Most Underrated Tourist Attraction in Ireland

cml387

To counter perceived negativity.

I'd nominate the whole Waterford coast. Ignore Tramore, loads of sheltered beaches practically empty in summer. Fantastic mountain walks.

And Waterford city has the best Christmas fair in Ireland.

chalkitdown1

Liss Ard Estate & the accompanying Sky Garden near Clonakilty in Cork. We didn't even stay at the hotel, just had dinner there after spending 3 or 4 hours walking around the grounds. Really nice place to spend an evening. There were only 3 or 4 other couples walking around in the time we were there, and this was at the height of Summer. We couldn't believe how quiet it was for such a beautiful location.

Thoroughly recommend a visit.

StevenToast

The Giants Causeway

Ronandusty

The Glen of Aherlow

RINO87

Donegal is absolutely spectacular. The longer the tour busses stay away from there the better!

Same to be said about the Beara peninsula. Sssshhhhh now, don't tell the yanks, let them have Dublin.

dominatinMC

The Skellig Ring in Kerry. The much smaller, shorter, but better, relation of the Ring of Kerry. The drive from St. Finians Bay up over Coomanaspig and down into Portmagee (past the Kerry Cliffs - added bonus, they're better than Moher) is epic. Carry on to Valentia then, and ferry back to Renard. Pure bliss on a hot summers day.

denismc

The Sheeps Head in Cork.

Hibernicis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058382523/most-underrated-tourist-attraction-in-ireland

I'll add Mount Congreve to Waterford's list of selling points. Few people realise that this is truly a world class garden, with few equals for its collections of Azaleas, Camellias, Magnolias, Rhododendrons, Hydrangeas etc.

And to add another point, the county has an abundance of stately deciduous trees. Many of them around the Backwater Vally but spread over much of the rest of the county as well. An absolute pleasure to drive through in Spring, Summer and Autumn.

And lastly, Mount Melleray, now in its dying days as an active monastery. An imposing, almost incongruous edifice, built from the rubble of Mitchelstown castle. There is a quiet dignity about the place, surrounded by fields clawed from mountain bog to which they are gradually returning. An interesting reflection of the rise of the church triumphant and it's subsequent pathetic demise.

I would have mentioned the wonderful walking in the Knockmealdowns and the Comeraghs, but I see you have that boxed off so no need for me to say anything…..

Archeron

The big slide at Beyond the Trees in Avondale. Wheeeeeeeeeeee!

Mrs OBumble

The Holy Stone of Clonrichert.

Hardly anyone ever visits it.

Uncle Pierre

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122896962#Comment_122896962

Ah, but the cliffs were closed on the day we were going to visit….

breezy1985

Elizabeth fort in Cork is a nice quick and free visit. Nice little bit of history and good views. Street up to it has a real old fashioned look too.

Treaty brewery tour/talk in Limerick is well worth it too. As much a local history lesson as a beer tasting and situated on the first and oldest street in Limerick.

randd1

Canal/River Walk and Castle Park in Kilkenny.

Hard to believe they're slap bang in the middle of town. And free to boot. When they complete the eastern bank side of the river walk it should be top quality.

cml387

Since I mentioned it in the other thread, Cahir Castle, the Inch Field and a lovely stroll down to Swiss Cottage. Cahir community have done a fantastic job on the whole location in the past ten years.

hugeorange

Always surprised by how few tourists seem to be interested in Newgrange. I hardly ever hear it mentioned any time I'm talking to a visitor. It's one of the coolest sites in the country.

endacl

The Holy Stone of Clonrichart. A class 2 relic!

thomil

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122896742#Comment_122896742

THIS!!!

My parents used to rent a holiday home in that area back in the early to mid 2000s, and that’s where I fell in love with Ireland! The views are spectacular, and it’s not nearly as overrun as other parts of Kerry. That’s where I learned that the Skelligs were actually migratory islands 🤪 (Family inside joke because the islands seemed to shift position depending on the conditions)

Also have to second Elizabeth Fort. It’s a lovely free visit with some nice views over Cork.

And while we’re on the topic of forts, can I throw in Fort Camden? The history, the location, the view, you can keep Spike Island as far as I’m concerned!

elperello

Our inland waterways.

Often literally overlooked as people pass over bridges heading for other attractions.

On a network of rivers, lakes and canals you can visit 18 counties.

Wonderful scenery and wildlife, lovely villages and towns.

Spanish Eyes

North Leitrim (unpoilt and gorgeous), and seeing Ben Bulben on the way into Sligo. Stunning

Jakey Rolling

Kilmainham Gaol - well maybe it's not underrated.

A powerful experience, reading the last letters of the condemned men and visiting the courtyard where they were executed. Haven't been myself since around 1992, but it's made an impression on any visitors I've directed there.

Hontou

I agree @elperello Our inland waterways are stunning. Especially Lough Derg and Lough Ree. The problem with many of Ireland's lakes is that they can barely be accessed for the general public or tourists to enjoy. There should be longer walkways around many of our lakes, but they cannot be accessed because private farms go to their shores. This often means that only boat owners or those who can hire expensive private boats can view the full natural beauty of the lakes.

