On Christmas morning I opened a letter from Eoghan saying we were going glamping in Killarney. I have literally been been plaguing him ever since, “when are we going to Killarney?”. Last weekend, it was finally time. Although I waited over half a year, it was so worth the wait.
I’ve set myself a little road trip challenge: To visit all of Ireland’s National Parks! I’ve realised, I’m starting to run out of things to do in Ireland. I took it upon myself to see as much of this Island as I could, given that I love to travel, but am ridiculously afraid of flying.
It’s road trip season! Not saying you cant get into your car and explore at any time of year, in fact I encourage you. But we all know, Summer entices you to travel and now that the temperatures are soaring, I have a few tips to help you avoid any unnecessary road trip stress.
Midway through January, we were off on a longer road trip. It had been months since we’d gone away for longer than a day, so with a couple of days to spare, we thought what better time. We were initially meant to go to Cork, but because of a few hiccups, car troubles and such, we were late leaving and headed for Galway instead.
So why should you visit Ireland? Tourists regularly describe Ireland as “feeling like home”, “peaceful and calm” with millions of tourists flocking to the Emerald Isle each year. In 2019, 11.3 million visited and the number has been rising steadily for years. It seems Ireland is the place to be, for the scenery, atmosphere and quality of life. In fact, in 2020, Ireland was voted second best for Quality of Life by the United Nations
Whether it’s for living or visiting, Ireland is hugely popular. With some tourists returning time after time again after being captivated by the countries charm and beauty. Why exactly do tourists like Ireland? Let’s discuss exactly why you should visit Ireland, and why it is so special.
We couldn’t go any further without mentioning the rich green scenery that most tourists fall in love with. When people visit Ireland, some stick to the cities, but most get out to explore the rolling hills, steep sea cliffs, and of course, the endless number of sheep dotted around the countryside – and this is what you will remember most.
One thing is for sure, the Emerald Isle will leave you Green with Envy!
Ireland has such beautiful simple landscapes, which will undoubtedly fill you with a sense of calm and peace.
Some of the main scenic attractions include:
For some scenic drives check out:
Ireland is known for its stunning sandy beaches, particularly along the west coast. Among those are many awards such as:
You can be sure that Ireland’s beaches are clean and welcoming. To top it off, in 2021 Ireland was awarded 82 Blue Flag Beaches. This is based on criteria such as water quality and environmental management.
On the west coast, it is not unusual to spot seals and even basking sharks and whales off the coast. In fact, the waters below the Cliffs of Moher are busy spots for marine life. The newest member to the Irish waters is “Wally the Walrus” who can be seen sinking small boats and basking in the sunshine!
Gurteen Bay and Dogs Bay in Galway, Malin Beg and Culdaff in Donegal,
check out the Best Beaches in Galway!
Ireland has an interesting history that spans back thousands of years. This is a huge draw for people from the US and other places that don’t have such a lengthy history.
While you can learn all about it through the numerous museums, the best way to see Ireland’s history is by visiting the ruins which are peppered across the entire country. In fact, Ireland has over 1400 ruins.
Most of these are castles and abbeys, from Irelands medieval times. Although some stretch right back to neolithic times, with portal dolmens and passage tombs still standing today. And they still have an air of magic around them. They are well worth visiting.
Some of my favourite ruins are:
Not only is Ireland incredibly welcoming, it’s also a very safe place to visit. In fact, it has been awarded the 6th safest place in Europe for studying abroad and was listed in the top 15 safest countries in the world by the Global Peace Index 2020. We all love a good statistic!
When compared with the rest of Europe and crime is much lower. While Europe is overall, the world’s “safest” destination.
As well as crime being much lower, the country is perfectly positioned so that there are no natural disaster threats, apart from some seasonal flooding. This isn’t too severe though, we’re all used to buckets of rain here!
As a woman, I am glad to say that Ireland is overall, very safe for the female solo travel. For my solo travel girls, be sure to check out: Galway for solo female travel
English is the most spoken language in the world, and bar the odd gaeilgeoir (Irish speaking person), we all speak English!
For many, visiting English-speaking countries is a huge benefit as it makes everything a lot more straightforward and navigating the beautiful country is much easier. Overall, it’s
That being said, all road signs and place signs do have Irish noted above the English translation, in case you want to pick up a few words of Gaeilge on your trip!
While many places make this claim, it has been decided! The oldest pub in the world is “Sean’s Bar” in Athlone dating back to 800 AD. The pub has been pulling pints for a mind-blowing 1,100 years and is visited by locals and tourists alike.
Ireland is pretty small. The longest distance in the country is from Malin head to Mizen’s head. These are the furthest points north and south and are just an 8-hour drive apart. Conversely, Galway (the city in the west) to Dublin (on the east coast) is just 2 and a half hours drive on the motorway.
This makes a trip here pretty easy to navigate. You can see all the main attractions in a short visit, and a whole lot in between!
It may be a stereotype, but that doesn’t mean it’s not true. The Irish are some of the friendliest people on the planet and are always up for the craic. However, while the Irish will do pretty much anything for a laugh, we do so in a polite manner!
Yes, the Irish like to have a good time while still respecting others around them which seems to be one of the reasons the Irish are loved around the world. So why not get speaking to a local in a pub? I can assure you, any elderly man sitting at the bar in the pub will be more than happy to tell you some stories about Ireland!
What you will experience in bitter winds and sheets of rainfall, we well make up for with warm comforting food. Ireland is known for hearty, filling meals and producing alcohol. Ireland produces world-famous beef, brews delicious beers and distills spirits that are sold around the globe. Yep, if you love alcohol, you’re in for a real treat!
The most famous is of course, Guinness. Learn about the history of the black stuff and pull your own pint at the Guinness Storehouse, one of the most popular attractions in the city.
The top Irish meals include warm hearty Beef and Guinness Stew, flavourful Seafood Chowder. of course, be sure to try out a full Irish Breakfast along with some Irish soda bread.
Don’t forget the Irish delicacy – the Tayto Sandwich.
There are so many food tours, festivals and to make the most of the Irish Food culture on your visit.
So that’s it, my “Why you should visit Ireland” shpeal over. The truth is, people love visiting Ireland. The country will take a place in your heart and give you memories for a lifetime. What more can you ask for than that!
Stay tuned as I’ll be doing “5 interesting facts about Ireland” soon!
Top 5 Places in Ireland you NEED to visit | Ireland Must See Places
Visiting the Cliffs of Moher Honest Guide | Do you have to pay to see the Cliffs of Moher?
25 of the Best Things to do in Connemara | Things to do in Galway Ireland
Travel Ireland on the Cheap | How to visit Ireland on a Budget in 2021
The Best Cliffs in Ireland | 8 of Ireland’s Most Beautiful Cliffs
Why do people love Ireland:
Why is Ireland so good?
What makes Ireland Great?