My Top Ten Places To Visit in Ireland
This could be a very long list as there’s so much to see and do on the island of Ireland. Over the years I’ve been asked by many people for lists of things that they must see when visiting Ireland. So, I trawled through all of those old emails and came up with my list of the Top Ten Places to visit in Ireland.
This list is based on my own personal experience of growing up on the Dublin/Wicklow border and encompasses both sites of interest, and towns/cities, and I know that there will be many who read this who’ll say “What about…” or “You forgot…” but this is my list based on my experiences and if you think there should be other places listed then off you go and write your own list, on your own website!
The places below are written alphabetically so as to avoid any favor(u)ritism and I’ve done my best to provide current links to as many of these as possible. So here we go…
Cliffs of Moher - The most visited tourist attraction on the island of Ireland and located on the rugged Co. Clare coast, and the Wild Atlantic Way, this place is SPECTACULAR. If you’re getting out of Dublin for just one day trip or an overnight trip then it should be to “the cliffs.” Nearby is the village of Doolin which is famed for its “sessions” or semi-spontaneous traditional Irish music gatherings in pubs most evenings.
Dublin City - It’s my hometown so I’m a bit biased on this one. There’s so much to see and do in “The Fair City” but the top of your list should be the Book of Kells in the Library of Trinity College. You can book tickets for this ahead of time and I highly advise doing so.
Take a bus tour as a way to see lots of sights on one loop with DoDublin or Hop-On-Hop-Off with sights to see on this including the Guinness Storehouse - Jameson Distillery Bow St. - Christchurch Cathedral & St. Patrick's Cathedral - Dublin Castle - Kilmainham Gaol - St. Stephens Green. An old school friend, Ruairi, owns and runs a great walking tour company, Best Dublin Walking Tours, and if you're looking to get under the skin of Dublin and have a more intimate experience, I'd highly recommend some time with him.
Galway City - Galway is a fantastic city to visit. Truth be told it’s more like a big town than a city as it has a friendly and welcoming reputation. Make sure you soak in Quay St., The Latin Quarter, The Spanish Arch, and if you’re lucky enough to be in town on the weekend the Galway Market has to be on your list. Known for its friendly pubs, Sonny Molloys and Garavan's are must-visits. Just down the road in Salthill, Micil Distillery is well worth a visit.
Giants Causeway - I’ve visited the Causeway three times in my life and each time it becomes more enchanting. It’s located on the rugged and stunningly beautiful Antrim coast and is part of the Causeway Coastal Route. There’s so much to do and see in this area including Bushmills Distillery, of course, Dunluce Castle, the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, and of course 18 of some of the finest golf holes in all of Ireland at Royal Portrush Golf Club! Dinner at The Bushmills Inn is a must.
MORE INFO ON THE GIANTS CAUSEWAY HERE
Glendalough - I first visited Glendalough in the 70’s on a Primary School tour and have been in love with it ever since. It’s a magical and mystical place located in Co. Wicklow, which is also known as the Garden of Ireland. Glendalough or Glen-da-lough translates to "The Glen of the Two Lakes" and in addition to being one of the most important sites of monastic ruins in Ireland is a great place for a walk or hike. It's a place steeped in history, surrounding the Round Tower of St. Kevin who himself is reputed to have lived from 498 to 618 (yes 120 years old) with the buildings at Glendalough being built over a number of years circa 540.
Kilkenny City - I worked in Kilkenny, also known as The Marble City, in the summer of 1988 at the famed Langton’s Pub on John St. I fell in love with Kilkenny that summer and have been back many times since. Since then they’ve created the Medieval Mile which is a fantastic way to take in the history of Kilkenny and includes the 12th-century Kilkenny Castle. Check out the Dylan Whiskey Bar and Christy’s Bar while you’re in town too, you won’t be disappointed!
Killarney - Beautiful Killarney in “The Kingdom” of Kerry has many attractions for the visitor. I haven’t been to Kerry since my youth but I remember it being a staggeringly beautiful place with The Gap of Dunloe, which was formed some 25,000 years ago during Ireland's last ice age, still seared into my memory. The Gap” is part of the Ring of Kerry and it’s simply breathtaking. And then there are the lakes. So beautiful that they’re now a National Park, one of only six in the Republic of Ireland.
Of an evening make sure you visit the Celtic Bar & Larder for an OFF-THE-HOOK Irish whiskey selection and the next morning get your coffee at Lir Cafe at Kenmare Place, and say hi to the owner Alan who I went to college with back in the day!
Kinsale - Considered by many to be the culinary capital of Ireland, Kinsale is a foodie’s delight. It’s the starting point of the Wild Atlantic Way and has a vibrant community. The best way to get a taste, pardon the pun, of Kinsale is to take a guided food tour with the great folks at Kinsale Food Tours.
Newgrange -Newgrange was constructed about 5,200 years ago (3,200 B.C.) which makes it older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. Once you’ve visited you’ll be left with more questions than answers. Top of the list of those questions is how did they engineer the central passage and chamber so that they’re lit by the sun on the Winter Solstice. All around this part of Co. Meath you’ll find many more burial sites that are also worth exploring.
Powerscourt Estate & Waterfall - Powerscourt holds a very special place in my heart and head with so many memories of time on the Estate for Easter Camps while in the scouts, visits to its stunning waterfall, and golf. Lots of golf with the 16th on the East Course my favo(u)rite Par 3 anywhere! The gardens at Powerscourt were voted number 3 in the world by National Geographic magazine and are well worth a visit. And opened in 2018 is the icing on the cake for me with the incredible Powerscourt Distillery making some fine Irish whiskey and offerings visitors great experiences to educate Irish whiskey novices and experts alike!