Sponsored by Globus Journeys
For me, journey is about accumulating reminiscences and moments, and should you don’t know what to do in Eire to create these memorable Eire journey experiences as a first-time customer, I’m right here to assist!
I lived in Dublin for 12-months again in 2003 and explored Eire extensively then, and most lately did an 8-day Eire journey known as Green With Envy in partnership with Globus Journeys. Our Eire tour lined a pleasant mixture of high cities together with Dublin and Galway, smaller cities, plus historical past, tradition, unimaginable surroundings and the addictive pub scene.
Eire is likely to be a small island, however there are many enjoyable and distinctive issues to do in Eire. It’s a spot well-known for its wealthy historical past, vibrant cities and small cities, rugged shoreline, historic castles, pub tradition, and inexperienced rolling countryside. I nonetheless really feel like I’ve solely scratched the floor.
Most of the experiences listed under I used to be capable of do on my latest tour of Eire, and should you’re interested by a tour with all of the enjoyable and not one of the overwhelm and stress of planning your individual unbiased journey, take a look at my 8-day Eire tour with Globus, the group tour consultants who make journey straightforward!
Take pleasure in a Pint of the “Black Stuff” (Guinness)
Let me begin with one in all my favourite issues about Eire. Few nations are as intrinsically linked to at least one drink as Eire is to the black stout by the identify of Guinness; it’s a giant a part of what makes up the tradition of Eire.
Arthur Guinness signed took a danger by singing a 9,000 YEAR lease on St. James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin in 1759. It actually paid off because it’s grown from these humble beginnings to develop into one of many world’s most iconic beers.
Whereas you might have sipped on Guinness in your fatherland (it’s brewed in 49 nations) there’s nowhere like consuming Guinness than in its dwelling. Indulging in (at the least) one pint throughout your Eire trip is without doubt one of the unmissable issues to do in Eire.
Belief me, it tastes so significantly better in Eire, and I acquired the style whereas dwelling in Dublin. There’s even a research that claims to scientifically show that Guinness doesn’t journey properly, and the freshest Guinness is the best-tasting Guinness!
This darkish, creamy alcohol is now so iconic that the Guinness Storehouse is probably the most visited of the Eire sights (see extra about this under).
Sipping on a pint of Guinness, in an Irish pub, paired with Fish ‘n Chips or a Beef & Guinness Stew whereas listening to conventional music, is as quintessential as Eire will get.
St Patrick’s Day in Dublin
The Irish are all about having good craic (a superb time), and there’s few different celebrations around the globe that collect as a lot participation from different nationalities as Eire’s St Patrick’s Day. St Patrick’s Day in Dublin is a enjoyable and distinctive expertise!
They don’t dye the river inexperienced in Dublin (like they do in Chicago), nor do they converse in limericks, however you’ll expertise vibrant shade, track, dialog and celebration.
Among the best methods to expertise Dublin on Eire’s nationwide vacation is to hit the streets and absorb the ambiance and watch the parade, as I did whereas dwelling in Dublin in 2003.
The parade route is lined with households, guests and locals in each shade of inexperienced, foolish hats, and waving tricolors. And afterwards, hit up one of many native Dublin pubs to proceed the occasion!
Stroll alongside the Cliffs of Moher
Any tour of Eire just isn’t full and not using a stroll alongside the Cliffs of Moher, the second most visited vacation spot in Eire (behind the Guinness Storehouse).
Rising 700 ft vertically above the ocean and operating alongside the coast of County Clare for nearly 8 miles, the comfortable shale and sandstone cliffs supply spectacular views of the Atlantic. Shaped over 320 million years in the past, they’re part of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark.
Among the best issues to do in Eire is stroll alongside the paved pathways (there’s a security fence in place) and discover totally different vantage factors of those well-known Eire cliffs.
Faucet Your Toes To Dwell Conventional Irish Music in a Pub
There’s no higher approach to take pleasure in good craic than listening to conventional Irish music in a neighborhood pub, ideally with a pint of Guinness in hand.
Irish conventional music might be traced again hundreds of years. It embodies the spirit of the individuals of Eire and their music is sort of a language – a continuous celebration of sound and storytelling.
