Smart Travels Europe with Rudy Maxa: Ireland's West Coast / Dublin & Beyond

Two episodes plus bonus clips: We're blessed with a bit of Irish luck as we take on Ireland's ruggedly beautiful West Coast. We start in Galway shopping for Irish crystal and Celtic jewelry. Then it's a boat trip to the fabled Aran Islands where we reach breathless heights at a Stone Age fort and ferret out traditional hand-knit sweaters. Heading south, we pass through the eerie landscape of the Burren, sample Irish folk music, and binge on a medieval banquet at Bunratty Castle. In the forests of Killarney, we visit the country manor of Muckross, before touring the stunning Dingle Peninsula. Irish eyes are smiling when we explore Dublin, Ireland's urban core. There's history around every corner, and Dublin delights with Trinity College, the Book of Kells, the famous Guinness Brewery, and the infamous Kilmainham jail where Irish rebels spent their last days. We sample pub life while tapping our toes to traditional music, and follow in the footsteps of famous Irish writers on a literary pub-crawl. Beyond Dublin, we find inspiration in the hillsides of Glendalough, site of Ireland's revered monastery, and the Hill of Tara, home of the ancient Irish kings. A side trip to Northern Ireland's best folk park brings the Eire of yesteryear to life.

• history
• nonfiction
• televison
• travel