusual places to satisfy your Gothic heart. 

WEDNESDAY READ: 10 THINGS TO DO IN IRELAND

Trees lit at night in Mount Stewart Gardens, Northern Ireland

By Kathleen M. Mangan

Festivals and events highlight the fall season in Ireland. Get out and enjoy harvest fairs, sports championships, traditional music and arts, guided weekend walks, creepy ghost tours, and much more.

1. Attend a Sports Championship

   Gaelic football and hurling are some of the top spectator sports in Ireland and Northern Ireland, culminating in the All-Ireland Senior Championship Finals played in Dublin’s Croke Park in September. Attending an All-Ireland is the experience of a lifetime, but plan ahead as all 82,300 tickets usually sell out. You can visit the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) Museum at Croke Park year-round to learn about the history, see game highlights, and test your sports skills. Get a feel for game day on a stadium tour—visit team dressing rooms, run through the players tunnel onto the field pitchside, and catch views of the field from the sidelines and VIP seats.
   For bird’s-eye views of the stadium and Dublin’s skyline, take the guided Etihad Skyline Tour on the 17-story-high rooftop, where you will be hooked by harness to a railing.

2. Tour the Tombs at Glasnevin Cemetery

   Ireland’s necropolis is Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin where 1.5 million people have been buried...READ MORE

POWERSCOURT GARDENS IN IRELANDVOTED NO.3 IN THE WORLD'S TOP 10 GARDENS

Powerscourt Gardens in Ireland, voted one of the 10 best gardens in the world

It's considered one of the best gardens in the world. And now, National Georgraphic has bestowed upon Powerscourt Gardens in Ireland the No.3 spot on the list of the World's Top 10 Gardens. This award follows several other awards the estate has recently received. These include the Top Ten Houses in the World (Powerscourt House, Lonely Planet), the Best Parkland Venue in Ireland 2014 Award (Powerscourt Golf Club, Golfer’s Guide to Ireland) and the 2014 Certificate of Excellence from Tripadvisor.

Triton Lake, Powersourt Gardens

The magnificent Gardens is just 20 kms south of Dublin and is set against the backdrop of the Sugarloaf Mountain. This 46-acre garden began to take shape almost two-and-a-half centuries ago. It has over 200 varieties of trees, shrubs and flowers set amidst a charming walled garden and majestic terraces; fine statuary and iron works from across Europe dot the landscape, these and the varied trees are linked by carefully designed walks. From the ornate Italian gardens to the Japanese gardens and the more formal Rose Garden and Kitchen Garden there are many hidden treasures to explore. 

The Palladian Mansion surrounded by the beautiful Gardens is now home to the best Irish design and features craft and interior shops. And the Terrace cafe offers the finest home cooked Irish cuisine. 

So, if you happen to be visiting Ireland or have plans to so soon then make sure you enjoy a stroll in the winning Powerscourt Gardens.