Ireland is a beautiful country with many exceptional places to see. Once you drive around Ireland in spring, you become aware of why they call it a green country – the incredible beauty of nature.
Since it wasn’t our first time here, we skipped sightseeing in Dublin having already done it before. However, if you haven’t been here, we strongly recommend exploring Dublin for at least a day or two.
On our tours, we usually choose local transport like buses or trains. However, this was not an option during our time in Ireland as the local public transport is not very tourist-friendly. Therefore, many visitors to Ireland rent a car to explore the country as it allows them to see more. We are not comfortable with driving in a foreign country, especially when they drive on the opposite side of the road compared to our country.
If that is the case with you too there are still options.
1. Travel with friends or family (as we did) who are comfortable with driving.
2. Stay in the region’s main town and make one-day excursions. Many organised tours visit the main attractions.
Northeast Ireland
We started our tour by exploring the northeast side of Ireland. At the airport we were picked up by our familyand brought to the beautiful countryside of Louth.
On the first day, we walked around the nearby village of Tallanstown, a charming place with a picturesque centre and an old school building. During our stay in Louth County, we visited Newgrange, Slane Castle, Dundalk and Carlingford and made a one-day trip to Northern Ireland.
Bru na Boine – Newgrange
The famous prehistoric monument complex of Brú na Bóinne also called the Boyne Valley tombs, is the UNESCO World Heritage site. It is one of the world’s most important Neolithic landscapes, including at least ninety monuments like passage tombs, burial mounds, standing stones and enclosures. The passage tombs of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth dominate the site.
Each of the three main megalithic sites has significant archaeoastronomical importance. Newgrange and Dowth are allined with the winter solstice, while Knowth is oriented towards the March equinox (spring equinox) and the September equinox (autumn equinox).
Access to the Newgrange and Knowth neolithic monuments is through the Brú na Bóinne Visitors Centre. From the Visitor Centre shuttle buses transport visitors to Newgrange and Knowth, where on-site guides lead tours.
Newgrange is a Stone Age (Neolithic) passage tomb constructed about 5,200 years ago, making it older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids of Giza.
It is famous for illuminating its passage and tomb during the winter solstice sun.
The Great Mound at Knowth is a passage tomb similar to Newgrange, surrounded by 18 smaller satellite mounds.
The Knowth site contains a third of the megalithic art in all Western Europe. During excavations over 200 decorated stones were found. Many motifs on the rocks, such as spirals and concentric circles, are typical.
Slane Castle
Ireland has a rich history of crafting Whiskey, so where better to discover or deepen your understanding of this tradition than at Slane Distillery on the historic grounds of Slane Castle?
You can book a castle tour, an afternoon tea or special dining events.
Since 1981, the grounds of Slane Castle have also hosted rock concerts known as the Slane Festival.
We booked a whiskey tour at the Slane Irish Whiskey Distillery, located in a restored 18th-century stable yard opposite the Castle Courtyard. The distillery uses a blend of whiskey aged in virgin oak casks, seasoned whiskey casks, and Oloroso sherry casks. The distillery offers guided tours to visitors.
We participated in a tour and tasting at the Slane Irish Whiskey Distillery, which included a guided tasting of Slane Irish Whiskey and Slane Extra Sherry Wood.
Dundalk
Dundalk is the county town of County Louth. The most significant building is the church of St. Patrick known as the town Cathedral. We also visited the Marshes Shopping Centre, which resembles a Town Hall more than a shopping mall.
Carlingford
Carlingford is a magical village, full of character. It is one of the best-preserved medieval villages in Ireland. We enjoyed strolling through the old streets with colourful houses. It’s known for its oyster farms, medieval buildings and outdoor activities.
King John’s Castle dominates the Carlingford town and overlooks the large harbour. The old Carlingford castle dates from the 12th century. Unfortunately, today you can see only parts of the ruined stone complex.
Fitzpatrick’s Bar & Restaurant
If you visit Louth County do not miss a meal at Fitzpatrick’s Bar & Restaurant. We finished a wonderful day with a splendid dinner at Fitzpatrick’s.
It is hard to say whether the interior of the restaurant or the exterior is more interesting due to its vibrant ideas and originality.
The food was amazing, especially the famous fish and chips!
Northern Ireland
Giant’s Causeway
The North Coast area of Northern Ireland is famous for the Giant’s Causeway, wonderful coastlines and unique natural beauty.
The Causeway Coastal Route is among the most stunning in Europe and includes areas of outstanding natural beauty. In spring the wild flowers bring this unique landscape to life.
The Giant’s Causeway has 40,000 large, regularly shaped polygonal basalt columns in perfect horizontal sections. They were formed by an ancient volcanic eruption. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This dramatic sight has inspired legends about giants walking over the sea to Scotland.
According to legend, an Irish giant named Finn created a causeway to get across the Irish Sea to face his rival, the Scottish giant Benandonner. After their fearsome meeting, Benandonner ripped up the causeway as he fled back to Scotland, leaving the remains on the north coast of Northern Ireland.
