Most visitors like to get off the beaten track away from the hustle and bustle of Ireland’s vibrant cities. If you’re making your maiden voyage to the Emerald Isle, it can be difficult to know where to look outside of the main tourism hubs. We’ve given you a head start and listed 10 fantastic destinations you should add to your itinerary. Be sure and save the below blog as we promise it will come in handy.
Waterville Co. Kerry
A beautiful coastal gem on the Ring of Kerry, make a pit stop at this small village. Waterville has something of a Hollywood connection as legendary actor Charlie Chaplin vacationed here for 10 years with his family, staying in The Butler Arms Hotel. The village has a population of just 400, but a walk along the local promenade will make you see why thousands of holidaymakers have chosen Waterville for a Summer getaway. Take an evening stroll through the postcard-perfect streets, visit the local brewery McGill’s Beer, and sample their delicious craft beer. Waterville Golf Course is ranked one of Ireland’s top golf courses, so any Golf fans should definitely add Waterville on their list of Irish places to visit.
Mullingar Co. Westmeath
Mullingar has strong links to the Irish music scene. Legendary Irish performer Joe Dolan was born and raised here, and his statue stands proud in the town square. More recently, the town’s most famous son has been Niall Horan of One Direction fame. With a population of 20,000 Mullingar is a thriving town with an active hospitality and nightlife scene, so you will not be short of entertainment if you do decide to visit. Mullingar is the home of Belvedere House and Gardens, an 18 the century country house which attracts and leaves a lasting impression on its visitors. If getting out on the open water is more your thing, Mullingar is surrounded by 3 serene lakes, rent out a canoe and make the most out of their natural beauty.
Ballycotton Co. Cork
This picturesque seaside village is a great stop for seafood and soaking up the local atmosphere. In 1995, a film crew including the legendary Marlon Brando rolled into town ready to shoot a movie here, unfortunately, the filming was halted. It’s reported that Brando fell in love with Ireland during his trip here and considered seeking citizenship. There is a great Cliff Walk trail in the town and the local Sea Church Restaurant is regularly used as a live music venue. The venue is an old church that’s been converted into a performance space and Ireland’s national TV broadcaster RTÉ have filmed “The Ballycotton Sessions” from here recently.
Westport Co. Mayo
If you’re looking for the perfect backdrop for your holiday snaps, then you will fall in love with Westport. Discover the beauty and charm of this Georgian town and visit the historic Westport House while you’re here. Westport’s narrow streets are lined with welcoming tea rooms, traditional Irish pubs, pretty floral displays and arched bridges connecting the town. The figure of Croagh Patrick looms in the background of the town, known as Ireland’s holy mountain because of its annual pilgrimages. 10 minutes from the town centre is Westport House, a beautiful country house with stately rooms on display and manicured gardens to enjoy.
Lahinch Co. Clare
This Clare town is a surfer’s paradise and in the summer months, surfers, and water lovers flock here to make summer memories and even take classes at the local surf school. It is a lively holiday resort in West Clare’s tourist heartland with quality restaurants and nightlife to entertain you on your trip. If surfing isn’t your thing, it’s only a 13-minute drive to the world-renowned Cliffs of Moher and if you take a trip to nearby Doolin, you can catch a ferry to any of the 3 nearby Aran Islands.
Connemara Co. Galway
With breath-taking scenery and the Irish language in full flourish, a trip to the Gaeltacht area of Connemara is the closest link to how our Irish Ancestors once lived. When you travel through a “Gaeltacht” area you will notice all the local road signs are in Irish only. A trip through its local landscape will show you its rugged beauty including its many mountains, bogs and lakes. Clifden is a vibrant little town known as the “capital of Connemara” and is situated at the foothills of the Twelve Bens Mountain range. Drive the 11km scenic sky route, visit Clifden Castle or even spend a lazy lunch enjoying one of the local café’s offerings.
Enniskerry Co. Wicklow
Wicklow is known as The Garden of Ireland and one trip to this county nestled just below Dublin won’t be hard to see how it earned its nickname. Enniskerry became the scene of much fanfare in 2021 when Disney film crews rolled into town to shoot Disenchanted, the sequel to Enchanted starring Amy Adams and Patrick Dempsey. The village underwent a magical and colourful transformation to shoot the scenes, and this brought a great buzz to the area and boosted tourism. The village itself has a very easy charm about it and the village square complete with a clock tower is like an image taken from a postcard.
Carrick On Shannon, Co. Leitrim
The Hen and Stag Capital of Ireland, Carrick on Shannon is anything but a sleepy midlands town. Each weekend, scores of soon to wed descend on the town to party and enjoy the local hospitality, and of course, toast their last night of freedom! In 2021, it was named one of the 20 best places to live in Ireland, so enjoys a good reputation as a place to be/visit. It’s located on the n4 motorway that links Dublin to Sligo, so a whistle-stop tour shouldn’t take you too far off the beaten track. It is also on the River Shannon and numerous boat tours operate from the town to take you and your party on a cruise.
Cahir, Co. Tipperary
Cahir is a small town in the south of County Tipperary. Throughout your time in Ireland, you will see that Ireland has a lot of castles, some in good condition and some simply relics of the past but Cahir Castle could not have a more perfect location. The Castle is nestled in the town centre, only a stone’s throw from the shops, restaurants, and bars in the town. Visitors and tourists to the castle have commented on its unusually central location. The 700-year-old Cahir Castle recently won the prestigious title of Europe’s favourite filming location, having been the filming location of movies The Green Knight and Excalibur. Another tourist offering in the town is The Swiss Cottage, located just outside the town and built in the early 1800s, it is a beautiful ornamental cottage which opens to the public in the summer months.
Lismore, Co. Waterford
Lismore is a picturesque Heritage town, similar to Cahir it has its own well-preserved historic Castle. The Gardens at Lismore Castle open to the public from March for the Summer season, and tourists can also enjoy a picnic basket filled with seasonal salads from the Gardens. Just outside the town are The Towers, are 2 gothic style gate lodges that were built in 1850. Local folklore says the landlord of a large estate had plans to build a lavish Castle with the Towers as the grand entrance. So much money was spent constructing the towers, there was no money left for the build of the castle. The Towers stand to this day and act as the entrance to a walking trail and picnic area.
