What struck me as soon as a patchwork quilt of greens materialized through the clouds
and we came down for alanding in Dublin - at its busy, modern airport - were the sheep grazing peacefullyjust a short distance from the runway. Ireland is a study in contrasts, a first impression that was reinforced throughout the next six days as I visited a handful of the island's top meeting destinations and dozens of venues. It's in the way that the bucolic countryside gives way to the bustling city, medieval castles dot the landscape on the outskirts of quaint towns, and the architectural styles of the ages are displayed against timeless, scenic hills and mountain backdrops.

Anywhere a meeting attendee may go in Ireland - even while inside the most state-of-the-art hotels and high-tech conference venues - there is a sense of place, of ancient history coexisting with the modern developments that have taken place during the "Celtic Tiger," the nation's period of economic growth over the past 15 years. In the last few years alone, more than four billion euro has been invested in facilities, infrastructure, and amenities in Ireland. Add to that its natural gifts - pristine mountains, coastlines, lakes, and streams, not to mention stunning settings for 300 golf courses - and you have a one-of-a-kind destination for association, corporate, and incentive meetings.

The Republic of Ireland consists of 26 counties; another six counties make up Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom. The island of Ireland, north and south, is marketed in its entirety by Tourism Ireland (www.irelandinspiresus.com). The tagline for its business tourism promotion is "Ireland: Where inspiration flows." Considering Ireland's contributions through the ages to world literature, the arts, and sciences, that's not just another catchphrase. Ireland offers breathtaking venues and locales that can't help but cause a shift in attendees' psyche, a transition made easier by the natural warmth and hospitality of its people. "Ireland is visually and socially appealing, and charms most visitors," said Nicola Neumann, chair of the 33rd Annual Congress of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, which was held in Dublin in August 2008. (See Post Con, p. 10.)

Dublin
Dublin is a bustling but remarkably quiet city. I could scarcely tell that just beyond the windows of the meeting venues and hotels I visited (many of which have been double- and triple-glazed to block out noise) was a city street teeming with activity.

The big news here is The Convention Centre Dublin. When it opens next September, the Republic of Ireland's first-ever purpose-built convention centre will put it officially on the world stage for conventions. The word is out: Dublin Convention Bureau Marketing and Development Executive Kiela Brodigan said the bureau has seen association inquiries increase by 50 percent in the last year.

The Convention Centre Dublin (www.theccd.ie), which will accommodate 8,000 people in 27 state-of-the-art conference rooms, is a 380-million-euro feat of engineering.

"It is the first public-access building built since the foundation of the state of Ireland, a landmark and state building built and managed through a public/private partnership," said Convention Centre Dublin Chairman Dermod J. Dwyer. "This is not a building; it's a business. It's fit for purpose, fit for its place, fit for people, and fit for posterity." A dedicated light-rail line will link the centre with the rest of the city, and a Santiago Calatrava-designed bridge reminiscent of a Celtic harp has been installed to connect the building to the other side of the River Liffey. Dwyer said that 102 conferences have been booked at the centre through 2015, primarily in the medical, science, and financial industries.

The centre is easily accessible to 17,000 sleeping rooms in Dublin - swelling to 20,000 by the time the centre is complete - and a number of hotels are within walking distance. Here are several hotels I visited that offer meeting space:

