Ireland has an abundance of top notch scenery and fabulous natural beauty – From the mysterious beauty of the hidden heartlands to the rugged coastline of the Atlantic, Ireland really has something for everyone looking for a bit of adventure.
We’ve come up with a list of 5 must-do experiences you should consider for your trip to the
Emerald Isle.
Surfing is one of our favourite activities at Dooley Tours. It is no secret either that Ireland is one of the best places on earth to catch a wave. Beaches along Irelands North West Coast provide stellar waters and some record setting breaks.
On a recent trip around Ireland, one of our tour groups loved their visit to Streedagh Beach, County Sligo for a dip in the breath-taking Atlantic ocean waters. Some of the key points along the Wild Atlantic coast for surfing are Mullaghmore, Co. Leitrim, Bundoran, Co. Donegal, Strandhill, Co. Sligo and most famously, Lahinch Co. Clare. . All of these places have fantastic surf schools along the shoreline with passionate and fun instructors, for those who have never stepped on a board before.
It also helps that nearly every surf village is accompanied by at least one local pub offering creamy pints and an roaring open fire to warm the bones after the chilly waters.
GAA is a staple of Irish culture. Gaelic Football and Hurling are firm favourite sports in most, if not all, Irish households and is something every visitor to this stunning island should experience. Gaelic Football is like next level soccer, with players racing up the pitch carrying, bouncing and hand-passing the ball. Hurling has been classed as one of the “Top 10 sporting events you need to see” as it is considered one of the fastest sports on land. Mixing agility, speed and coordination, it is an experience you’ll never forget witnessing.
Gaelic Games are not only a focal point of Irish sporting culture but also play a part in the promotion of Irish language, history and arts both in Ireland and abroad, with a considerable reach through the Irish Diaspora.
The team at Dooley Tours are huge GAA fans, going to all kinds of matches from club matches all the way to All-Ireland games. Each county and town are unique in their support for their team. During the All-Ireland championship, local communities and businesses show their support.
On a tour around Ireland during the summer, one of our groups took in Galway v Cork Game in Semple Stadium, Tipperary and were both fascinated by the sport and energetic by the atmosphere of the supporters.
Epic Museum is one of the many gems in Dublin City that visitors to the city must see. Our team have been very lucky to visit and tour the magnificent building, a renovated customs warehouse, and see the exhibition. EPIC Museum presents the life and story of Irish Emigration and the history of Irish movement. The museum shows everything from the far-reaching parts of the world touched by Irish influence, to the impact it has at home.
Each room in the museum shows many different aspects, from transportation and religion to celebration to the lives of Irish emigrants abroad. Each aspect is presented uniquely through audio installations, interactive exhibits, voice-overs, sculptures, and video clips.
The team at Dooley Tours spent over an 2 hours looking through the various amazing rooms, mostly saying “Woah” and “That’s so cool,” as most of the information was totally new to the team and everyone was learning something about their heritage.
On the banks of the Liffey outside the building is the Jeannie Johnson, a replica of the real transport ship that moved the Irish people to their new homes far away. For anyone looking to learn a bit more about their roots and Irish background, EPIC is really the ideal place.
When people come to Ireland, Dublin, Cork and Galway are the first places that usually come to mind but also along the Wild Atlantic Way lies the Maritime County of Mayo. The nearest cities to Achill are Sligo and Galway, with Mayo towns like Westport and Castlebar closer still. Mayo is a land steeped in fascinating history and flawless scenery – from the Neolithic Ceide Fields to the summit of Crough Patrick, it is certainly a place not to be missed on a tour of Ireland.
Along the rugged coastline of Mayo lies Achill Island. A place of spectacular vast views, hundreds of wild sheep, a beautiful greenway path and secluded, blue flag beaches that allow you to gaze out onto the Atlantic. Achill Island also hosts Europe’s third highest sea cliffs on the northern face of Croaghaun Mountain. The cherry on top – Achill Island is the perfect destination for adventure enthusiasts offering activities like surfing, cycling, paddleboarding, sea swimming and also offers scenic golf!
One of our recent groups spent an afternoon hiking through Achill and finished the day taking in the panoramic view of Keem Bay, having a leisurely stroll and some beachside snacks as they listened to the waves roll in.
Cobh, on Ireland’s southern coast and formerly known as Queenstown, is a tourist seaport in Cork Harbour. Most tourism in this area stems from the interest in Cobh’s history with immigration and maritime links – like its ties with the Titanic, being one of its stops on her premier voyage. The intriguing thing about Cobh is that it remains largely untouched since the Titanic docked here, so people when they visit the harbour town they can see things as they would have been seen in 1912.
Cobh is 25 minutes from Cork City by train, which offers spectacular coastal views as you travel onto the great Island. The boardwalk part of Cobh is so tranquil for an outdoor lunch and to take in the sights and sounds of Ireland’s southern shore and a view out to Spike Island – an older monastic settlement and Bastion Fort.
The team at Dooley Tours are big fans of County Cork for scenery, history and culture and Cobh is a definite must-see for anyone’s itinerary when traveling. Any group we take to Cobh are always impressed that a place like it could exist and offer so much history and unique natural beauty.
We hope you enjoyed Con Dooley’s top 5 must-do Irish experiences of 2024. Dooley Irish Tours will curate a tour that mixes & matches all your favorite hand picked locations as you build your trip around Ireland.
Here at Dooley Irish Tours we work with you to plan your own personalized Tour of Ireland. Not a second will be wasted as you venture through the beautiful country of Ireland, making special memories with friends and family.
