The Wanderlust guide to the best of Ireland
There’s the Guinness and Leprechauns, to be sure. But Ireland offers so much more…
Ireland is often described in stereotypes: Ireland is the Emerald Isle, the land of great craic, Guinness and jolly leprechauns. There’s truth in this: Ireland is well-watered (pack a raincoat) and therefore lush and green, and Irish people are generally convivial and fond of their local pub.
But there’s more to Ireland than clichés. Step away from Ireland’s main tourist hubs such as central Dublin or Blarney Castle’s infamous kissing stone and you’ll find the less slick but more authentic Ireland, as well as some breathtaking landscapes.
Heather-covered bog and rolling farmland cover much of Ireland, coupled with rocky upland (see the primordial Burren), dramatic cliffs and craggy mountain ranges, much of which is encompassed in Ireland’s six national parks. And after a hard day’s walking, kayaking, horse-riding or cycling those landscapes, you’ll have earned yourself a pint of the black stuff.
Looking for inspiration?
There’s a temptation to think of visiting Ireland as one long pub crawl. There’s always a friendly local with a story to tell and a thirst to slake. Thankfully Hazel Plush is on hand to push you towards other pursuits, both cultural and active, in her list of five things to do in Ireland.
Craig Doyle, too, has compiled a list of weekend adventures in Ireland for every month of the year. From comedy festivals to whale watching, there’s something for everyone.
Of course, there’s a reason Irish pubs are so popular. At times, the weather can be atrocious. But these very same elemental forces have shaped the landscape into some of the most spectacular on the planet. To fully appreciate it, Paul Morrison recommends travelling along the Dingle Penisnsula. Meraid Griffin suggests ten adventurous things to do in Donegal. Lyn Hughes, though, says head to Connemara for horseriding, hiking and wildlife watching. And some really fabulous food.
More information
5 things to do in Ireland – Hazel Plush
12 Gaelic weekends in Ireland – Craig Doyle
Travelling along Ireland’s Dingle Peninsula – Paul Morrison
10 adventurous things to do in Donegal – Meraid Griffin
Double your fun in Dublin
One of my favourite jokes as a kid was the one that asked why Ireland is the richest country in the world. (It’s capital is always Dublin…) On visiting Dublin you’ll discover those riches in its pubs, its culture and its history.
To help you get your bearings – yes, there is more to Dublin than Temple Bar – Gwenllian Jones has put together a guide to your first 24 hours in the city. Lauren Williams suggests 10 things to do for free in Dublin and Paul Bloomfield reveals a side of the city best appreciated when you’re sober.
More information
First 24 hours in Dublin – Gwenllian Jones
10 things to do for free in Dublin – Lauren Williams
Things to do in Dublin when you’re dead (sober) – Paul Bloomfield
