Morale received a much needed boost on the sporting field last week with a first rugby six nations grand slam victory since 1948 and Bernard Dunne winning a world boxing title. Irish eyes now turn to Giovanni Trapatoni and the Irish football team in the hope that they can also deliver another boost to the country.

I guess I'm going a little off the title of this article but bear with me a little more. Ireland in the past has been seen as quite an expensive holiday destination. The land of a thousand welcomes may be a friendly place to visit but it was certainly not friendly to the pocket in the past.

However with times as they are you can now find plenty of bargains in accommodation, restaurants, tourist activities and of course car hire.

Car hire companies are fighting tooth and nail for your business all over the world and Ireland is certainly no exception. Car hire cost comparison sites source rates from many of the top car hire suppliers in Ireland giving you a clear simple choice.

Budget hire cars, premium hire cars or people carriers? Consider your luggage, how many people are travelling with you? How often you will be in the car? Also don't get ripped off with car hire insurance. There are numerous options out there which means you don't have to accept what you are offered at the car hire desk.

Ireland is a small country. You could travel from the east of the country Dublin Airport to the West of the country Shannon Airport in around four hours. Cork Airport is also about a four hour drive from Dublin while Knock Airport is about a one hour drive from Shannon.

Dublin is the capital and there are numerous tourist attractions in this historic city. Kilmanhaim Jail and Dublin Castle should certainly be part of your itinerary as should the Guinness store house.Temple bar is the party centre of Dublin but can be tough on the pocket.

If you are arriving into Shannon in August then try take in the arts festival or the Galway races festival in nearby Galway. Galway really comes alive at this time every year and offers a great party atmosphere which is well worth indulging in.

Cork or the people Republic as it is sometimes called should certainly be paid a visit. The jazz festival held every October bring revelers in their droves though how many of them come for the jazz I'm not quite sure. ;-) Discover everything Ireland has to offer.