The primary conventional devices are the fiddle, Irish flute, tin whistle, Celtic harp, uilleann pipes, and the bodhrán, and I dare you to withstand the urge to faucet your toes and slap the desk along with your fingers, or, higher but, leap up and dance round.
My favourite night time of my Irish tour was on the iconic Quays Bar, one of the vital common pubs in Galway for stay music. I’m guessing it will develop into one in all your favourite Eire journey reminiscences too!
The most important conventional music pageant is the annual summer time occasion Fleadh Cheoil. Different notable locations embrace Ennis in County Clare (with its half-dozen music pubs0, and I had a tremendous time in Doolin approach again in 2003 which has a cluster of well-known music pubs.
Nearly each Irish pub in each city could have stay conventional music, and infrequently simply the locals gathering collectively to play just a few tunes!
Style Irish Whiskey
Except for Guinness, Eire is legendary for that different beverage, Irish Whiskey. The phrase ‘whiskey’ comes from the Irish uisce beatha, that means water of life.
Irish whiskey is often triple-distilled, whereas scotch is usually distilled solely twice. And Irish whiskey tends to have a smoother end versus the smoky, earthy overtones widespread to Scotch whisky. Additionally, Irish whiskey is all the time spelled with an “e”.
Well-liked manufacturers embrace:
- Jameson
- Bushmills
- Kilbeggan
- Connemara
- Inexperienced Spot
- Redbreast
- Teeling
- Tullamore Dew
- Tyrconnell
On my tour of Eire, we loved Whiskey tastings on the Roe & Co Distillery in Dublin, and on the Kilbeggan Distillery (the oldest licensed distillery in Eire) in County Westmeath.
In case you love whiskey, or need to get one other style of Eire, I extremely suggest you are taking a tour of a distillery to be taught concerning the historical past and the distilling course of. Try this tour of the Jameson Distillery, the Teeling Whiskey tour, or the Irish Whiskey Museum.
Drive the Wild Atlantic Means
West Coast Eire’s surroundings is breathtaking, and one of the best ways to take all of it in is to drive a part of, or all of, the Wild Atlantic Way. The Wild Atlantic Means is a coastal route that stretches 1,600 miles from the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal to Kinsale in County Cork.
It’s divided into 14 levels for simpler orientation and all up is without doubt one of the premier highway journeys on the planet, and highlights embrace Malin Head in Donegal, Clifden within the Connemara, the Cliffs of Moher, Mizen Head in Cork, the unimaginable Dingle Peninsula and the well-known Ring of Kerry!
One other favourite expertise on my latest Eire journey was visiting Achill Island, Eire’s largest offshore island and one of many jewels within the crown of the Wild Atlantic Means.
Take pleasure in Fish n’ Chips
I wouldn’t essentially classify Eire as a foodie vacation spot, besides in the case of Fish ‘n Chips. Eire is in fact an island and surrounded by water, and lots of critics say the most effective fish and chips in Europe might be discovered within the Emerald Isle.
So, you’ll be able to’t go to Eire with out ordering, at the least as soon as in your Eire journey, basic Fish ‘n Chips (fries). Take it from me, they’re finest ordered in a comfortable pub, with a aspect of conventional music, and washed down with a pint of the “black stuff”.
In fact, like all seafood, the most effective fish and chips is the freshest and comes from the coastal cities who’ve shut entry to the recent catch every day. A few of the finest seafood cities in Eire embrace:
- Dingle
- Wexford
- Kinsale
- Dundalk
- and Galway
Well-liked Fish ‘n Chip outlets in Eire embrace:
- Leo Burdock’s in Dublin
- McDonagh’s in Galway
- Wharton’s in Kenmare
- Luigi’s in Limerick
- Harry’s Shack on the Antrim Shoreline
- Superfry in Portstewart
- Beshoff Brothers in Howth
Make sure you set foot in a chipper (fish ‘n chip store) or a neighborhood pub for one in all Eire’s favourite meals!
The Guinness Storehouse
Talking of Guinness and the significance of freshness, it doesn’t get any more energizing than the Storehouse in Dublin. There’s a cause it’s ranked primary out of all of the locations to go to in Eire.