Another wonderful area is The Western Way walkway in County Galway. Starting in Oughterard and ending in Leenane (or vice versa), it travels through the Maumturk and Twelve Bens mountains. It is raw, quiet and spectacular.

z80CPU

Blessington Lakes. Gorgeous scenery.

L Grey

Connemara.

I know how beautiful it is but I still think it's underrated in terms of it's wild and epic beauty.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122897941#Comment_122897941

Went last year and loved it.

retalivity

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122897932#Comment_122897932

Always loved the drive from Bundoran to Sligo or vice-versa, on a nice day its spectacular with the mountains on one side and the sea on the other.

MacDanger

Dún Briste in Ballycastle (Mayo)

https://www.dunbriste.com/dun-briste.html

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122898262#Comment_122898262

What is it about this yoke. I assume it must be way better in real life cause it looks shte in the photos. I swear I've seen loads of those around west Clare.

MacDanger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122898274#Comment_122898274

😂😂 It's lovely up around there, go for a visit sometime

callaway92

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122897390#Comment_122897390

Please no. Cahir man here and it’s getting too busy now with cunce doing daytrips there.

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122897964#Comment_122897964

Access is a problem where you have multiple landowners and also ground conditions can be difficult.

There are some very good Greenway developments on canals and rivers like the Barrow.

I love that part of Galway, it's very special.

JupiterKid

Beautiful Lough Key and its forest park in north County Roscommon.

Many very happy childhood holidays on our family boat were spent there.

John_Rambo

Sligo.

Le shovelle

Inishowen in county Donegal on a summers evening

Finty Lemon

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122896700#Comment_122896700

Conway's bar in Ramelton for pints and music on a December night. Magic.

buried

All along the Galway Mayo border from Cong to Leenaun to Glassillaun is some of the most beautiful places on the planet. Unreal scenery, totally wild and very little traffic, on par with anything else lauded on the island.

Meehambee Dolmen near Athlone on the County Roscommon side. A megalithic portal tomb from 5000 years ago. It sits in a small area of woodland with a track leading into it. If you literally want to see a setting like something out of "The Lord of The Rings", go see this authentic piece of ancient Ireland in spring/early summer.

cj maxx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122897573#Comment_122897573

what’s about the ferry bit . Where do you get / get off it ?

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122898286#Comment_122898286

I just mean that actual stack. Nothing against the rest of the scenery.

HBC08

The Doolough Pass from Louisburgh to Leenane is the most stunning drive in Ireland.

Achill Island probably comes close though.

These two are right up there with the most spectacular places I've seen in the world.

The word " literally" gets used too much and often incorrectly but it literally leaves me speechless.

Ireland is one if the most beautiful countries in the world.

cj maxx

Around Lough Erne is Lovely , plus the Marble Arch caves. If you’re in the area a spin over to Armagh to the Planetarium or spin down to Belturbet and get a cruiser for the Shannon . As said Lough Key is lovely . If you like boating the royal canal ?that goes through Laois has some nice villages with Trad music you can stop off in

silliussoddius

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122898453#Comment_122898453

I always thought Sligo gets overlooked, Enniscrone is lovely.

John_Rambo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122898921#Comment_122898921

There's so much to the county, from climb to dunes, to surf to canoe to culinary to fossil hunting to scenery to culture and those menacing bullfaced mountains all finished off with Atlantic salty spray, light and storms.

Sgt Hartman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122898921#Comment_122898921

The views from the top of Benbulben and Knocknaree are beautiful. There’s also the Carrowmore megalithic complex. Strandhill beach is very popular for surfers but the village itself is nothing to write home about.

dominatinMC

Lads, there's no doubt about it, we live in a beautiful country - despite the rain!

Also, good to have a positive thread on Boards for a change 😁

Hellrazer

Wicklow Gaol - very under rated and their night time tour is a brilliant night out. Surprised its not advertised more.

kabakuyu

All of North Mayo,love the Windy gap,Pontoon,Nephin,Ceide fields,Achill and all the other bits in between.

mehico

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122898971#Comment_122898971

Aswell as the Carrowmore megalithic complex there is the Carrowkeel complex. There is a cairn in Carrowkeel that has the only other known roofbox type feature built into it in the country aside from Newgrange, (though it predates Newgrange).

saabsaab

Kinsale and Charles Fort.

L Grey

I want hop in the car now and visit all these places mentioned.

breezy1985

I really think the national museums in Dublin don't get enough love from Irish people especially the military Side of Collins Barracks. The Archaeology museum is a bit run down but still worth a visit and all free too. Also cool that it's in a wing of our parliament building.

The new Rising museum in the GPO is a good visit too.

cml387

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122899384#Comment_122899384

True. And very few countries can boast a Caravaggio in their collection.

Tabnabs

The Wicklow Way, some spectacular views taken in while walking in the Dublin and Wicklow mountains. People actually come from all over the world to do this walk and it is one of the hidden gems of Irish tourist trails.