Western Ireland
The third part of our tour around Ireland led us to the western part of the island.
There we visited the region of Connemara, the famous Kylemore Abbey with Victorian Walled Gardens, the town Clifden and Sky Road.
Connemara
On our way to western Ireland, we drove through the Connemara Region along Connemara’s National Park. The region is famous for its wild terrain and soft colours
Connemara is not just about the landscape but about the Irish language cherished by the locals. The area has a strong association with traditional Irish culture.
Kylemore Abbey & Victorian Walled Garden
We stopped at one of Ireland’s top attractions, the Kylemore Castle.
Located by the lake in stunning green surroundings, it is an enchanting place to visit.
Mitchell Henry built the castle in 1868 as a wedding gift to his wife Margaret. Interior of the building is well-preserved and furnished.
For the last 100 years, it has been a Benedictine Monastery, founded in 1920 for Benedictine nuns who fled Belgium during World War I. The nuns ran a farm on the estate and used to have a boarding and day school for local girls.
Just a five-minute walk from the Abbey lies Kylemore’s neo-Gothic Church. Situated along the shores of the lake, this elegant building is a lasting testament to the love of Mitchell Henry for his wife Margaret.
The Estate includes large walled Victorian Gardens. The Benedictine nuns have restored the Abbey’s gardens to be a self-sufficient estate. The gardens include a kitchen garden and a flower garden. We walked through the gardens enjoying the variety of plants and design of the garden, which shows its full beauty in spring
Clifden
Clifden is a coastal town in County Galway and the largest town in the region of Connemara. We checked in at the Alcock & Brown Hotel, a nice accommodation in the centre.
We strolled through the streets of the picturesque Clifden with the imaginative shop window decorations.
We went out to find a place to eat and were recommended to the Mannions Restaurant. That was an excellent choice, for they served traditional and local food for a reasonable price and everything tasted delicious.
Besides there was a bonus! We had live traditional Irish music that plays here every evening.
Clifden has several venues for traditional Irish music, the most famous beeing Lowry’s Bar.
It is an iconic Irish Pub, famous for its warm, friendly atmosphere and legendary Irish music. It has won the “Best Traditional Bar in Ireland” at Ireland’s prestigious National Hospitality Awards for several years.
We ended our spectacular day at Lowry’s Bar, attending a live concert by the famous Irish singer Padraig Jack.
Sky Road
Sky Road is a panoramic road that starts and ends in Clifden. From Clifden, the road heads west and soon we reached a junction between Lower Sky Road and Upper Sky Road. The upper path gradually rose and at the highest point, we reached a car park. The view from up there over Clifden Bay and the offshore islands in the Atlantic Ocean is breathtaking.
Taking the Lower Sky Road, we ended on a small beach, Eyrephort, with various rocks, plants and wooden parts brought by the ocean tide, and small ponds of seawater with seashells.
Southwest Ireland
From Clifden, we drove towards southwest Ireland, the fourth part of our trip. The places to visit were the Cliffs of Moher and Galway.
Close to the Galway we checked in at the Glenlo Abbey Hotel & Estate, one of the most remarkable 5-star hotels in Ireland. Dating back to the 18th Century it is a place where old-world charm meets contemporary elegance. The suite was very classy and the lounge and restaurant too.
The hotel is home to the Pullman Restaurant, two former carriages from the Orient Express each with its distinct history and style. This restaurant is one of the most unique dining experiences one can enjoy. As great admirers of Agatha Christie’s books, we enjoyed a splendid dinner in the atmosphere of one of her most famous stories.
The hotel is also a haven for golf enthusiasts with a 138-acre golf estate set on the banks of Lough Corrib. We had a chance to try the basic golf moves and discovered that we did not have the necessary skills for this sport.
Cliffs of Moher
The Cliffs of Moher are among the most visited tourist sites in Ireland. They are sea cliffs located at the southwestern edge of Ireland.
First, we stopped at the Visitors Centre, a very interesting building almost entirely underground with grass on the top, reminiscent of the Irish prehistoric tombs. You don’t have to pay to see the cliffs as they are part of the natural landscape. However, there is a fee for the Cliffs of Moher visitor experience, which includes access to facilities and a car parking fee.
The Cliffs run for about 14 kilometres. At their southern end, they rise 120 metres above the Atlantic Ocean, and 8 kilometres to the north, they reach their maximum height of 214 metres.
We walked the safe, paved pathways and viewed the famous Cliffs and spectacular views over the Atlantic Ocean and the Aran Islands.
O’Brien’s Tower is a round stone tower near the midpoint of the cliffs, marking the highest point.
The tower was built on the cliffs in 1835 by local landlord Sir O’Brien as an observation tower for English tourists.
Galway
On our way back we stopped in Galway, a bohemian city with a love of traditional music. Located near an earlier settlement, Galway grew around a fortification built by the King of Connacht in 1124.
Galway is a tourist destination known for festivals and events, including the Galway International Arts Festival. Street performers played Irish music everywhere, creating a vibrant and charming atmosphere.
Magical Ireland Itinerary
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