Ireland Things to Do

  Howth Castle
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  • Howth Castle
      Howth Castle
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  •   Things to Do
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  • The oldest church in Ireland
      The oldest church in Ireland
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  • The local pub and eatery
      The local pub and eatery
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  • Old Monastery
      Old Monastery
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Most Viewed Things to Do in Ireland

51.

Kilmainham Jail   Dublin

Kilmainham Jail, Dublin

 70 Reviews  The tour of this gaol and its museum was the highlight of our trip to Dublin. Fascinating insight to the more recent Irish history and the struggles for independence. Our tour guide was fantastic -... 

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52.

Blarney Castle   Cork

Blarney Castle, Cork

 30 Reviews  We weren't actually going to visit this castle, as we are 'over' queueing and really didn't think we wanted to do the tourist thing. Sooooo glad we did. We were there at 9am when it opened and were... 

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53.

Archaeology, castles and ruins   Galway

Archaeology, castles and ruins, Galway

 27 Reviews  This arch is one of the oldest buildings in Galway, dating back to 1584. Although the name suggests a connection to Spain, no real link has been ascertained. It was originally known as the 'head of... 

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54.

King John's Castle   Limerick

King John's Castle, Limerick

 12 Reviews  Entry is through the Visitors Centre. First you walk though a static display explaining about the castle's history, then a slide show and up to the second floor to hear a story and see some wooden... 

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55.

Ring of Kerry   Killarney

Ring of Kerry, Killarney

 24 Reviews  The Ring of Kerry is a scenic 175 km (110 mile) road that circles the Iveragh Peninsula, a very popular draw for tourists who visit Ireland. You can visit via a self driving tour if you are willing to... 

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56.

Waterford Crystal Factory   Waterford

Waterford Crystal Factory, Waterford

 12 Reviews  Waterford Crystal is now located in the heart of Waterford city and consists of a brand new manufacturing facility, visitor centre and retail outlet. Visitors can enjoy all aspects of the... 

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57.

Kilkenny Castle   Kilkenny

Kilkenny Castle, Kilkenny

 27 Reviews  Kilkenny Castle - home to an ancient aristocratic Irish-Norman family who were Butlers of Ormond. THE thing to see in Kilkenny. The grounds are lovely to stroll around in too. We did the tour and it... 

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58.

Benbulben Mountain   Sligo

Benbulben Mountain, Sligo

 6 Reviews  Benbulbin or more correctly Ben Bulbin is a huge formation of shale and limestone which is believed to have been formed during the Ice Age 320 million years ago. It can be seen for miles around as it... 

 See All 61 Things to Do in Sligo

59.

Charles' Fort   Kinsale

Charles' Fort, Kinsale

 9 Reviews  Even though it was raining I enjoyed my visit to the fort and the walk to it from the centre of Kinsale. It is run by the OPW and it is 3 Euro 70 to enter. The best thing about our visit was the free... 

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60.

The Dolphin Fungi   Dingle

The Dolphin Fungi, Dingle

 10 Reviews  Sure it's touristy -- but then, you ARE a tourist, aren't you? Come on, you know you want to. Climb aboard a EUR 12 boat tour, enjoy the harbor views and wait for Fungi. Don't worry, he's almost... 

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61.

Howth Pier   Howth

Howth Pier, Howth

 26 Reviews   A crowd of people on the piers edge, were peering into the water and pointing excitedly. I was quite surprised to see a couple of seals bobbing around in the water, looking further, I could see... 

 See All 119 Things to Do in Howth

62.

St. Colman's Cathedral   Cobh

St. Colman's Cathedral, Cobh

 11 Reviews  It would be impossible to go to Cobh and not notice St. Colman's Cathedral. The huge church overshadows the small town sitting high on a hilltop overlooking the harbor. We left the Heritage Center and... 

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63.

Dun Aengus   Inishmore

Dun Aengus, Inishmore

 12 Reviews  You will have to go to the visitor centre and pay your admission ticket (2 euro) before you can enter the fort. From here you have to go by foot towards the fortress Dun Aonghasa (Dun Aengus). It’s... 

