Once again, Let's Go's young and budget-savvy researchers have left no stone unturned to bring you the real deal on the Emerald Isle. Completely revised and updated, Let's Go Ireland bursts with up-to-date info on hiking through unadulterated greenery, swilling pints in local pubs, and ferrying out to deserted islands. In addition, this year's guide gets you off the beaten path and into the best sights and nightlife in Northern Ireland--away from those hordes of shamrock-crazed tourists. So whether you'd rather restore castles in the Republic or overdose on Clonakilty black pudding, Let's Go can show you the way to what's fun, what's fresh, and what's free.
I read (the reigning) version of this book before I moved to Ireland in the 1990s. The Let's Go series are written by students, everyone on their staff is a full-time student at Harvard. These are THE ULTIMATE travel guides if: 1. You're poor (a student, etc.) 2. You're snarky.
The writing in these is great, they give wonderful insights beyond the "big hits" of a city, and down-to-earth, realistic opinions about restaurants, hotels, hostels, and all manner of bumps along the way. Many guides have a special section in the back giving travel suggestions to LGBT travellers, special needs, or women travelling alone. A must-have!