After I stated there’s no higher place to drink Guinness than in Eire, the most effective pint of velvety black stout might be poured on the Guinness Storehouse facility on the historic St. James’s Gate Brewery!
This 7-story museum is without doubt one of the finest issues to do in Dublin because it offers a captivating perception into the historical past of Eire’s favourite drink, how it’s made, the 6-step ritual behind the proper pour, and the affect it has over the world.
Afterward, don’t miss going to the Seventh-floor Gravity Bar to drink within the 360-degree metropolis views over Dublin as you attempt an ideal pint. Get your entrance ticket here. Sláinte!
Discover Historic Eire
For the reason that first human settlement in 6000 BC, Eire has had some fascinating historic durations and occasions. The wealthy historical past and heritage have helped to form the nation. Visiting historic sights is one in all my favourite issues about exploring Eire.
High Irish Historic Points of interest
- Rock of Cashel – one in all Eire’s most historic sights and the seat of the traditional kings of Eire. St. Patrick baptized King Aengus right here in 450 AD.
- Trinity College – Eire’s oldest and well-known College. Its alumni embrace a few of the nation’s most esteemed authors and poets.
- The Book of Kells – Written in 800 AD, that is an illuminated manuscript Gospel e book in Latin, containing the 4 Gospels of the New Testomony along with numerous prefatory texts and tables. At present housed at Trinity School.
- Kylemore Abbey – constructed within the late 1800s by a rich businessman, immediately owned and run by the Benedictine group who’ve been in residence since 1920. Magnificent property.
- Glendalough – based within the early sixth century by St. Kevin, who sought an remoted place for spiritual reflection.
- Christ Church & St. Patrick’s Cathedral – Christ Church is the elder of Dublin metropolis’s two mediæval cathedrals. It’s formally claimed because the seat (cathedra) of each the Church of Eire and Roman Catholic archbishops of Dublin.
- Kilmainham Gaol – constructed within the late 18th century. Housed most of the outstanding revolutionaries concerned within the 1916 Easter Rising.
- Dublin Castle – an essential constructing in Eire’s historical past. Till 1922 it was the seat of the British authorities’s administration in Eire.
Discover Eire on Foot
This nation is a good highway journey vacation spot, however Eire might be finest explored on foot. Strolling in Eire might be so simple as a stroll alongside a canal, or mountain climbing alongside spectacular sea cliffs, distant islands, or alongside one in all its 43 waymarked long-distance trails.
All you’ll want is an efficient pair of waterproof mountain climbing sneakers, first rate health, some meals and water, and, inevitably, a rain jacket.
A few of the finest walks in Eire embrace:
- The Causeway Coast (Antrim’s north coast) – the ultimate 10 miles from Carrick-a-Rede to the Large’s Causeway might be carried out in a day and is without doubt one of the most interesting coastal walks in Eire.
- Wicklow Way (close to Dublin) – one in all Eire’s hottest long-distance walks for its outstanding surroundings and accessible begin and end factors.
- Carrauntoohil (County Kerry) – the most effective mountain hike and the best summit, at 1040m (3412ft).
- Howth Summit – finest quick hike close to Dublin.
- Muckross Lake Loop Trail (County Kerry) – akes in a few of the most photogenic elements of Killarney Nationwide Park.
- Slieve Bloom Mountains (County Offaly) – nice walks for households
Could-September are sometimes the most effective months for mountain climbing and once you stand the best likelihood of dry climate and fewer likelihood of midges.
Sip on an Irish Espresso
In case you love espresso and whiskey like me, mix them and also you’re in heaven. And should you’ve by no means had an Irish Espresso, why not begin right here, in its dwelling of Eire.
Invented in County Limerick in 1942, the components of an Irish Espresso are whiskey, scorching espresso, brown sugar, and heavy cream frivolously whipped on high. If, like me, you try and make Irish coffees at dwelling however can by no means get the cream to sit down on high, simply let the consultants in Eire make it for you.
