Ireland offers a diverse landscape, culture, and range of experiences. The famously beautiful scenery brings visitors from all over the world and is home to many famous movie and fantasy show sets. Those who come get to experience the impressive mountains, looming cliffs, rolling farmland, and fascinating cuisine. The landscape is dotted with ancient castles that offer a glimpse into life in medieval times. Here are just 7 of the many great Irish destinations.
The first of our great Irish destinations is Blarney Castle. Blarney Castle is a medieval castle in the town of Blarney. Several other castles were built on the grounds, but the current castle was constructed in 1446 by the MacCarthy dynasty of Muskerry. The world-famous “Blarney Stone” is a part of the castle and hoisted in the very top. Local legend holds that those who kiss the stone will receive the “gift of the gab” or great skill in speaking eloquently. To kiss the stone, you must do so laying face up and be suspended over a pit built on the castle rampart! The castle and the stone attract visitors from around the globe, who come to explore the castle and surrounding gardens and, of course, kiss the Blarney Stone.
The Chester Beatty Library was organized in 1950 to preserve and display the private collections of well-known mining tycoon, Chester Beatty. The museum has won several awards and was once given the honor of being named European Museum of the Year. There are two main collections in the museum, called “Artistic Traditions” and “Sacred Traditions.” Both of the collections contain a variety of priceless artifacts, rare books, ancient manuscripts, artworks from around the world, miniature paintings, prints, and more. Scholars from across the globe come to study rare manuscripts related to the Old and New Testaments as well as Islamic and Far Eastern artifacts.
Croke Park is a large Gaelic Athletic Association stadium in Dublin. The association is headquartered at the stadium, which is named after Archbishop Thomas Croke, although fans and locals often refer to it affectionately as “Croker.” The stadium is the third largest in Europe, with a capacity of more than 82,000 people. Visitors can catch a football match or can book a stadium tour for a behind-the-scenes experience of the stadium.
Fota Wildlife Park is one of the most prominent wildlife and conservation attractions in the country. It is an independently owned nonprofit park located on about 100 acres on Fota Island. The park is home to approximately 30 mammal species and 50 species of birds. Visiting the park is a unique experience of being up close and personal with many of the animals. Visitors can interact with wallabies and ring-tailed lemurs, who roam freely.
The Hill of Tara is an archeological site located near the famous River Boyne. The large complex runs between Dunshaughlin and Navan. Throughout the site, more than 30 prehistoric monuments are visible across the landscape today. According to legends, the site was the seat of the High King of Ireland and the ancient home of the gods. There are a number of interesting ancient monuments and earthworks at the site, many of which are quite old, with the Mound of the Hostages having been constructed around the year 2500 BC.
Kilmainham Gaol Museum is a former prison in the Kilmainham area of Dublin, which is now open to the public as a museum. A number of famous Irish revolutionaries, including many leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising, were imprisoned and put to death in the prison. Once Ireland gained independence, the prison was quickly decommissioned. The prison was restored and today stands as a monument to the struggle for Irish independence.
Drinking good alcohol is a famous pastime in Ireland. The Old Jameson Distillery is an attraction centered around the Jameson brand of Irish whiskey. The Bow Street location depicted above is the original site of the distillery, where Jameson Irish Whiskey was distilled between 1780 and 1971. At its peak, the distillery consisted of a 5-acre tract of land that also included saw mills, a cooperage, painters, engineers, a coppersmith’s shop, and more. Today, there is a visitors center at the site and guided tours of the old distillery are offered along with whiskey tastings led by experts. There is also a gift shop that sells Jameson branded items and other whiskey-related gifts, books, clothing, and more to bring your family.
