If you’re planning on having a private tour around Ireland this year, you’ll find that there are so many beautiful places to go and so many interesting places to see. And while all of these choices may leave you feeling a little overwhelmed, we’re about to help you narrow down your options by unveiling our top 5 places to visit in Ireland in 2019.

Let’s start with one of the must-see places in Co. Cork…

 

  • The historic Blarney Castle and Gardens

Who could visit Ireland without taking the time to go and kiss the Blarney Stone? Located approximately 8kms from Cork City, Blarney Castle and Gardens is home to the famous Blarney Stone which is believed to give you the ‘gift of the gab’ if you kiss it.

Our word of warning is that you’ll need to be fairly flexible to achieve a ‘Blarney Stone Kiss’, as you have to lean backwards to reach the stone that is set in the wall below the battlements.

 

  • View the Wild Atlantic Coastline from the Cliffs of Moher

Make the journey to Liscannor on the West Coast of Ireland and pay a visit to the ruggedly scenic UNESCO listed Cliffs of Moher. Rising over 700 feet above the Atlantic Coast, the cliffs were used as a backdrop in the film Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, and are a wonderful place to view the western shoreline of the Emerald Isle.

 

  • Join a Game of Thrones tour

Fans of the blockbuster Game of Thrones can’t come to Ireland and miss out on seeing the mighty Giant’s Causeway for themselves, or standing on the same spot at Larrybane as Renly Baratheon when he swore his oath to Lady Stark.

Don’t forget to visit the Cushendun Caves, Ballintoy Harbour and the Dark Hedges, where Arya Stark made her flight from King’s Landing. To get the full GOT experience, you may want to consider joining a Game of Thrones guided tour.

  • Sample Irish Whiskey at the Irish Whiskey Museum

Irish Whiskey, spelt with an ‘e’ is just as good as its Scottish rival, if not better. While it did experience a decline in popularity in the past, it’s now experiencing somewhat of a revival.

Even if you’re not a whiskey drinker you’ll find the Irish Whiskey Museum is a great place to spend some time. Located on Grafton Street in Dublin, it’s the first Irish Whiskey Museum in the world and you’ll learn all you need to know about the drink’s origins, its rise to fame, and its dramatic fall from grace.

 

  • Learn about Dublin’s History in Kilmainham Gaol

While at first glance a visit to a bleak 19th century jail may not be top of your list of tourist attractions, Kilmainham Gaol has so much history to convey. You’ll feel as though you’ve stepped back in time as you explore the dark, damp cells and shadowed corridors, and you’ll expect to hear the ghosts of past prisoners as you learn more about the important historical figures and events of the time.

Visits to the gaol are by guided tour only, which is suitable for both adults and children.

So, with all of that said; are you ready to take an adventure to the Emerald Isle in 2019?