You’ll be able to just about get a superb one in any pub or restaurant, however when in Dublin, head to The Brazen Head for the final word conventional Irish expertise. Garavan’s within the coronary heart of Galway metropolis can also be famend for his or her Irish Espresso. And naturally, you have to attempt an Irish espresso within the place the place all of it started – Foynes in County Limerick.
Discover the Small Cities
Whereas most vacationers flock to large cities like Dublin, Galway, and Belfast, one of many nation’s finest options is its small cities and villages.
I don’t know if anybody does a small city significantly better than Eire, and it’s right here you’ll discover true allure and character, historical past, quaint structure, and gorgeous places.
Assume rows of colourful buildings, pubs with stay music, quaint villages with colourful thatched-roof cottages, and a few of the finest meals. Eire’s small cities present a peaceable and intimate glimpse into Irish historical past and hospitality.
A few of the finest small cities for Eire journey experiences embrace:
- Westport – picturesque malls at its coronary heart operating both aspect of the Carrowbeg River, and the well-known peak of Croagh Patrick supplies a stark backdrop.
- Kinsale – generally known as “the prettiest city in Eire,” and well-known for its colourful brightly painted rows of retailers.
- Doolin – one in all my private favorites. Small city allure and nice stay music scene in a few of the coziest of Irish pubs. Shut by are the well-known Cliffs of Moher.
- Dingle – a good looking Irish-speaking fishing city and the quintessential Irish city in all its colourful magnificence and launch level to drive the unimaginable Dingle Peninsula.
- Clifden – completely located for exploration into the Connemara Nationwide Park.
- Clonakilty – bustling city and a hub for tourism in West Cork.
- Killarney – a captivating city and the gateway to the fabulous Killarney Nationwide Park.
- Cobh – Titanic city: the ultimate port of name for the RMS Titanic earlier than its fateful voyage. Charming waterfront city.
- Kenmare – Harry Potter followers will know Kenmare as the house of the “Kenmare Kestrels”. In any other case generally known as tranquil with colourful historic outlets, quaint streets, and rolling inexperienced hills.
- Kilkenny – plenty of atmosphere, stay music, colourful outlets, a winding River Nore, and Kilkenny Fort.
See a Gaelic Soccer Recreation (or Hurling)
In search of distinctive issues to do in Eire? Among the best stay sporting matches and cultural experiences I’ve ever skilled was the All-Eire semi-final Gaelic soccer match between Donegal and Armagh at Croke Park Stadium in Dublin in 2003.
With a sea of brightly coloured orange and inexperienced jerseys and crew flags madly waving within the crowd, the ambiance was electrical with followers on the sting of their seats screaming and cheering with each play of the ball. It was continuous thrilling motion!
You couldn’t discover extra passionate followers, particularly in the case of Eire’s personal Gaelic video games of Gaelic Football and Hurling, Eire’s very personal indigenous sports activities.
Gaelic Soccer is the preferred sport in Eire with over 2.6 million registered gamers. The sport is performed with a small ball, much like a handball, and was launched to Eire by the Scots and Irish immigrants.
Hurling is the nationwide sport of Eire that was performed by the Celts hundreds of years in the past, and has been handed down from technology to technology. It’s performed on a pitch with a big ball and a small ball. The objective of the sport is to get the small ball by the sliotar into the targets.
Step Alongside to Some Irish Dancing
Eire is synonymous with Irish dancing. It has been round for hundreds of years, however you might have first develop into conscious of it within the 90’s because of the manufacturing of Riverdance, which introduced Irish Dancing to the world stage. A go to to Eire isn’t full with out taking in some stay Irish dancing.
Away from the glamor of exhibits resembling Riverdance and Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance, there stays in Eire a deep love of conventional dance and the historical past and heritage it represents.
Kinds have advanced over time, however, basically, they embrace step dancing (characterised by the inflexible higher physique and complicated footwork of its performers), jig dance, sean nós dancing, céilí dance, and Irish faucet dancing.
