Don’t Miss Irish Experiences

Ireland is ready to give you the heartiest of Irish welcomes. You’re invited to sip an Irish Coffee, raise a toast to new friends, and learn about the country’s history.  Not sure what all to include on your getaway? We asked CIE, a tour operator specializing in Ireland, to share their list of their favorite places to visit in Ireland.

Stand atop the highest sea cliffs in Europe – Slieve League in Donegal. Make it even beter by sipping a creamy Irish coffee as you take in the incredible view.

Muckross Schoolhouse, Ireland

Take a fun Irish language lesson at the old-style Muckross Schoolhouse.

Love a good story?  Pull up a chair by the fire and get ready for a great tale at O’Connor’s Famous Pub in Galway’s seaside suburb of Salthill.

Pay your respects to many of Ireland’s heroes at the Glasnevin National Cemetery.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!  Try some distinctive flavors at Murphy’s Ice Cream in Dingle. Treats like Irish Orange Marmalade, Irish Brown Bread, Dingle Sea Salt, and Irish Coffee are all made with milk from local Kerry cows. 

Raise a glass at Europe’s oldest pub, Sean’s Bar in Athlone.

Let a former coal miner guide you for a surprising look at history and local life on a tour of the Arigna Mining Experience.

Check out the handcrafted “Game of Thrones” door, carved from a fallen tree of the Dark Hedges when you visit the charming Blakes of the Hollow Pub.

Check out another famous and classic pub, Crosskeys Inn, which dates back to 1654.

Take a scenic stroll along Kilkenny’s Medieval Mile from castle to cathedral.

Saint Kevin's monastery in Glendalouch, Ireland

Explore the ruins of Glendalough, a monastery founded in the sixth century.

Enjoy some traditional music at the 300-year-old Marine Bar in Dungarvan. Owned by musician Christy O’Neill, it was a favorite spot for Liam Clancy of the legendary Clancy Brothers.

Slane Castle and Distillery

Music buff?  Be sure to visit Slane Castle, home of the Conyngham family since 1703.  This has been the site for an impressive list of rock concerts including U2, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, Queen, and REM.  

Enjoy not only the food but the impressive history of Church Café Bar and Restaurant. It’s where brewer Arthur Guinness got married, playwright Sean O’Casey was baptized, and Handel practiced the organ before the first-ever public performance of his Messiah in 1742.

Try some local brews at the Walled City Brewery in Derry.  It’s family-owned and located in a former army barracks.

Visit the Irish National Stud in Kildare, the heart of Ireland's racing industry. After seeing the well-known thoroughbreds, be sure to check out the beautiful Japanese-style gardens.

Many thatched-roof dwellings, such as this one on Inis Mor, one of the Aran Islands, are left in ruins.

Make a stop in Inish More with its rugged stone walls and thatched cottages.  And don’t miss Dun Aengus, a magnificent prehistoric fort on the edge of a 100-meter cliff.

Explore the Dunbrody Famine Ship, a replica of a vessel that carried Irish refugees to North America as they fled the Famine in the 1840s. 

Love fine china?  Don’t miss Belleek Pottery, home to the distinctive fine china often adorned with shamrocks and beloved by collectors. You’ll love seeing how master craftsmen have handed down the art of making these delicate pieces.

Kinsale, County Cork, Republic of Ireland

Let a local guide show you historic Kinsale, a picturesque harbor town well known by foodies and art lovers.

Learn more about this popular drink with a visit to the Irish Whiskey Museum.

Be sure to include a visit to the EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum, the award-winning, high-tech attraction that details the journeys of the Irish throughout the world and their new lives abroad.