Top 5 Attractions in Ireland
For a fairly small country, Ireland is jam packed with attractions. The scenery alone is a major draw card, offering beautiful natural wonders and amazing coast lines.
If you’re heading to Ireland for a sightseeing holiday, a stop you can’t miss is Blarney Castle and the Blarney Stone. Blarney Castle is located in County Cork and is a majestic historic castle and a famous tourist attraction. The castle was built by the MacCarthy dynasty, dating from 1446 and was sold and changed hands a number of times. Amongst the attractions of the castle is the Stone of Eloquence, also known as the Blarney Stone. If you hang upside down and kiss the stone, it is said that you will get the gift of the gab, or eloquence. There are also beautiful and extensive gardens surrounding the castle which contain natural rock formations.
The Giant’s Causeway is located in County Antrim on the northeast coast of Northern Ireland. This popular tourist attraction consisting of strange uniform polygonal basalt rocks are the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. This World Heritage site is also part of Irish folklore which says that the Irish warrior Fionn MacCumhaill threw huge stones into the Irish Sea so that he could reach his wife in Scotland, hence the name Giant’s Causeway.
The Burren is a karst landscape in northwest County Clare. The rolling hills are composed of limestone pavements with crisscrossing cracks. This featureless plateau of limestone resembles a moonscape and contains bizarre rock formations and spectacular sights.
The Ring of Kerry is an amazing stretch of coastal landscape in south western Ireland. Tourists can take numerous variations of routes around the ring, taking in St Finian’s Bay and Valentia Island. You will find stunning beaches, the Ogham Stones and Iron Age Forts along with taking in the ancient heritage of Ireland. If you’re driving, the ring can be done in one day, but you may want to stop for the night at one of the many small towns geared towards tourists.
The Cliffs of Moher are located on the edge of the Burren area in County Clare. They are 120 metres high, stretch for 8km and are Europe’s highest cliffs. The views from the cliffs are simply spectacular, and on a clear day you can see the Aran Islands. Take a walk along the cliffs to admire the landscape, but dress appropriately as it can get very windy.
Kelly White is a freelance recruitment consultant who is currently researching the Ireland jobs market.
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