My Ireland
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Ireland’s top visitor attractions
St James’s Gate, Guinness Storehouse, Dublin
Guinness Storehouse, Dublin
Back in 1759, an enterprising brewer by the name of Arthur Guinness took out a 9,000-year lease on the brewery here for an annual rent of £45. A couple of centuries later, the Guinness Storehouse was born. Today it’s Ireland’s number one visitor attraction – a gleaming, multimedia experience that features everything from retro advertising to the craft of brewing, topped off with a pint in the 360-degree Gravity Bar. When you get there, don’t forget to raise your glass to Arthur’s wonderful creation!
Cliffs of Moher, County Clare
Cliffs of Moher, County Clare
Looming over the Atlantic Ocean are the world-famous Cliffs of Moher. What can we say, this UNESCO Global Geopark has it all – the sea spray, the staggering cliff height (214 metres) and those incredible views! If you want to get a closer look, book online where you’ll get the best rates, best times and guaranteed entry. Avoid the crowds and enjoy reduced rates if you visit before 11am or after 4pm. Or take a walk along the incredible Coastal Walk from Doolin to Surfers Path – all that exercise is well worth it for the views.
Book of Kells, Trinity College Dublin
Book of Kells, Dublin
This glorious Early Christian illuminated manuscript is quite simply a masterpiece. Located within Trinity College’s Treasury, the Book of Kells tour usually includes a visit to the Long Room Library, one of Europe’s most magnificent libraries housing over 200,000 of Trinity’s oldest books. Book lovers will be in their element! After your tour, wander around the charming campus of Trinity, which dates back to 1592 and boasts an impressive list of alumni including Bram Stoker, Oscar Wilde and Sally Rooney.
Titanic Belfast, Belfast
Titanic Belfast, Belfast
Named the World’s Leading Tourist Attraction at the World Travel Awards, Titanic Belfast is an incredible homage to the tragic Ship of Dreams. Its shimmering exterior mirrors the height of Titanic and contains nine galleries spread across six floors, as well as interactive exhibitions, an underwater cinema and gantry rides. Outside, walk the Titanic Slipways and Shipyard, or set off on a Titanic Discovery Walking Tour.
Guildhall and City Walls, Derry~Londonderry © Shutterstock
City Walls, Derry~Londonderry
If you want to walk the longest and most complete historic city walls on the island of Ireland, Derry~Londonderry is the place to do it. Built in the early 1600s, the 400-year-old city walls have a circumference of around 1.5km in total and are linked together by a series of impressive gates. 24 canons which survived the legendary Siege of Londonderry in 1689 have been restored and placed around the walls. Visit the city’s Siege Museum to learn more about this dramatic event. A range of tours take in the walls alongside other top sights in the Walled City. Don’t miss your chance for a selfie at the Derry Girls mural and make sure to snap the imposing Guildhall. Enjoy your stroll along these stony ramparts – battlements, bastions and amazing views await in Northern Ireland’s walled wonder.
Blarney Castle, County Cork © Shutterstock
Blarney Castle, County Cork
If you visit Blarney Castle in County Cork you’ll be talking about it for years, and not just because it’s one of the most impressive fortresses on the island. It’s also home to the world-famous Blarney Stone, which bestows the gift of eloquence upon whoever kisses it. The castle was built in the 1400s by the feared Irish Chieftain, Cormac MacCarthy, and it was all but impregnable it its day – the walls at its base being 18 feet thick. The castle and stone are the main draws here, for sure, but don’t miss the charming Blarney House, either. The photogenic Scots Baronial style home is all dramatic turrets and conical roofs. And yet that’s not all. Blarney Gardens offers 60 acres of stunning natural beauty to explore. From the Vietnamese Woodland and the Herbaceous Border to the Poison Garden, there are delightful surprises at every turn.