 See All 65 Things to Do in Inishmore

64.

Donegal Town   Donegal

Donegal Town, Donegal

 2 Reviews  Spend some time at the Scotsman, a small pub on the Diamond (town center). It doesn't look like much from the outside but it's nice inside...There's music every night provided by the pub owner, his... 

 See All 18 Things to Do in Donegal

65.

Bunratty Castle   Shannon

Bunratty Castle, Shannon

 17 Reviews  The name Bunratty, Bun Raite (or possibly, Bun na Raite) in Irish, means the 'bottom' or end of the 'Ratty' river. This river, alongside the castle, flows into the nearby Shannon estuary. Bunratty... 

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66.

General Information   Tralee

General Information, Tralee

 2 Reviews  I absolutely loved going to see the dolphin...it was such an amazing experience for me. To see Fungi in his natural habitat was something that I would love to experience again and again and i would... 

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67.

The Cliffs of Moher   Doolin

The Cliffs of Moher, Doolin

 27 Reviews  Everyone has to see the cliffs. They are breathtaking. Hike to them from Doolin. It's about 8 miles, but sometimes you can con a ride from a tour back to Doolin once you get there. Almost every tour... 

 See All 62 Things to Do in Doolin

68.

Powerscourt   Wicklow

Powerscourt, Wicklow

 16 Reviews  This spot is on the itinerary of all tourists to Wicklow. Once one of the most magnificent Palladian mansions in Ireland and home of the Wingfield family for 350 years, it passed to the Slazenger... 

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69.

Browne's Hill Dolmen   Carlow

Browne's Hill Dolmen, Carlow

 3 Reviews  Brownshill Dolmen is a megalithic tomb that is rumoured to have the largest capstone in Europe...100 metric tons.The site was never excavated but is believed to be the burial place of a local king.... 

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70.

Swilly Walk/Father Hegarty's Rock   Buncrana

Swilly Walk/Father Hegarty's Rock, Buncrana

 1 Review  The "Swilly Walk" begins near town centre and runs past several Irish landmarks. First, over the Castle Bridge, past the Buncrana Castle, the "Keep", and then out along the Lough Swilly. There is a... 

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71.

Newgrange   Drogheda

Newgrange, Drogheda

 2 Reviews  This part of the Boyne Valley has many prehistoric monuments, the most important being the 'passage graves' of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth. These huge stone and earth mounds are approximately 5,000... 

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72.

Croagh Patrick   Castlebar

Croagh Patrick, Castlebar

 3 Reviews  West of Castlebar lies Westport, and west of Westport lies the mighty mountain Croagh Patrick. It can be seen from afar. On this mountain, St. Patrick is said to have ordered all snakes to leave the... 

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73.

Aillwee Caves   Ballyvaughan

Aillwee Caves, Ballyvaughan

 7 Reviews  The Burren is a large area of ground made up of limestone. Because limestone is porous, over the years, water has penetrated to the lower strata and formed many caves and chambers... 

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74.

Achill Island   Achill Island

Achill Island, Achill Island

 2 Reviews  Achill Island in the north-west of Ireland is at most places inhabited by a very few people only. The climate is a bit more rough and there seems to be a bit more mist than on the... 

 See All 15 Things to Do in Achill Island

75.

Skellig Island   Great Skelligs

Skellig Island, Great Skelligs

 19 Reviews  On the way back, we had a last look at Small Skellig with its birds (first photo) The second photo was taken when we passed the end of Small Skellig with Great Skellig in the background. The third... 

 See All 38 Things to Do in Great Skelligs

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Sligo Town

by Goner

When we first arrived in Sligo we thought it was rather dismal not realising there was much, much more outside of the city. We found Sligo is a good base for visiting the many beautiful sites; the ocean, mountains, lakes and ancient tombs, mines and thatched-roof cottages. We had taken the train to Sligo from Dublin and didn't have a car and you really need one to visit the marvelous countryside. We didn't want to drive this trip so visited the local tourist office who contacted Vincent Melvin, a cab driver, who took us on a five-hour tour of the town and countryside.After four hours in the countryside we returned to Sligo to visit the Sligo Abbey and the memorial tree and circle erected in honor of the famine victims - shouldn't be missed, especially if you're of Irish decent.After dinner at the hotel (which was good) we found "The Harp" pub that had a traditional Irish band playing on...

