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Top ten most popular tourist destinations in Ireland for 2012 named

Belfast Titanic celebration gives Northern Ireland city a major boost

JANE WALSH,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Saturday, September 15, 2012, 8:27 AM

Updated Saturday, September 15, 2012, 8:27 AM

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18 Comments

Dublin

Photo by Google Images

A new survey has revealed that Dublin and Belfast were the top choices for vacation goers in Ireland during the first half of 2012.

The survey carried out by Hotels.com showed that Dublin is the most popular destination for overseas travelers, while Belfast takes second place. The Northern Irish city profited from a particularly busy first six months of the year with the opening of the new Titanic Exhibition Centre in April and a large scale campaign by Tourism Ireland helping to boost visitor numbers.

Cultural hot spot Galway is in third place while Cork is fourth on the chart of home-grown destinations. New to this latest list are Ennis and Sligo which are 9th and 10th respectively.

Top 10 domestic destinations for overseas travelers in 2012:

1.Dublin
2.Belfast
3.Galway
4.Cork
5.Limerick
6.Killarney
7.Kilkenny
8.Waterford
9.Ennis
10.Sligo

As for the Irish, although stay-cations have become popular of late, London topped the poll for the most popular overseas destination for Irish travelers. The report shows that London was the most visited overseas city by Irish travelers in the first half of the year, keeping New York and Paris from the top spot.

However, the US remains one of the most popular countries for Irish travelers. New York, Las Vegas, Orlando, San Francisco, Boston, and Chicago all appear on the list and have consistently featured in the Top 20 over the past number of years.

Nster.com

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18 Comments

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Frosty38 | Mar 21, 2013, 10:21 AM EDT

I have been to Ireland 5 times and my husband and i are returning in two weeks. It is the home of my grand mom and on my grandfathers side they were from the North. She was from Galway. I love all of it. Dublin is a city for some great local things to do. Nice starting point for those that don't want to tour on a bus. They have great companies that can take you out to some different places. But I like to toue also. I have done it both ways. I love the bus driver telling the old history and the singing of the old songs. Which you don't get if you wing it. I also have done the buses and the trains. The downside is MOST of the time you have to go back to Dublin for connections. I still have family there which I will get to meet with this trip

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Searlit | Sep 17, 2012, 08:09 PM EDT

Day 2 - Irish word Mí, means month. Téana ort, tabhair cabhair agat dom, Gaeilgeoir, má mé tuigeann. Le do thoil.

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Mairin67 | Sep 17, 2012, 07:07 PM EDT

Pretty lame list as we all know that tourists do not come to Ireland to see cities or towns (after Dublin and Galway maybe). Scratch Sligo, Ennis and Limerick.

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IrelandNorth | Sep 17, 2012, 08:33 AM EDT

Yes! Forgive and forget. After all, those skilled Protestant rivetters didn't drop any more red hot hammers on the unprotected heads of unskilled Catholic tradesmen than was absolutely necessary in the circumstances. And since faulty rivetting was said to be the fault line of its sinking, does this not prove that sectarian distraction was an occupational hazard. But it is time to embrace each other, such things being a century ago. And Traveller feuding isn't as bad as alleged in Limerick. After all, as descendants of the defeated Irishry, they're one of Cromwell's more delightful contemporary legacies. Love the picture of the town I love so well.

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Searlit | Sep 16, 2012, 11:39 PM EDT

We should have an Irish word for the day. How about Lá that means day.

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vince363 | Sep 16, 2012, 10:17 AM EDT

i would rate kinsale cork high on the list ,a wonderful old town full of history , but then, thats just me i was born there so im biased.

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oldboreen | Sep 16, 2012, 05:37 AM EDT

How about Sneem village on the Ring of Kerry? Never been there? Go folks, it's breathtakingly beautiful! I admit I'm biased-it's my ancestral home.

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BARNEYKX | Sep 16, 2012, 05:32 AM EDT

CLARE NOT EVEN MENTIONED,HARD TO FIGURE THAT OUT

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oldboreen | Sep 16, 2012, 05:31 AM EDT

@Mousemess.Thanks from the majority of ethnic Irish who have never learned our beautiful and ancient tongue(translation of place names Sept 15). So how about teaching us Irish? You're obviously fluent. A simple phrase or two each week with phonetics-unlike your smug unhelpful postings so far-would be really appreciated!I have asked IC several times to address this issue. Here's your chance to shine!

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casualMBA | Sep 15, 2012, 06:19 PM EDT

At least the Anglo-Ascendancy "Hell's Fires" Club, desecrating the ancestral home(for over 300 years)of the FitzGerald Earls of Desmond, in Askeaton, Limerick, did not make the list!!!

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Mousemess | Sep 15, 2012, 01:29 PM EDT

1.Dublin =Baile Atha Cliath 2.Belfast =Beal Feirste 3.Galway =Gaillimh 4.Cork =Corcaigh 5.Limerick =Luimneach 6.Killarney =Cill Airne 7.Kilkenny =Cill Chainnigh 8.Waterford =Port Lairge 9.Ennis =Inis 10.Sligo =Sligeach

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Searlit | Sep 15, 2012, 12:28 PM EDT

Ah, TheOldPerfessor, I think you're being a little unfair to Limerick. It is a little busy,though. I think it's so beautiful the way the Shannon River flows through the city. I know I'm a little prejudiced because my great-grandfather was from Limerick City. You have to admit there is a strong history. I love the determination of spirit there. By the way, I've been to all of the cities listed, except Belfast. I agree with pilib04, Westport is beautiful! My favorite places are the ancient sites, and the small towns of the West, from Doolin through Ballyvaghan. Now, I'm missing it.

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frankieblo | Sep 15, 2012, 11:43 AM EDT

thanks for the comment but if you dont live here then you have no idea what you are talking about! thanks frankieblo

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pilib04 | Sep 15, 2012, 11:39 AM EDT

frankiebio, at some point you have to forgive. What you described took place 100 years ago. Why not go back 400 years to the Middle Passage? I am sure you could make the same points. Peace in Northern Ireland can only come with forgiveness and reconciliation. That includes forgiving those who voted to abandon the Republicans of Ulster for a Free State.

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pilib04 | Sep 15, 2012, 11:31 AM EDT

I agree with TheOldPerfessor, Limerick, really? The others are probable, but Limerick? Ennis and Sligo are a might shaky. I would put up Bundoran, Derry and Westport.

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