What are the 'Must See/Do's of Ireland for tourists?

DoYouEvenLift

Put aside all bias you may have that might make you instantly just want to name and suggest things in your own county that aren't actually, in reality, that great and worth tourists going out of their way to see.


When people ask me what to see or do in Ireland I usually tell them to go to Dublin only for a day or two and then head down towards Cork, Kerry and Clare and up to Galway so they can check out things like the mountains, the Burden, Bunratty castle etc.


What would you all suggest?

West Kerry, South Kerry, West Cork.

whupdedo

The gym , they should go to the gym , lift weights and get fit

osarusan

Cliffs of Moher.

Rare to find a tourist who doesn't have that as part of their holiday plans.




Trying to put my own bias to one side though, I would suggest a Limerick FC home game as a must-see event for any tourist.

stoneill

Newgrange and Knowth.

degsie

Junkie spotting in Dublin city centre.

ButtersSuki

As someone who holidays in Ireland (if that's not an oxymoron?) I am astonished at how people rarely mention Donegal. The scenery rivals anything in the Cork/Kerry region whilst some of the best beaches Ive seen are also there. It baffles me why Bord Fáilte never invest anything like the same effort and cash into marketing Donegal and the North West in the way they do the South West and West Cork. I know the Wild Atlantic Way was a start at this last year but there's been nothing since.


And no, I'm not from Donegal!

looksee

osarusan wrote: »

Cliffs of Moher.

Rare to find a tourist who doesn't have that as part of their holiday plans.

Favourite (not!) quote from tourists...'We want to get off the beaten track and see the real Ireland - we have a week and are planning on visiting the Cliffs of Moher, the Giants Causeway, Blarney Castle, Galway, Killarney, and the Ring of Kerry'.

DoYouEvenLift

ButtersSuki wrote: »

As someone who holidays in Ireland (if that's not an oxymoron?) I am astonished at how people rarely mention Donegal. The scenery rivals anything in the Cork/Kerry region whilst some of the best beaches Ive seen are also there. It baffles me why Bord Fáilte never invest anything like the same effort and cash into marketing Donegal and the North West in the way they do the South West and West Cork. I know the Wild Atlantic Way was a start at this last year but there's been nothing since.


And no, I'm not from Donegal!

It's true, I was up there before and thought it was as good as Kerry and Cork. Have to go back sometime.

Tell me how

DoYouEvenLift wrote:

When people ask me what to see or do in Ireland I usually tell them to go to Dublin only for a day or two and then head down towards Cork, Kerry and Clare and up to Galway so they can check out things like the mountains, the Burden, Bunratty castle etc.

Ha. The "Burden". Sounds like you yourself own several acres of rock landscape and are sick to death of people people ignoring it over that pesky site in north Clare.

Tell me how

Personally, I think it's a fabulous country with sites to see in every county.

I think people could combine sports matches into a memorable 24 hrs. Travel to a town the evening before, socialise there that evening and then experience some of the banter in town just before the match. We have teams playing at world class levels in GAA and rugby and both could give a positive experience of friendly rivalry and camaraderie coupled with the game itself. Big part of this would be the bit around the game, don't just get off a bus and go into a ground with 20 other novices. Immerse themselves for a few hours. Doesn't have to be just Croker/Semple/Aviva either.

goose06

Manon Falls near Dungarvan Waterford. Climb up to the top, fantastic views.

alchemist33

Dun Aengus on the Aran Islands
The Burren
Slieve League
Giants Causeway

Its all about the coast

whupdedo

Lisdoonvarna matchmaking festival , the tourists would be traumatised

Tell me how

Tell me how wrote: »

Personally, I think it's a fabulous country with sites to see in every county.

I think people could combine sports matches into a memorable 24 hrs. Travel to a town the evening before, socialise there that evening and then experience some of the banter in town just before the match. We have teams playing at world class levels in GAA and rugby and both could give a positive experience of friendly rivalry and camaraderie coupled with the game itself. Big part of this would be the bit around the game, don't just get off a bus and go into a ground with 20 other novices. Immerse themselves for a few hours. Doesn't have to be just Croker/Semple/Aviva either.