Powerscourt Estate, County Wicklow © Shutterstock
Powerscourt Estate, County Wicklow
If County Wicklow is known as “the Garden of Ireland” for its natural beauty, then Powerscourt Estate might just be its crowning centrepiece. A grand Palladian mansion, exquisitely landscapes gardens and even Ireland’s HIGHEST waterfall can all be found across 47 lush acres – and all within a short 30-minute drive of Dublin. So enjoy a leisurely stroll through the gardens which have been voted third-best in the world by National Geographic, tour the big house which was voted one of the top ten worldwide by Lonely Planet, and tick that wondrous waterfall off your Ireland bucket list. With a luxury hotel, two championship golf courses and an exciting new distillery also on the estate, it’s easy to see why Powerscourt is one of Ireland’s most-visited attractions.
Giant’s Causeway, County Antrim
Giant’s Causeway, County Antrim
There’s nowhere that blurs history and myth quite like County Antrim’s Giant’s Causeway. For 60 million years, these hexagonal columns have been a part of the cliff face. Science says it’s the result of volcanic activity, legend claims it’s the result of warring giants. Be warned, this magical landscape is a hugely popular attraction so make sure to pre-book before you visit! This is Northern Ireland’s first and only UNESCO World Heritage Site and it more than lives up to expectations. Don’t miss the Visitor Centre which is home to interactive exhibitions about this stunning landscape. And for a different perspective on the iconic Causeway, hit up the clifftop walking trails high above the waves.
Ulster Museum, Belfast
Ulster Museum, Belfast
The Ulster Museum, one of Northern Ireland’s four national museums, is beautifully located in Belfast’s Botanic Gardens. The museum bills itself as “a place to inspire wonder” and we couldn’t agree more. Art, natural science and history are championed here through ongoing and temporary exhibitions, as well as buzzy events. Our top picks? Don’t miss paintings by some of the European masters in the Renaissance to Romanticism gallery. The Troubles and Beyond exhibition sheds light on everyday life during this turbulent period in Northern Ireland’s history. And meteorites are on show in the Natural Science Zone that date back over 4.5 billion years! All of this and more awaits at the Ulster Museum. Best of all, admission is free.
Kylemore Abbey, County Galway
Kylemore Abbey, County Galway
A visit to the breathtaking Kylemore Abbey charts the tale of Henry and his beloved wife Margaret, who fell in love with this picturesque spot. Their castle rose beside the lake, gardens blossomed and for almost 10 years, Mitchell, Margaret and their nine children lived here, in what sounds like a state of bliss. But tragedy struck when Margaret fell ill and died. The neo-Gothic church is Henry’s final tribute to his dear wife. This stunning attraction is very popular, especially during the summer months, so it's recommended to book your tickets in advance.
Belvedere House, Gardens and Park © Shutterstock
Belvedere House, County Westmeath
Grand country estates dot the island of Ireland like shining jewels and Belvedere House, Gardens and Park in County Westmeath is one of the brightest of them all. The gorgeous 18th-century Georgian villa is set on a lush 160-acre lakeside estate. The historic home and its accompanying Belvedere Walled Garden are a joy to explore, but venture a little further on the grounds and an array of intriguing landmarks await, including the Octagonal Gazebo, the Gothic Arch and the Jealous Wall which is the largest folly of its kind in Ireland, standing 20 metres tall! Elsewhere, scenic woodland trails give way to glistening Belvedere Lake. See if you can spot swans, squirrels and other creatures as you uncover all corners of this enchanting demesne. Complete your visit with a bite to eat in the Lakeside Café.
Clonmacnoise, County Offaly
Clonmacnoise, County Offaly
Beautifully situated by the shores of the River Shannon, Clonmacnoise is a must-visit site in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands. This early Christian monastic settlement was founded by St Ciarán in 544 and flourished for centuries. Religious scholars from around the world would flock to this centre of culture and learning. As Europe entered the Dark Ages, communities such as Clonmacnoise earned Ireland the title of “The Land of Saints and Scholars”. The sacred atmosphere here is palpable. From the ruins of a cathedral and round towers to high crosses and hundreds of gravestones, there is much to explore. Clonmacnoise’s decline began in the 12th-century, but the legacy of this millennia-old site lives on in all who visit.
