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Top 10 places to see in Ireland



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The Cliffs of Moher off the coast of Co. Clare. Don't get too close to the edge!
The Cliffs of Moher off the coast of Co. Clare. Don't get too close to the edge!
Photo by Tourism Ireland

From the windswept Cliffs of Moher to the rain-soaked Aran Islands, there are a number of  sites that no trip to Ireland is complete without. If ancient history is your thing, Ireland has plenty of it: try Newgrange or the Hill of Tara in County Meath.  For sheer unadulterated, natural, beauty try the Giant's Causeway or the entire county of  Kerry.  But there is more to Ireland than countryside and rocks, as any number of attractions in Dublin, such as Trinity College and the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, suggests.  

To narrow this list down to 10 is quite a challenge. But it nevertheless reflects an array of tourist attractions from all corners of Ireland, that will have something for every one.

We compiled this list ourselves but we're open to change! What's your favorite place in Ireland?

1. Boyne Valley

Brú na Bóinne (the Boyne Palace) in County Meath contains some of the most important historic sites and monuments in Ireland, and is a designated World Heritage Site.

It features the massive megalithic ancient passage tombs - which are graves dating back to ancient times - of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth. These tombs are older than both Stonehenge in England and the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.

Newgrange, which was built about 5,000 years ago, is Ireland's most famous prehistoric site.

It's especially famous for a spectacular event on Dec. 21, also known as the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. The tomb was built in such a way so that on this day, it is illuminated by a narrow beam of sunlight which shines through a specially designed roof box. Those who have seen this say its an unforgettable experience.

See more: ireland vacation, ireland vacations



7 Comments

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The Cliffs of Moher were a stunning sight till they put that wall and visitors centre in.
"Slieve League" in Donegal is better than Cliffs of Moher & less tourists, alsso Ardara, Donegal is 1 of the friendliest towns I've visited, and the "Poison Valley", beautiful and historic!!
That list was a good start. They are all very common places for tourists. My husband and I have found the truly best places were when we would go off the beaten path so to speak and find some town and spend the day. In the west, we located two little old ladies that sold lovely sweaters and rugs that they had knitted and hooked themselves and sold them out of a very old wooden caravan they had placed between their cottages as their storefront. In the south, the town of Ardmore was particularly wonderful, how I would love to live there. And while a little desolate, Spiddeal, home of my ancestors, captivated me with a unique charm. OK, I love Ireland, all of it.
How are chances of getting better Google Map images? Might be quite helpful in stimulating gringo tourista biz, no?
The Cliffs of Moher truly are spectacular - you can have them on every bar of Cadburys Dairy Milk if you vote on line at cadbury.ie/the apprentice and they may soon be included in the new 7 wonders of nature.
What, no Blarney Castle visit?????????????????????
There is an error in No.9-St Patrick's Cathedral: Handel's "Messiah" was not first performed in the cathedral - the premiere was in Neal's Music Hall, Fishamble St., Dublin, not far from St Patrick's (this hall is long gone though). In fact, Jonathan Swift voiced some opposition to it; that said, some choristers from the cathedral were involved in the premiere.
 


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