Image: By Seaninryan [CC BY-SA 4.0 ], from Wikimedia Commons
There’s a reason why so many people worldwide like to claim Irish ancestry; it’s simply the best place in the world! Okay, perhaps we’re biased but Hollywood stars like Sarah Jessica Parker, Jeremy Irons and the late Michael Jackson have all been frequent visitors during the years and Kim and Kanye even honeymooned here so we’re in good company when they say Ireland is a must-visit destination.
Celebrity visitors aside, there are lots of reasons to visit our beautiful Emerald Isle. The people, the craic, the ceol, the wholesome food, the Guinness, the rugged coastline, endless miles of greenery…and we’re just getting started!
We’ve put together a list of our top 5 reasons to book your flights for a trip to Ireland right now.
- A small country packed full of sightseeing
- Castles everywhere
- It’s easy to get around
- Experience a real Irish bar
- See the world’s fastest field sport in action
There are so many historic and monumental sites to see in Ireland, including world famous UNESCO heritage sites like Skellig Michael (where scenes from the Star Wars movies were filmed) and Brú na Bóinne which is home to Newgrange, one of the oldest prehistoric megalithic sites in Europe.
There’s also the Cliffs of Moher, The Burren, The Rock of Cashel, Kilmainham Gaol and Clonmacnoise as well as tourist attractions such as the Guinness Storehouse, Killarney National Park, Dublin Zoo and Tayto Park.
Considering the size of our country, there are a lot of castles, and many are very well preserved. You are spoilt for choice when it comes to castles and you will be able to visit a real gem no matter what part of the country you choose to holiday in.
Dublin Castle (in our capital city), Kilkenny Castle (Co. Kilkenny), Blarney Castle in Cork, Bunratty Castle and Folk Park in Co. Clare, Malahide Castle (Co. Dublin), Parkes Castle (Co. Sligo), Birr Castle (Co. Offaly), King John’s Castle (Co. Limerick) and Ashford Castle in Co. Mayo are some of the many options you have to choose from.
You can fit a lot in on your trip to Ireland. From the most northerly point to the most southerly part of Ireland is a distance of only 400-450 miles. There are good train services and bus routes and if you want to really pack in a lot of sight-seeing, you can always do a chauffeured tour or Ireland to bring you from stop to stop and serve as your very own local Irish tour guide.
There are so many “Irish bars” worldwide but none really encapsulate the true style and atmosphere of a local Irish pub. Even if tasting a “proper” pint of Guinness doesn’t tickle your fancy, you need to pop into a rural Irish bar during your trip to Ireland and have a lemonade.
On any given night you could witness an impromptu céilí trad session, join in with a sing-song that goes on through the early hours, hear the life story of the locals and get to know stories about ancient Ireland.
Even those with zero interest in sport find themselves in absolute awe watching our native game of hurling or camogie. It’s the fastest field sport in the world and action-packed from the first to final whistle. You just have to see it in action – and if you can catch a game down a local sports field even better.
The sport is particularly prevalent in Kilkenny, Tipperary and Cork where it’s alleged that young boys and girls are “born with a hurl in their hands” so is the talent of hurlers and camogie players in these counties. Look up the sport on YouTube and you’ll be longing to see it in real life. It has to be seen to be believed!
Convinced yet? We could keep going and going! Ireland has so much to see and do for all ages that it is no surprise it’s on the must-visit list of so many people. So, what are you waiting for? The Emerald Isle awaits your visit!