Be brutally honest.

How many who travel to Ireland want to watch GAA or rugby?

That reads like a Joe.ie article. What's the banter really like in Portlaoise the night before Kerry travel to Laois for a hurling match? Or before Dolphin play Shannon? I'd say if they went there and skipped the Ring of Kerry, they would find you and kill you for the recommendation.

Cosmo Kramer

To be honest we massively overrate what we have to offer to tourists. A holiday here basically involves getting ripped off in Dublin, which offers a poor enough city break experience compared to many European capitals, followed by the opportunity to visit some fairly standard looking cliffs, a few unusual but not particularly interesting rock formations and some medium sized towns masquerading as cities. All while getting soaked thanks to our hopeless climate.

The main reasons we have a tourism industry of any size at all are Dublin's proximity to and ease of access from the UK and other heavily populated areas of western Europe, the fact we speak English and our history of emigration resulting in 2nd and 3rd generation Irish people coming here from abroad, particularly the US, chasing their family history.

whiskeyman

Tell me how wrote: »

We have teams playing at world class levels in GAA

:pac:

donegaLroad

ButtersSuki wrote: »

As someone who holidays in Ireland (if that's not an oxymoron?) I am astonished at how people rarely mention Donegal. The scenery rivals anything in the Cork/Kerry region whilst some of the best beaches Ive seen are also there. It baffles me why Bord Fáilte never invest anything like the same effort and cash into marketing Donegal and the North West in the way they do the South West and West Cork. I know the Wild Atlantic Way was a start at this last year but there's been nothing since.


And no, I'm not from Donegal!

there were a couple of reasons for this over the years. Donegal's proximity to the North when the Troubles were bad, meant a lot of people weren't keen on visiting the northern half of the country. 20 years ago Bord Failte would recommend that visitors would travel to Galway from Dublin, then do the ring of Kerry, then the Blarney Stone in Cork, Waterford glass factory, then back to Dublin.

Even 15 years ago, this was the suggested route that Budget car hire had printed on there travel map of Ireland. The only visitors that strayed north were surfers, and people tracing their ancestors.

This year was different though, it was packed with visitors here.. too bad about the weather.

Daith

I'm constantly surprised at tourists who are in Dublin and never go to somewhere like Howth.

murpho999

Daith wrote: »

I'm constantly surprised at tourists who are in Dublin and never go to somewhere like Howth.

Same really as most Irish tourists who go abroad and stay in city centres and don't venture out.

iDave

Newgrange. Never understood how its not more famous internationally. More impressive and older than Stonehenge.

iDave

Daith wrote: »

I'm constantly surprised at tourists who are in Dublin and never go to somewhere like Howth.

Last time I was there it was full of Spaniards.

Very Bored

Skanks in Celtic tops outside that pub at the top right corner of O'Connell Street.

SEPT 23 1989

A tour of Kilmainham Gaol should be first on the list for any tourist arriving in Dublin

murpho999

SEPT 23 1989 wrote: »

A tour of Kilmainham Gaol should be first on the list for any tourist arriving in Dublin

You're assuming that the tourists here have a knowledge of Irish history.

The vast majority would know nothing about 1916 and Ireland's independence struggle, and many would even think that they are on holidays in the UK.

I have met a couple of British in my time who thought Ireland was still part of the UK despite different currency etc.

Ignatius in bloom

The lakes of Killarney, The ring of Kerry, Hiking in the numerous mountains around Ireland in November, sitting at the top with Tea and watching the wild Deers.

In Dublin the coastal walk from Malahide to Portmarnock. Any of the splendid parks in Dublin.

The coast of Northern Ireland.

The mourne mountains.

The new theatre temple bar.

The theatre upstairs above lanagans (?)

The great old boozers Mulligans and Mcconnells


A walk from the point up to euston and seeing the good, the bad and the interesting along the way.


