Ireland's spiritual capital for more than 1,500 years, Armagh is peppered with sacred sites - in fact it was the ancient capital of Ulster, city of Saint Patrick and burial place of Brian Boru. The first visitors appeared around 4500 BC, and crowds have been arriving ever since: in summer, they play cricket in the city's oval, tree-lined mall.

Armagh is also renowned as the 'orchard county', so expect to find local apples on the menu and cider behind the bar in the county's pubs and restaurants.