Ballyvooney Cove, Copper Coast Geopark, County Waterford, Ireland

© Andrea Pistolesi/Getty Image

Happy St. Patrick's Day!. St. Patrick's Day in County Waterford, Ireland

For St. Patrick's Day, we're enjoying this stunning rainbow over Ireland's southeast coast. Shamrocks, parades, and all things green will be the order of the day as we celebrate the patron saint of the Emerald Isle. While many countries recognize the holiday today, the first celebration was held in Ireland more than 1,000 years ago, remembering the 5th-century missionary and bishop credited with bringing Christianity to the country.

Our homepage image shows a jewel of Ireland's spectacular southeast coastline, Copper Coast Geopark, a UNESCO site in County Waterford. This magnificent stretch of undulating cliffs and sandy coves is named after the 19th-century copper mines that once operated there. It is dotted with historical sites, including ruined medieval churches, Iron Age forts, and ancient inscribed stones. And, with a little Irish luck, you might just find a pot of gold at the end of that rainbow.