To get a real feel for the country, explore a bit. The story goes that you can't find Ireland but have to let it find you. However ... there's no harm in having a good look for it around the quirky yet quaint villages that dot the countryside. They are so perfect that you could be forgiven for thinking that you had stumbled onto film sets. Convince yourself you haven't by strolling the streets or entering into one of the very many pubs that are liberally sprinkled about and immersing yourself in conversation with a local.