From pub hopping and leprechaun chasing to Ogham stones and the Book of Kells, Lonely Planet presents the essential Ireland. In addition to the requisite low-down on food and accommodations, a detailed activities section covers everything from walking and birdwatching to hang gliding and rock climbing. The book's intriguing "boxed asides" delve into topics ranging from the mystical to the environmental, including the Witch of Kilkenny, the Legend of Inishbofin Island, the Birr Observatory and Telescope, even Ireland's Disappearing Bogs.