The jewish museum in Portobello.


So much more but I'm not f**king Failte Ireland. So discover it yourself.

Ignatius in bloom

murpho999 wrote: »

You're assuming that the tourists here have a knowledge of Irish history.

The vast majority would know nothing about 1916 and Ireland's independence struggle, and many would even think that they are on holidays in the UK.

I have met a couple of British in my time who thought Ireland was still part of the UK despite different currency etc.

A good reason to go wouldn't you think so?

Menas

The one place I always send tourists is to St Michans church vaults. See the Mummies. Its a great little known attraction...and cheap to boot.

Very Bored

In Dublin:

The GPO, Jameson, the zoo is good if you're with kids (its a nice size, not too small that it misses some of the main features, not so big that it takes ages to get around, even if its something you can pretty much do anywhere), the history museums on Kildare Street, and at Collins Barracks, Kilmainham Jail, Howth, the Garden of Remembrance (so peaceful given you're in a city centre), Croke Park museum. Avoid the Guinness Storehouse, it was great when they actually showed you how they make Guinness, not so much since they changed it a good few years ago.

Outside Dublin: Kilkenny (also Inistioge), the famine museum in Cobh, Galway, Belfast (city centre but also the Falls and Shankill, walk them, you see more), Derry (the Bogside, again walk it, the Bogside Museum), Derry's walls. Drive the coast road between Derry and Belfast, not the motorway, its stunning.

Very Bored

@murpho

The amount of British people I know, who I would consider intelligent, who have asked me stupid questions like "why does Ireland have different money, why don't your buildings have the Union Jack, why do your police have uniforms which look different?" I usually reply "why does France" to which they usually remark that its a different country to which I shrug my shoulders.

ShowMeTheCash

murpho999

Ignatius in bloom wrote: »

A good reason to go wouldn't you think so?

I think people would need to know a bit more about the background and history before going there to be honest but if they know nothing about Irish history then they would know nothing about it or a desire to go.

The Backwards Man

Every single person on the planet should visit Donegal at least once in their lives.

Bring plenty of money and for the love of God, take the bypass around Fundoran.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

Ignatius in bloom

murpho999 wrote: »

I think people would need to know a bit more about the background and history before going there to be honest but if they know nothing about Irish history then they would know nothing about it or a desire to go.

Not really I've been to many places of historical importance and interest that i know nothing about before going there and always enjoyed it. The world is large, complicated and full of undiscovered things we don't need to be a history buff to learn small things about other countries history.

looksee

How many of you read tourist sites like Trip Advisor? You would be astonished at how many tourists go to - and are impressed by places like Kilmanham Gaol. Some just 'do' the famous spots, but increasing numbers are finding places like Wexford, Waterford, Sligo and Donegal.

Tourists do like ireland, and it is one of our main industries. Tourists are also amazed by the quality of the food, especially meat and dairy, bread etc. Take an interest in what is happening, and do your bit to promote local places.

murpho999

Ignatius in bloom wrote: »

Not really I've been to many places of historical importance and interest that i know nothing about before going there and always enjoyed it. The world is large, complicated and full of undiscovered things we don't need to be a history buff to learn small things about other countries history.

Yes, I get that but they would need to know something about Irish History to have heard of Kilmainham Jail in the first place.

syklops

iDave wrote: »

Newgrange. Never understood how its not more famous internationally. More impressive and older than Stonehenge.

Newgrange fascinates me. Its like something out of Indiana Jones. It still works, and its older than the pyramids.

As an aside my laptops hostname is newgrange - because its pretty old but still works :cool:

donegaLroad

Patww79 wrote: »

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West Cork, Kerry and Donegal.. probably contenders for the 3 most beautiful parts of Ireland.

You should really try and get to see more of Donegal

_Brian

looksee wrote: »

Favourite (not!) quote from tourists...'We want to get off the beaten track and see the real Ireland - we have a week and are planning on visiting the Cliffs of Moher, the Giants Causeway, Blarney Castle, Galway, Killarney, and the Ring of Kerry'.