• Four Seasons Hotel - A handsome, five-star, 197-room property filled with daylight on the lovely show grounds of the RDS (Royal Dublin Society, a collection of historic buildings used for exhibitions, concerts, and sporting events), this traditional hotel offers two ballrooms, three meeting rooms, and a boardroom, accommodating from 600 guests for a reception to intimate groups of 20 in banquet rounds. www.fourseasons.com/dublin
• The Shelbourne Hotel - This five-star, 265-room hotel, located on St. Stephen's Green, is fondly called the "Grande Dame of Dublin." Thirteen meeting rooms - including the
  Constitution Room, site of the historic signing of the Irish constitution - accommodate from 10 to 360 guests. The Great Room, the largest ballroom in a five-star hotel in Dublin, can host 330 people seated or 600 buffet-style The hotel offers a "genealogy butler" who can help guests trace their Irish roots. www.theshelbourne.ie
• Radisson SAS Royal Hotel - This new, four-star, 150-room property in the heart of Dublin offers six meeting rooms, two boardrooms, one videoconferencing suite, three corporate syndicate rooms, and a ballroom. While clearly a modern Radisson brand, the proclamation of Irish independence etched on the glass wall along the staircase, and Connemara and Kilkenny marble and County Kerry slate accents throughout the property, remind you that you're on Irish soil. The venue is a good choice for pharmaceutical companies that can't use five-star properties. www.royal.dublin.radissonsas.com
• The Westin Hotel - Situated beside Trinity College, it's hard to believe that this five-star, 163-room, 17-suite historic venue - which seamlessly blends six buildings together - is a former bank. Its signature Banking Hall, which dates back to 1863, is a knockout. With soaring 219-foot cathedral ceilings and intricate ornamental features, this conference and banqueting room can accommodate 168 people banquet-style and 250 theater-style. Seven meeting rooms, named after old Irish coins, can facilitate groups of eight boardroom-style and up to 94 theater-style. Sensory-dining experiences (i.e., team-building activity) can be arranged in The Exchange, a 90-seat restaurant. www.thewestindublin.com
• The Merrion Hotel - Created from four Georgian townhouses, this stylish, 142-room, five-star hotel features two bars, two restaurants (including Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud, Ireland's only two-star Michelin restaurant), beautiful 18th-century-style private gardens, and a separate entrance to six rooms over two floors dedicated to private events, accommodating from 12 people for a board meeting, to 50 for larger meetings, to 100 for a reception. www.merrionhotel.com

Special Venues

• Royal Hospital Kilmainham - Enter the gates of this 48-acre property and you'll be transported to another place and time - without leaving Dublin. One of Ireland's oldest buildings, this magnificent 17th-century former military hospital offers eight meeting rooms and caters to groups of up to 1,500 buffet-style. www.rhk.ie
• Guinness Storehouse - Ireland's No. 1 international visitor attraction is a fun and offbeat venue, offering unique spaces and 10 meeting rooms for up to 1,500 guests. Delegates can journey through the history and making of Guinness and sample a pint or two right from the source. The top-floor Gravity bar offers an incredible 360-degree view of the Dublin skyline and is available for evening events. www.guinness-storehouse.com
• Trinity College Dublin - In the city's centre, this landmark institution on a 40-acre campus offers 800 bedrooms (including recently renovated two- and three-bedroom apartments) and 33 meeting rooms ranging from large-tiered lecture theaters to breakout rooms. It's available for conferences with 50 to 2,000 delegates from June to September. Its library houses what is considered Ireland's greatest treasure: the Book of Kells, an illuminated and intricately illustrated manuscript of the four gospels, transcribed by Celtic monks circa 800. www.tcd.ie/accommodationandcatering
• The Royal College of Physicians - For 150 years, The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland called No. 6 Kildare Street home. This stately historic building is now a high-tech business and conference venue that has lost none of its luster or period detail. Nine meeting rooms accommodate from 10 people boardroom-style to 250 for a cocktail reception. www.numbersix.ie

Belfast
Once I boarded the sleek Enterprise train at the Dublin Connelly train station, I popped open my laptop, ready to get in some work. But the changing views of the verdant hills and valleys, grazing sheep, and picturesque villages were just too lovely to miss. Before I knew it, we were in Belfast - a short two hours north of Dublin by train or road.

Lonely Planet recommended Northern Ireland as one of the top 10 "Must See" destinations in 2007. With good reason. It only took the short drive from the Belfast train station to the new waterfront development for me to see that this is a city in the midst of a remarkable rebirth - and it's not just the number of cranes in the air, or the new hotels and other developments taking place. Peace came to Northern Ireland when the British and Irish governments signed the Good Friday Agreement in Belfast 11 years ago; the sense of optimism in this place and its people is palpable. You can experience living history on a tour of the political districts that bore the brunt of conflict over 30 years, and be inspired by the Peace Wall's handwritten messages of hope from visitors all over the world.

Hotels
Five new hotels opened in the seven months prior to my visit, and more are in the works. Here are a few that I visited:

• The Merchant Hotel - This intimate, 21-bedroom, five-suite, five-star hotel in the Cathedral Quarter was built in 1860 as the original headquarters of The Ulster Bank. Restored to its original splendor, it's ideal for board meetings and incentive trips. Next year will bring an additional 38 bedrooms and meeting space for 230 people. www.themerchanthotel.com
• The Fitzwilliam Belfast - A 130-room, five-star, new boutique hotel with fresh appeal offers three flexible conference suites for two to 55 people. www.fitzwilliamhotelbelfast.com
• Hastings Culloden Estate & Spa - Just five miles from Belfast, surrounded by the Holywood Hills and overlooking Belfast Lough, this five-star, 79-room property was originally built as a bishop's palace. It's equipped with eight conference suites and boardrooms accommodating up to 600 people for a banquet. www.hastingshotels.com/culloden

