Ireland

Home to the ancestors of Barack Obama and the homeplace of golfer Shane Lowry, Offaly is also famous as the location of the world heritage monastic site of Clonmacnoise, Tullamore Dew whiskey and Birr Castle.

The Slieve Bloom mountains are a stunning place to explore and this county has a choice of waterside activity with boating and cruises along the River Shannon and busy towns to explore along the Grand Canal.