If St. Patrick’s Day puts you in the mood to take a trip to Ireland, then you’re in luck! Ireland is a great place to travel to with plenty of activities to keep you entertained, centuries of history to learn about, and a lot of folklore to uncover. To help you see some of the best sites that Ireland has to offer, we put together a list of things to do during your Irish getaway.
Discover HomeExchangeBlarney Castle
You absolutely have to add Blarney Castle in Cork to your itinerary when planning a trip to Ireland. This 600 year old must-see sight was built by the chieftain Cormac McCarthy. Take a tour of the castle, its gardens, and of course you can’t leave without kissing the famous Blarney Stone. Legend has it that those who kiss the stone will be granted the gift of eloquence. Naturally, the stone has been kissed by politicians, writers, and artists alike, as well as tourists. Give the stone a smooch and see if you’ll be granted the gift of gab!
Candlelit Tales
No visit to Ireland is complete without learning a little bit about the country’s rich history of folktales and mythology. At Candlelit Tales, visitors can sit with a pint and listen to expert storytellers share tales that are important to Irish culture and heritage. It’s a quintessential experience for tourists, so make sure not to miss it!
Murder Hole Beach, Donegal
Officially named Boyeeghter Strand or Boyeeghter Bay, Murder Hole Beach is an incredibly popular beach located in Donegal. Despite its dark name, this beach is a beautiful place to grab a breath of fresh air. While the water is too dangerous to swim in due to currents and riptides, it’s a beautiful location to go on a walk, sunbathe on the beach, and take in the sights.
Find homes in IrelandThe Titanic Museum
It’s been over a century since the RMS Titanic sank and almost 30 years since James Cameron’s award-winning film premiered, and yet the interest in the ship’s disastrous maiden voyage has not wavered. To learn more about the ship, make sure to visit the Titanic Museum, which happens to be located right beside when the ship was designed, built, and launched.
Grab a pint at Sean’s Bar in Athlone
Grab a drink at Sean’s Bar, the oldest pub in Europe and one of the oldest pubs in the world, and take a journey to the past. Sean’s Bar has been around since 900 AD, and while most of the old “wattle and wicker” walls and centuries-old coins have been moved to a museum, you can still see a few of them as you take a step into the past.
Go night kayaking on Lough Hyne
Spend an evening on a placid lake enjoying the cool night air and the gorgeous bioluminescence beneath the surface of the water. Visitors to Ireland can venture out on a nighttime kayaking trip on one of the only salt water lakes in Europe, Lough Hyne Marine Lake. The journey lasts about two and a half hours, so enjoy your time kayaking under the stars.
Travel with HomeExchangeOn this St. Patrick’s Day, we hope that this list has inspired you to start planning your next trip to Ireland. Of course, HomeExchange will be there along the way to help you find your ultimate Irish vacation home. Check out our post about home exchanges available in Ireland, or begin your membership and start searching for home swaps with use today.
