Ireland has been known for many things throughout the years. Most recently many might be aware that their football (that’s soccer to us Americans) team made it to the semi finals, or that 2016 is the centennial celebration of the Republic of Ireland’s 1916 Easter Rising fight for independence from England. It is also fairly commonly known that Guinness has a headquarters in Dublin, and that St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated internationally and often includes a lot of green and a lot of drinking, for those who aren’t fully aware of the holiday’s roots.
Someone who is only slightly familiar with the Republic of Ireland may not realize how many amazing things there are to do in there, or what they should try while visiting the isle of green. Here are some suggestions to adventure to, or just even take an Internet trip of sightseeing to!
1. The Ring of Kerry Bus Tour
Kerry County is on the West side of Ireland, and it is know for its incredibly gorgeous countryside. The color green is not only associated with Ireland because it is part of their flag, but it truly is everywhere when traveling in the rural areas of the country. The greenery of County Kerry comes up to the sides of the road and often over it! Park Rangers are paid to continually cut back the flora and fauna that continue to grow year round over the already narrow roads. Since Ireland experiences seemingly continual rain throughout the year, plant growth parallels the weather conditions. Any Ring of Kerry Bus Tour will be a full day event, leaving in the morning and returning right around dinnertime, but dedicating the entire day to this trip is definitely worth it! Not only do passengers roll through the Ireland countryside, but there are stops of old abandoned castles, seaside port towns, mountain ocean overlooks and so much more. Any adventure to West Ireland would be incomplete without a tour of The Ring of Kerry.
2. Blarney Castle and Gardens
Blarney Castle and kissing the Blarney Stone is quite possibly one of the most well known tourist attractions in Ireland. Blarney Castle is quite well intact for its age, and making it to the top of the castle to kiss the Blarney Stone (to make you more charming, as legend has it) is quite a feat. In all of the hype about Blarney Castle, the grounds and gardens of the castle are often left out. Blarney Castle gardens stretch for acres, and span many different intriguing types. From the gorgeous fern garden trails to the poison garden (a decorative addition next to the castle that displays plants that were once considered, and still are, to have poisonous effects), the Blarney Castle Gardens have much to offer! In other areas of the Blarney Estate there are paths to sites including a Dolmen, a Witch’s Cave, Standing Stones, Waterfalls – enough to fill multiple days! When visiting Blarney Castle and Gardens, make sure to plan at least an entire day to explore!
3. Inis Oirr Island
While Ireland is an island itself, there are multiple smaller islands off the coast that should also be considered for day trips as a part of any full Ireland adventure! The Island of Inis Oirr (pronounced in-esh-ear) is like jumping in the Doctor’s TARDIS and going back in time to early Ireland. The community there is one of many in Ireland that is referred to as Gaeltatch – a place where Irish (also known as Gaelic) is spoken in all areas of life. In these communities all signs will be written in Irish, radio stations are in Irish and some of the people don’t even have second languages. On Inis Oirr, though, the natives have learned English as a second language to make sure that the growing enterprise of tourism stays alive. Upon arriving by ferry at the port, visitors can choose to bike through the island, take a horse drawn carriage, or jump into a trailer that is attached to a tractor for tours of the island. Tours include stops at a shipwreck, a castle, a watchtower, an old graveyard and a sunken church. On top of the tour, there are little cafes that are run out of the homes of the inhabitants, gorgeous beaches, a seal colony, a lighthouse and other amazing stops to see.
4. The Cliffs of Moher
After visiting Inis Oirr Island, making a stop at the Cliffs of Moher is just around the corner. If you’re familiar with the classic "The Princess Bride," you might know these cliffs as “The Cliffs of Insanity.” If you’ve seen the Harry Potter series, you might recognize these cliffs and their famous cave, also. Even if you have never heard of the Cliffs of Moher, their sheer beauty is enough reason to make the few minute trip from Inis Oirr Island. You can choose to see the cliffs from the land view (taking a bus to the top and walking around them), from sea view (taking a ferry from Innis Oirr to less than a half mile in front of the cliffs), or from both! If your stomach hasn’t grown its sea legs yet, the ferry ride might not be for you, but the bus tour to the top has equally gorgeous views!
5. Traditional Irish Music and Dancing
While it may seem like a no-brainer, checking out some of the local talent while in Ireland is a must! Most pubs advertise traditional live music nights, and many of those have no cover and come along with great Irish pub food. Irish theater is abundant, and of course River Dance is quite popular. Celtic Nights is an experience at the Arlington Hotel in Dublin that includes music, dancing, and traditional Irish food all in one. Whatever the experience might be, getting a true taste of Ireland definitely includes local culture!
6. Dublinia
Dublinia is an interactive Irish museum that is fun for the whole family! Dublinia boasts of three floors of exhibits and learning. The first floor tells the story of Ireland and early Viking settlements, the second floor covers Medieval Ireland and the third floor shows how history is dug up and preserved by scientists today. The end of the Dublinia tour takes you across an intact enclosed bridge to the Christ Church Cathedral, originally built in 1030 CE. During the day the cathedral allows visitors to tour the church also!
7. Trinity College Dublin
While Trinity College in the heart of Dublin has beautiful architecture and history, the two main high points of the college are the library and the Book of Kells exhibit. The Trinity College Library was highlights in "Star Wars: Attack of the Clones," and in general is a feat of architecture and an amazing collection of literature! The Book of Kells is an exhibit that displays multiple ancient holy books and gives their history, ending with the (now four-volume) Book of Kells. The Book of Kells is one of the oldest and most decorated versions of the four gospels of the Christian Bible (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John). Even for people without religious ties, the sheer beauty of the Book of Kells and the awesome history lesson that comes with it is worth the trip! The books are so treasured that there is no photography allowed in the exhibit to ensure their continued preservation.
Ireland’s treasures are countless, but these few experiences definitely top the list! Whether just drooling over photos of them on the Internet, or booking them for your next holiday, they are worth the time to check out!
