A Photo Tour of the Emerald Isle

It's not hard to find an Irish bar to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, but you can't beat the real deal: the Emerald Isle itself. With lush countryside, gorgeous sea views and medieval castles, Ireland is a stunning country. Click through this slideshow, and you can see for yourself. Pictured: Ashford Castle. Built in the 13th century, the castle has since been transformed into a five-star luxury hotel.

Fair Head

Fair Head is a rocky headland about three miles east of Ballycastle, a small beach town in Northern Ireland. The cliffs reach almost 200 meters above the sea.

Castle Bernard

Castle Bernard, near Brandon in County Cork, was burned down by the Irish Republican Army in the 1920s.

Fin Lough

Fin Lough is the most popular of the Delphi lakes, marked by shallow water and high fish stocks.

Nephin

Nephin is the second highest peak in County Mayo in the West Region of Ireland.

Inishbofin

Inishbofin is an island about eight kilometers off the coast of Connemara in County Galway.

Bunratty Castle

Bunratty Castle is located by the Ratty river in County Clare.

Clonony Castle

Clonony Castle is surrounded by a moat and gardens and open for tours.

Killough

A small seaside village in County Down, Killough is home to about 200 residents and was the filming location for the Academy Award-winning movie "The Shore."

Scrabo Tower

Scrabo Tower is a landmark west of Newtownards, a large town in County Down. The tower can be seen in the background, across the water.

Check out more slideshows from Discovery...

How to Brew Your Own Beer (in an Apartment) Best and Worst of Summer Blockbusters: What To See, What To Skip, Who To Watch for 8 Surprisingly Fuel-Efficient Luxury Cars The Wildest Places Left on Earth