As a part of my Eire tour with Globus, we loved an evening of conventional Irish dancing and singing inside Eire’s largest thatched roof pub at Taylors Three Rock. Different locations in Dublin to see dancing embrace:
Different locations round Eire embrace:
Beef & Guinness Stew (or Guinness Pie)
I like beef, and by now you already know I like Guinness, so this mix is a wedding made in heaven for me! It’s usually the easy moments that deliver me probably the most pleasure and filling up on this basic Irish consolation meals in a neighborhood pub brings me plenty of JOY.
And when in Dublin, yow will discover me having fun with a hearty Beef & Guinness stew at one in all my favourite Irish pubs, The Stags Head.
In case you don’t know, Guinness is a tasty addition to stews and casseroles, because it helps tenderize the meat and provides its distinctive malty taste to any dish. Try this listing of things you can cook up using Guinness.
In fact, the Beef & Guinness Pie model housed in a pastry is one other favourite different, and I loved this HUGE pie on the Achill Islands at Gielty’s Bar throughout my tour of Eire with Globus.
With out the addition of Guinness, in fact conventional Irish Stew (Lamb Chunks with root greens, child potatoes and recent herbs) continues to be one of many nation’s most well-known dishes and luxury meals.
Most pubs and Irish eating places are prone to serve their very own variations of this dish, however in Dublin take a look at the Oval Bar, the Hairy Lemon and JW Sweetman for hearty stews.
The Pub Scene
Eire is a rustic of pubs, and the pub is an important a part of the tradition. While you go to Eire it appears like there’s a pub on each road, at the least in each city, and there are over 7,000 pubs in Eire, and 700+ in Dublin alone!
Irish pubs are like second properties for locals, they usually grew to become mine too whereas dwelling in Dublin. It’s inside a pub’s partitions the place you’ll be able to actually really feel the friendliness of the individuals, the place for good craic, and the historical past and character of the pubs simply draw you in.
And as nice because the beer is, you’ll be able to nonetheless immerse your self within the pub scene with out consuming beer, merely pop in for a hearty pub meal and hearken to conventional Irish music.
However should you do fancy a pint, right here’s a fast run down of common Irish beers:
- Guinness – Stout (Dublin)
- Murphy’s – Irish Stout (Cork)
- Smithwick’s – Crimson Ale
- Harp – Lager
- Galway Hooker – IPA
- Kilkenny – Cream Ale
Only a few of the highest pubs in Eire from a really lengthy listing embrace:
Drink in Eire’s Oldest Pub
While you go to Eire, don’t miss the possibility to have a drink within the oldest pub, Seans, which dates again to 900 AD. Not solely is it the oldest in Eire, however Guinness E-book of Information is but to seek out one older anyplace on the planet!
This historic bar in Athlone options sloping flooring, peat fires and many music. Simply strolling by the door into the pub with its low ceiling and low mild, you’ll be able to sense the historical past and character and immediately really feel such as you’re stepping again in time.
I loved a morning Irish espresso right here throughout my Green With Envy tour with Globus and look ahead to returning for a Guinness or Whiskey!
Black Cab Tour of Belfast
When you is likely to be spending most of your time within the Republic of Eire, since this island is so small, I like to recommend you take into account together with Northern Irealnd in your journey as properly.
One among my most shifting and tense Eire journey moments was doing a black cab tour of Belfast for a novel perception into Belfast’s and Northern Eire’s troubled previous.
We realized concerning the complicated historical past and harrowing tales and the way it has formed the current day from a educated information who drove us round to a few of the metropolis’s most-famous political murals, peace partitions, and each side of the divide in a London-style black cab.
If this pursuits you, take a look at this one hour black taxi tour of Belfast which has plenty of nice opinions.
Kick Begin Your Day with a Full-Irish Breakfast
One factor I liked about our London journey this 12 months was my morning Full-English Breakfast, there’s nothing like a superb fry-up to kick begin your day, particularly within the cooler months.
The identical rang true for me in Eire. However their model, a Full-Irish Breakfast, typically consists of a mixture of bacon, sausages, eggs, fried tomatoes, mushrooms, hash browns, white and black pudding (pork meat with oatmeal and blood sausage respectively) and baked beans.
Get fueled up to your day of exploration, and particularly good as a hangover treatment after an evening on the Guinness. You’ll find these breakfasts in most resorts and eating places.