It may be a big cliche to visit these places but they are the honey traps of our tourist industry where we extract the maximum money from tourists..

Donegal is beautiful and we go often, but it suffers badly with poor infrastructure. Tour operators avoid bad roads when they can find plenty of other attractions which are easier to get to.


On the theme of the thread..
The Cuilcagh Boardwalk is very impressive but a level of fitness is required. The Marble arch Caves and Allwe caves are very interesting.. There are many beautiful lighthouses such as Hook Head Lighthouse..

deadybai

Places in Waterford County are unreal. At least people think Donegal as an alternative to Kerry and Cork but no one thinks of Waterford. Just look up Coumshingaun. The city is a bit of a kip but anywhere outside it like Tramore, Lismore,Ardmore, Ring, Dungarvan are some of the nicest places.

Also think the two nicest villages in the east part of the country are in Kilkenny. Kilkenny City is lovely to visit too but Graiguenamanagh and Inistoige are beautiful.

Out west in Galway there another little village called Kinvara which is located beside the Burren. Absolutely unreal place

Badly Drunk Boy

Tell me how wrote: »

Personally, I think it's a fabulous country with sites to see in every county.

I think people could combine sports matches into a memorable 24 hrs. Travel to a town the evening before, socialise there that evening and then experience some of the banter in town just before the match. We have teams playing at world class levels in GAA and rugby and both could give a positive experience of friendly rivalry and camaraderie coupled with the game itself. Big part of this would be the bit around the game, don't just get off a bus and go into a ground with 20 other novices. Immerse themselves for a few hours. Doesn't have to be just Croker/Semple/Aviva either.

That's good, because I don't think they host snooker or darts events at those venues.



(Am I in the right thread?)

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

Curly Judge

On a clear day, the view towards Scotland from the north Antrim coast.
Skellig Michael ....difficult.... but world class.
The Duhey Peninsula in Donegal....go out to the very end...there is nothing like it in western Europe.
Malin Bay....also on Dongal.

The Backwards Man

Patww79 wrote: »

Don't get me wrong on Kerry. It is great because it has some spectacular views. West Cork just doesn't have that.

Donegal just never appealed. I've driven through a lot of it but never as a tourist in fairness though.

You need to start driving with your eyes opened then so

TripAdvisor is good craic alright, you see people titling their review of the Cliffs Of Moher or the Guinness Storehouse as 'Hidden Gem' all the time.

syklops

Don't get me wrong on Kerry. It is great because it has some spectacular views. West Cork just doesn't have that.

Im going to have to disagree with you there.

P. Breathnach

I don't have serious disagreements with the positive recommendations here, but I dissent from some of the negatives.

West Cork has a lot going for it, particularly along the coast. And you should remember that the Beara Peninsula is in West Cork. Inland, Gougane Barra is one of the most beautiful spots I know.

The Slea Head drive out past Dingle is a candidate for the best scenic circuit in Ireland. I'm not a big fan of the Ring of Kerry as a package, but the section between Kenmare and Killarney is wonderful.

The Wicklow Mountains are not mentioned as much as I think they deserve to be.

I also like the south coast between Kilmore Quay and Youghal - good for built heritage as well as scenery, but I'd bypass Waterford.

Connemara is where I go for spiritual rejuvenation.

I think the best tourism promotion idea in a long time is the Wild Atlantic Way.

Sergei Malatov

Avoid towns and cities as much as you can.

The architecture in Irish towns is absolutely mortifying.

So derivative, drab, lacking in any kind of historical perspective or finesse....

donegaLroad

Glandore is one of my favorite parts of West Cork

Sergei Malatov

IDK if that is just a flattering picture or not but that looks gorgeous.

Kenny B

Head and shoulders No1. is - Walk on a bouncy bog, it is a fabulous feeling.

The coast drive from Ballyvaughan to Doolin, never do it the other way round.