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Old Jameson Distillery - Dublin

by mrolson65

I'm not a Whiskey drinker but I really enjoyed this tour. They don't actually make Jameson here any longer but the tour was worth the money anyway. The tour guide was friendly, lively, engaging and funny. I learned a lot about Whiskey even though I wasn't at all interested in it. After the tour you get a free sample of Jameson's. You can have it straight, on the rocks, with Coke, with cranberry juice or with Ginger Ale. A lucky few are even chosen to sample eight different whiskeys! This tour is much better than the Guinness tour, which is a waste of money. When we went in December 2007 it cost 11 Euros for the tour.

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Bushmills Distillery Tour & Tasting

by nylo

You pay £5 on arrival and you get taken through the distillery to see all the different processes of production. Tours run pretty regularly, check their website for details. It was very informative & interesting. And it finishes off with a free taste of one of their whiskeys.

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Birr Castle: A Romantic Day Out

by donpaul77

Birr castle is a manor estate in County Offaly. The 120 acre grounds contain beautiful gardens and landscape to be enjoyed, as well as several unusual features, including a giant 150 year old telescope, a two hundred year old suspension bridge, a historic science center, and, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the tallest box hedges in the world.The castle itself is lived in by Lord and Lady Rosse, and is not open to the public.The best time of year to visit will be the spring and summer, when everything is in full bloom. It really is a pleasant and relaxing day out. The setting is romantic, but it could also suit people with children, since it is mostly outdoors, and educational.See Birr Castle website for much more visitor info.admission: adults €9, children €5, children under 5 free, Family rate €25

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Medieval Irish Banquets & an openair-museum

by globetrott

Bunratty castle is one of the places in Ireland, where obviously all of the tourbuses will take a stop, so be prepared of a lot of hassle and stress at certain times. In many ways it makes sense to go there anyway. The medieval castle of Bunratty dates back to the 9th century but the way it looks today it was rebuilt during the 15th century.Bunratty really offers a lot for the hasty tourists, who want to "absorbe the Irish way of life" within the shortest time possible :In Bunratty castle they may attend a "Medieval Irish Banquet" with servants in historic costumes, live music , food and drinks, all is included in the price. And in Bunratty Folk-park they will see lots of traditional farmhouses, a pub, shops and even a church that was rebuilt here in an openair-museum."Medieval Irish Banquets"will take 2 and a half hoursthe hall offers 141 seats and 2 sittings : at 05.30p.m. + 08.46...

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Gus O'Connors Pub & a lot more

by globetrott

Doolin is one of the places most tourists are heading to and mostly it is for the famous music-pub of Gus O'Connor, that made this tiny village at the west-coast of Ireland world-famous.Gus O'Connor's Pub is dating back to the year 1832 and live-performances of traditional music will take place every night in the summer-season. the sessions start at 09.30p.m. and last untill late at night.Gus O'Connor's Pub is also well known for great food : the kitchen is open between noon and 09.00p.m.Doolin is also a great place to shop for music-casettes in that building that you may see on my picture - it is the first house after the bridge !From Doolin you can also take a ferry to the Aran Island and there is a large and quite good camping-site as well !

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Letterfrack & the National Park

by globetrott

Connemara National Park is a big area east of Clifden and south of Leenane and it includes 4 of the 12 bens - among them is Benbaun, which is the highest of them with 730 meters. Inside that National Park you will also see plenty of megalith graves, dating back more than 4000 years.You may walk through the national Park all year long, but the Visitor centre is only open during summer, daily between May and September.More infos and pics are to be found on their web-page - click on my link below !