Special Venues

• Belfast Waterfront Conference Centre - This striking, ultra-modern, multipurpose facility on the banks of the River Lagan can host up to 2,200 delegates in a main auditorium, and also offers a studio for up to 300 people, 14 meeting rooms, a restaurant and bars, and exhibition facilities. www.waterfront.co.uk
• Odyssey Complex - Situated beside the shipyards that built the Titanic (a $154-million Titanic museum is under construction at that site), the facility houses the Odyssey Arena and W5, both available for groups. The Odyssey Arena can accommodate conferences ranging from 3,000 to 8,500 delegates, large or small exhibitions, gala dinners, and product launches. www. odysseyarena.com. W5 (Who, What, Where, When, Why), Ireland's only interactive discovery centre, offers a lecture theater for 200 people, exhibition space, and a variety of unusual areas for receptions and dinners for up to 350 people. The Point is a stunner of a meeting room for 18 seated boardroom-style or 60 for a reception. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows offer sweeping views of Belfast - and what looks like the profile of a sleeping giant in Belfast Hills, which is said to have served as the inspiration for Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels. www.w5online.co.uk
• Queen's University Belfast - One mile from the city centre in a tree-lined Victorian suburb, this historic 100-building university campus offers an ideal venue for conferences, business meetings, exhibitions, and gala events (The Great Hall is particularly awe-inspiring) for up to 1,250 delegates; 1,000 modern suite bedrooms are available outside term time. www.qub.ac.uk
• Grand Opera House - This turn-of-the-century landmark in the heart of Belfast on Great Victoria Street has recently completed an extensive refurbishment and can be hired out to accommodate 1,060 people in the Main Auditorium, 130 in the Baby Grand room, and 40 theatre-style in the Shakespeare Rooms. www.goh.co.uk
• Stormont Parliament Buildings - Home to the Northern Ireland Assembly, this building is designed in Greek Classical tradition, and can be used for welcome receptions and gala dinners once approval has been sought. A virtual tour is available at www.niassembly.gov.uk/vtour/vtour_index.htm.
• Ulster Folk & Transport Museum - A 170-acre, open-air museum and open-space, multilevel indoor galleries allow guests to explore how everyday occupations and travel have changed over the centuries. The Transport Museum houses a large collection of horse-drawn carts, Irish-built motorcars, and steam locomotives. Unique venues and lovely grounds (for tented events) can accommodate groups from 100 to 8,000. www.uftm.org.uk

Ireland's South and West Coast
Once you get out on the open road, you can't help but be mesmerized by Ireland's unspoiled natural beauty. Nestled in the most scenic locales are venues that will inspire and enchant groups of all kinds.

• Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort - This five-star, 62-room castle hotel on 840 lush acres is a 40-minute drive from Shannon Airport. But step into the magnificent cavernous lobby and the Minstrels Gallery, with its intricate wood carvings (the second-longest room in Ireland), and you'll step back a few hundred years in time. The property offers a variety of meeting rooms accommodating up to 250 people theatre-style, 25 townhouses, 46 villas, an 18-hole championship golf course, spa, fishing, and horse riding on the property. www.adaremanor.com
• Killarney Park Hotel - In the center of town and 30 minutes from Kerry Airport, this five-star, 68-bedroom property has a relaxed, luxurious vibe, with meeting space for up to 150 people - the ideal base to explore the Ring of Kerry, Dingle Peninsula, and Victorian mansion Muckross House (www.muckross-house.ie) down the road. www.killarneyparkhotel.ie
• The Europe Hotel & Resort - This 188-room, five-star property is also a sleek conference and event center with eight meeting rooms and a ballroom that can accommodate 540 people theater-style. www.theeurope.com
• Sheen Falls Lodge - This five-star, 66-room-and-suite/six-villa resort property offers a conference center for 120 and unique venues for smaller board meetings. www.sheenfallslodge.ie
• Dromoland Castle - A 16th-century castle and five-star, 100-room resort hotel a mere eight miles from Shannon Airport, with conferencing for up to 450 people theater-style in the Brian Boru Hall, five meeting rooms, and championship golf. The castle was the ancestral home of the O'Briens, descendants of Brian Boru, 11th-century king of Ireland. www.dromoland.ie