Fun Things To Do In Ireland
Ireland has been at the top of mine and Hannah‘s list for a good while.
Ireland is a beautiful country whose people, food, music, culture, landscape, and opportunity for adventure has it listed high on the must-visit list for many travellers.
In fact, many of the Ireland adventures we went on were suggested to us by our community members!
The first thing we did was grab a rental car! (finally, a car that has the steering wheel on the RIGHT side of the car… though it took a bit for me to switch my thinking back) We were told the best way to travel Ireland was in a car, looking back I am really glad we had it for the 2 weeks we were there.
Take a second to appreciate the weather. Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle since it is sooooooo green. Thing is, one of the reasons it’s so lush and green is you can expect rain on any given day.
And then… CASTLE!!! Of course, and not just any castle…
Blarney Castle to Kiss the Infamous Blarney Stone.
Blarney Castle is just outside Cork, Ireland and is said to date back to before the 1200’s. It was destroyed somewhere along the way but built back up in the mid-1400s with what is still there today. Obviously, the current stone structure being nearly 600 years old, has had some wear and tear over the years. But it still looks incredible! There are still gardens, battlements, and rooms you can visit.
The garden we had to see… The POISON GARDEN.
A garden full of poisonous plants and explanations for what they are and the terrible things they’ll do to you (or, the person you poison).
In our curious travelling fashion, we couldn’t just take a normal walk around the castle gardens. Not when there are some mysterious tunnels to explore! We walked, crawled, got a little lost, and adventured through these dark Irish castle tunnels not quite sure what was going on. That is, until we hit a dead end and had to turn back around.
And can’t forget, the Blarney Stone itself!
It was a little odd lining up to kiss a rock… But the legend says that kissing the Blarney Stone, or Stone of Eloquence as very few people call it, gives you the gift of gab. So once we kiss it, we’ll be able to talk good and make the best vlogs ever made! If the legend holds…
To get to the stone, it’s a walk up tiny winding staircases all the way to the top of the castle. There are also some castle rooms and a kitchen to go exploring through.
The stone itself isn’t quite easily accessible… To be able to kiss it, you’ve got to lay on your back with your head hanging a bit upside down, and hold on to bars by your head as someone holds onto your sides so you don’t go falling down the hole. It’s a long way down from the very top of the castle… Guess whichever origin legend you subscribe to for how the Blarney Stone came to be, they couldn’t just make it too easy to gain the gift of eloquence!
It’s a bit anticlimactic, and being bestowed with eloquence definitely didn’t set in right away. Maybe if we’d been able to warm up to the stone a bit? Get to know each other before having a kiss? Or maybe it speaks Gaelic?
There is a ton to see in and around the castle though. We got lost a bit more, found some more caves to roam through, gardens, the mansion built on the grounds, and even a waterfall!
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RING OF KERRY
Another top thing to do in Ireland is the Ring of Kerry. It’s a coastal loop to drive around southwestern Ireland on the Iveragh Peninsula that typically starts in Killarney.
Driving along the Ring of Kerry, there are many sites to stop and explore. Don’t just drive around the coastal route, make sure to get out of the car (or off the tour bus) and see what there is to see.
Including, more castles!
Meeting up with our community!
One of our favourite parts about the Ring of Kerry part of our Ireland trip was being able to link up with members of our Behind Closed Doors and Facebook community (more detailed webinar call, register here). In this digital age, it’s great to be able to connect with different people around the world, but is even more amazing when you get the chance to meet them face to face and shake their hand!
Having an Ireland local with us, Eoin, we learned quite a few fun facts and local legends. For example, similar to the castle in the middle of nowhere we found they have what’s called “Fairy Forts”. They’re circular structures in the middle of fields that in the past were used for burial grounds and such. So why the name fairy forts? To help older generations scare kids off from playing on them! Legend has it, the fairies live in them and will catch you if you do… The Fae in Ireland are not the fun Tinkerbell sort, best to stay away and not trifle with them just in case… Plus, now the fairy forts are protected and have fences around them.
During the road trip, we kept popping out to take in the beautiful view of the coast. But let’s be honest, it was windy and COLD. So, maybe not as much out of the car as we would have liked but it was definitely worth it for the view!
Especially, when you run up and do a bit of hiking to the top of the mountain in the Ireland stormy weather 🙂
CLIFFS OF MOHER
Another great and beautiful attraction we hit up during our road trip, the Cliffs of Moher. This is one of the most popular and well known scenic spots in Ireland.
The Cliffs of Moher are a little further up the west coast of Ireland and part of the Wild Atlantic Way. The cliffs dive right into the ocean and are definitely a sight to see and a show of raw nature. The cliff edges are abrupt, and we’ve been told on a clear day you can view the Aran Islands out in Galway Bay.
Pro Tip: Don’t stand too close to the edge or you might get swept away! The wind is next level…
GUINNESS
Of course, no trip to Ireland is complete without a run around Dublin, and a stop at the Guinness Storehouse!
Guinness has a long history in Ireland, dating back to the 1700’s when Arthur Guinness signs a 9000-year lease on a brewery at St. James’s Gate in Dublin (you get a view of the lease displayed through the floor as you’re walking in!). There’s tons of history, and at the Guinness Storehouse you can learn all about it, plus go through the tasting and other interactive experiences, get something delicious to eat and drink a Guinness on top of the roof with a view of all of Dublin. Gotta say, not a bad setup!
We’ve heard Guinness is better in Ireland, and it’s difficult to disagree. Especially now that I’ve learned to pour the perfect pint 😉
NORTHERN IRELAND
When in Ireland, don’t miss the opportunity to visit Northern Ireland. Located on the northeast side of the island of Ireland, Northern Ireland is part of the UK, while the rest of the island is the Republic of Ireland.
There is a lot of history and culture in Northern Ireland, especially given the not so distant past civil war. One suggestion a community member gave us was to take the Black Taxi Tour Belfast. It’s known as being a great way to see Belfast, as well as understand the current climate and tour the murals from both sides of the community.
A couple other top pics for Belfast are the Old Bushmills Distillery (oldest working distillery in Ireland, 400 years!) and the Titanic Exhibition.
Northern Ireland is also known for it’s scenic Giant’s Causeway with its unique volcanic rock formations, and the beautiful drive along the Antrim Coast.
Game of Thrones
If you’re a fan of Game of Thrones (or have at least seen a few previews and memes), then you’ve caught a glimpse of beautiful Northern Ireland.
If you’re a fan, one thing to not miss out on is the Game of Thrones tour! The tour takes you through Belfast, and to the scenic outreaches beyond. You get some insights into the set, props and scenes as well as a chance to become a living enactment of Game of Thrones! (well, for a day anyway).
Ireland was absolutely amazing, and we may very well find ourselves here again in the future.
If you’re looking for additional ideas, check out this post for the full list of Ireland suggestions from our Behind Closed Doors community members!
More Reading & Resources:
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- Winery Tour – Wachau Valley, Austria
- Additional Travels and Suggestions
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