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The Lakes of Killarney

by globetrott

The Lakes of Killarney are another "Must see" for all tourists in Ireland. At different levels you will find several lakes and most of them are connected by small rivers and waterfalls. All of the area is part of a National Park and a perfect place to go for a hike. You will find several tours beeing offered and boats will take you to the most scenic places of these lakes. A special place to go to during these tours is Innsifallen, it is a small island in Lough Leane (the largest of these lakes) with interesting church-ruins and a small cemetery!You will be able to spend a full day around these lakes and find lots of interesting places to explore !

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Donegal Castle

by vbede

Donegal Castle combines the architecture of a 16th century fortified tower house with the added comforts of a 17th century manor house. The castle was home to members of the powerful O'Donnell family until ownership of the castle and Donegal Town passed to the English after the flight of the Earls in the early 17th century.Today this moderately sized but impressive castle stands on the edge of a bustling town in the northwest of of Ireland. The castle is worth a visit if you are in the region and have any interest in castles or history. The town of Donegal itself offers a number of interesting small shops and pubs.

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One of Ireland's Biggest Castles

by vbede

Trim Castle, on the River Boyne, is one of the largest castles you will find in Ireland. The original castle at the site was erected by the Norman Hugh de Lacy and the simple motte and bailey grew into the large fortress which still remains relatively intact today. The large central keep may be visited by guided tour while the outer walls and towers are accessible via a self-guided walk and described on a number of information panels.Of the many castles in Ireland we have visited this is one of the best. If you enjoy history and exploring castle ruins this is a site not to be missed. Trim and its castle are within easy striking distance of Dublin.

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Fun things to do in Ireland

Top 3 Hotels in Ireland

Westbury Hotel  Dublin

 4 Reviews and 722 Opinions  If location is a must and you have the extra to spend, Westbury's is certainly a place to go. Just... 

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Fitzgerald's Vienna Woods Hotel  Cork

 1 Review and 172 Opinions

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Park House  Galway

 2 Reviews and 657 Opinions  I selected the Park House Hotel because it is very convenient to both the bus and train stations in... 

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Things to Do: Cities in Ireland
  1. Dublin Things to Do
  2. Cork Things to Do
  3. Galway Things to Do
  4. Limerick Things to Do
  5. Killarney Things to Do
  6. Waterford Things to Do
  7. Kilkenny Things to Do
  8. Sligo Things to Do
  9. Kinsale Things to Do
  10. Dingle Things to Do
  11. Howth Things to Do
  12. Cobh Things to Do
  13. Inishmore Things to Do
  14. Wexford Things to Do
  15. Donegal Things to Do
  16. Tralee Things to Do
  17. Shannon Things to Do
  18. Doolin Things to Do
  19. Wicklow Things to Do
  20. Westport Things to Do
  21. Dun Laoghaire Things to Do
  22. Ennis Things to Do
  23. Carlow Things to Do
  24. Dungarvan Things to Do
  25. Buncrana Things to Do
  26. Drogheda Things to Do
  27. Blarney Things to Do
  28. Bunratty Things to Do
  29. Malahide Things to Do
  30. Cashel Things to Do
  31. Castlebar Things to Do
  32. Ballyvaughan Things to Do
  33. Trim Things to Do
  34. Bray Things to Do
  35. Blarney Castle Things to Do
  36. Achill Island Things to Do
  37. Dalkey Things to Do
  38. Clifden Things to Do
  39. Kenmare Things to Do
  40. Athlone Things to Do
  41. Carlingford Things to Do
  42. Ballina Things to Do
  43. Enniscorthy Things to Do
  44. Athlone Things to Do
  45. Knock Things to Do
  46. Great Skelligs Things to Do
  47. Aran Island Things to Do
  48. Mullingar Things to Do
  49. Killiney Things to Do
  50. Dundalk Things to Do

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Questions and Answers

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Q:  Well we finally purchased our plane tickets everyone!! My daughter and I will be visiting Ireland in October of this year. We are... 

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A: I'm sure you'll have a super trip! You will take the 'bus' rather than the 'coach'. Getting around Ireland by bus is easy, although some journeys may take quite a... 

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