Different Meals Experiences
What can be the purpose of touring to Eire with out sampling some genuine Irish delicacies?
Irish meals might be finest described as hearty, and nearly all dishes contain potatoes, cabbage, and meat (particularly lamb and pork, however with a powerful emphasis on utilizing recent native components.
Meals in Eire isn’t simply concerning the style; it’s concerning the place, the expertise, and the individuals who created it. When visiting one of many native eateries, don’t simply persist with Fish n’ Chips or Irish Stew, take into account one in all these different conventional dishes:
- Bacon and Cabbage
- Cockles & Mussels (immortalized within the Dublin’s unofficial anthem, ‘Molly Malone)
- Smoked salmon
- Seafood chowder
- Potato and leek soup
- bangers & Mash
- Soda bread & Irish Brown Bread
- Ulster fry (bacon, eggs, sausages and black pudding)
- Colcannon (mashed potatoes combined with cabbage or kale)
- Boxty (Potato dumpling, potato pancake and potato bread are all descriptors)
- Black and white pudding
For extra Irish meals experiences, take a look at the English Market in Cork, the Temple Bar Food Market in Dublin and the St George’s Market in Belfast. As for meals excursions, take a look at this food walking tour in Dublin.
Temple Bar District
The occurring Temple Bar District in Dublin is like no different place in Eire. It’s the place nearly each customer heads to for good craic and some pints in one in all its many full of life pubs. Though it could be the middle of Dublin’s nightlife, and thrives day and night time, it’s not simply concerning the beer!
This district on the south financial institution of the River Liffey can also be one in all cobbled streets, a big number of eating places, cafes, markets, artwork galleries, exhibitions, theaters, resorts and extra.
However truthfully, most vacationers come right here for the beer and the occasion. One of the best-known pub is the namesake Temple Bar, simply acknowledged by its crimson exterior, fairy lights and hanging baskets. Different common pubs right here embrace the Quays Bar and Oliver St. John Gogarty’s.
The entire pubs are likely to get crowded, particularly within the evenings, and sure it’s stuffed with vacationers and vacationer costs, however should you’re searching for a vibrant ambiance and a enjoyable introduction to Eire, that is the place!
Store on Grafton Road
The principal purchasing road on the southside of the River Liffey in Dublin is Grafton Road, a pedestrian road lined with boutique shops containing the creations of Eire’s fashionable designers, plus cafes, bars, and eating places.
Positioned between Trinity School and St Stephen’s Inexperienced, this bustling thoroughfare is one in all Europe’s busiest purchasing streets, For the reason that Nineteen Eighties has develop into internationally recognized for its road leisure, significantly busking, with musicians, poets and mime artists generally performing for buyers.
There wouldn’t be many streets in Eire as well-trodden as Grafton Road, and even should you’re not into purchasing the individuals watching and the buskers are definitely worth the stroll.
Marvel on the Large’s Causeway
One other nice attraction to not miss in Northern Eire is the The Giant’s Causeway.
Right here you’ll be able to observe within the legendary footsteps of giants at Northern Eire’s iconic World Heritage Website. It’s actually spectacular and distinctive, as hundreds of basalt columns tumble down into the Atlantic Ocean, with a whopping 40,000 hexagonal-shaped steppingstones fashioned some 60 million years in the past.
The story of this website is about an Irish big who picked a battle with Scottish large man Benandonner. Legend has it that the giants loathed one another. And so, someday Fionn constructed a path to make use of as stepping-stones to succeed in Scotland, which was then ripped up by Benandonner. The outcome was the Large’s Causeway.
A brief stroll brings you all the way down to the Causeway itself, the place you’ll be able to jump over the stones, discover the encompassing hills, or simply sit and ponder the puzzling geology of one in all Europe’s most outstanding pure websites.
There you’ve it. An inventory of Eire journey experiences to place in your listing for a go to to the Emerald Isle. In case you didn’t know what to do in Eire, now you already know! What exercise or expertise would you take pleasure in most?
And don’t overlook to take a look at the Eire itinerary I did with Globus should you don’t gained’t to go it alone and have all of the enjoyable with out the effort!