Bellow is a list of 25 great days out that can be enjoyed in Ireland. The list of days out are divided into subsections. If you are planning and getting out of Dublin to see some of the highlights listed below, Atlas Car Hire.com offer a great choice for Ireland Car Rental.
Tours
– The Carlow Garden Trail is offered by Discover Ireland and includes more than 15 locations including the Altamont Gardens in Tullow and the Huntington Castle.
– For a spectacular view of the country, try the Waterford and Suir Valley Railway in Kilmeaden. Riding a period carriage, one can see the mountains and farmlands, along with the river and a Viking settlement.
– For couples, Connemara Way is the place to go. Visit the Clifden or go take a dip at Roundstone Beach. From the National Park, take a hike up Diamond Hill loop, following the Sruffaunboy Nature Trail. The magnificent view at the top is worth the 3-hour trek.
– If you want to do it on your own, way-marked routes are available for walking. These include the Cavan Way, Sheep’s Head Way and Dingle Way, to name a few.
Special Events
– If you’re up to see unique talents, the AIB Street Performance World Championship may be for you. Dublin’s Merrion Square is converted into an outdoor circus for 3 days. Held in June, various performers, including magicians and acrobats, compete for the coveted award.
– If you are interested in food, try the Galway International Oyster Festival in September. This food festival boasts of the popular Guinness World Oyster Opening Championships.
– For food fanatics, the Harvest Feast in September is a must-see. This food festival, which is held in Leitrim every year, serves up a wide assortment of Irish foods and courses.
– If you happen to be in Killorglin in August, make sure you check out Puck Fair, one of the oldest festivals in Ireland. The festival features the King Puck, a crowned mountain goat strutting all over the town.
Beach Activities
– The Laytown Races, in Louth’s Laytown Strand, includes setting off approximately 3 miles of strand in September. Other events include a fair and dune-jumping.
– For sports enthusiasts, surfing is definitely the way to go. Beginners can learn from any number of surfing schools on the coastline. For more experienced surfers, Bundoran and Easkey are a couple of places offering challenging breaks.
– If you’d rather stay out of the water, you can try beach trekking instead. In Sligo, Island View Riding Stables and Horse Holiday Farm offer this activity for any age and riding level.
Parks
– Clare’s Craggaunowen is home to the world-class archaeological park known as Living Past Experience. The park features a variety of recreations, including homesteads and medieval artifacts.
– Animal lovers will definitely enjoy a trip to Fota Wildlife Park, where over 90 species of animals roam freely about. These animals include monkeys, giraffes, zebras and even cheetahs.
– If you’re bringing along your kids, Clara Lara in Rathdrum is the perfect spot. This fun park, surrounded by oak trees, offers playgrounds, pirate galleons and water slides.
– One of the most popular tourist spots in Waterford is the Lismore Castle and Gardens, built in the 12th century. The castle is closed, but the spectacular garden are open.
Natural Wonders
– The Giant’s Causeway in Antrim is definitely a must-see Volcanic eruptions millions of years ago led to the formation of these numerous columns of basalt.
– More than 25,000 pilgrims trek to Croagh Patrick in Mayo every last Sunday of July, known as Reek Sunday. Climbing the mountain typically takes around 4 hours.
– If you’re not too fond of heights, try Kerry’s Crag Cave instead. Innumerable calcite and straw stalactites emerge to form the Crystal Gallery.
– Near Kerry, the Skellig Islands can be found surrounded by the Atlantic. Skellig Michael boasts of being a World Heritage Site, containing a monastic settlement.
– Clonmacnoise above the River Shannon is another famous tourist spot. It was founded in the 6th century, and contains churches, Christian grave slabs and a round tower.
– Environmentalists and tourists alike are sure to enjoy Cape Clear’s Gaeltecht Island, which is home to migrant birds and killer whales.
Modern Establishments
– Sports enthusiasts will definitely enjoy Croke Park, Ireland’s largest sports stadium. Croke Park is home to the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and is host to the Gaelic games.
– Any tourist’s itinerary should include Dublin’s City Hall. Displays and exhibits, including the “Story of the Capital”, showcase the history of the country’s government.
– Ireland’s patron saint, Saint Patrick, is the focus of a permanent exhibit in Downpatrick. Nearby is his supposed burial place by Down Cathedral.
– At the end of the day, tourists deserve a break. Try one of Ireland’s 3 destinations spas, which includeKenmare’s Park Hotel, Enniscorthy’s Monart and Moate’s Temple Country Retreat and Spa.
Whether you’re up for the parties, the beach, the old or the new, Ireland will surely have something for you.