Twelve of The Most Beautiful Towns You Must Visit in Ireland

Trinity College is one of Ireland’s oldest university which is known all over the world. It has got a library which is full of journals and documentaries which help people understand the Irish culture a little better. But, at the end of the day, visiting places like the Newgrange, is what actually helps brush over the history of Ireland. Built nearly over five thousand years ago the tombs here are similar to that of the Pyramids of Giza. Places like Galway provide a dramatic view of the sea coast. Ireland is made up of several towns which have produced a plethora of castles, churches, museums, towers, parks and monasteries. These enchanting villages and towns are a must visit for every visitor.

It is a city that helps weave magic with experience. This magic attracts several visitors and tourists from all over the world.

Here are the twelve most beautiful towns that one must explore while in Ireland:

Known to be a fishing town, Kinsale is located on the Kinsale harbor on the river Bandon. The criss cross streets are dotted with shops, pubs, eating joints and art galleries. It is a water front location with fishing boats bobbing all around. Famous for activities like fishing and sailing, this place successfully attracts several visitors all around the year. The town usually hosts annual festivals which are worth both the time and money. Thirty years ago, Kinsale is the town which starts the Slow Food Movement where in food producers get together in order to produce some of the most gastronomical delicacies. Moreover there are so many pubs and restaurants at every corner that it won’t be very hard to pick one for the night and one will only be spoiled for choice. The Dermot Ryan’s walking tour is one of the must walking tours to take as it allows one to enjoy some of the remote yet beautiful corners of the town. This town can prove to be the best starting point while exploring the grandeur towns and villages of Ireland.

Derived from the actual word “rough glen”, Glengarriff is a small town situated on the Beara Peninsula in Cork. It is made up of approximately 800 inhabitants. It is one of those famous tourist locations which are majorly known for it s picturesque view and grandeur landscapes. Just like any other Irish town, this one is also known for its pubs and galleries. Since the town is surrounded by a line of rugged mountains, there are some spots which provide an amazing view of the town from the top. The inhabitants of this town often like to call it the Natural Meeting Place. Garinish Island, Knockboy and Priest’s Leap, Glengarriff Bamboo park and the Glengarriff woods are some of the places that you must visit during your stay at Glengarriff. This town also has some of the ancient oak and birch groves left to be seen and explored. One must tread on the steep trail of Lady Bantry’s lookout to be able to enjoy the spectacular view of the entire town.

Situated at the foot of the Knockmealdown mountains, Lismore is an ancient town in Waterford. As far as the discovery of this town is concerned then it is known to have been discovered by Saint Monchuda who is also known as Saint Carthage. This town is known for the presence of a 800 years old castle which attracts several tourists. The castle is near the town’s old monastery. The castle is located down a steep hill and is said to have been constructed during the medieval ages. Once up on the castle, one can enjoy a beautiful view of not only the town but also the Black water valley that is quite close to the town. There are some significant artifacts which belong to the Lismore Castle, like the Book of Lismore which is now located at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire and also the Lismore Crozier which is now at the National Museum of Ireland.

Valentia is a beautiful town which is located on the Valentia island on the Iveragh Peninsula in the south west of Ireland. This island town is not disconnected from the main city and the main land. But, is very well connected via a bridge from Portmagee. There also is a car ferry service available which starts from the Reenard point and takes tourists right till the mainland. This town has a historical significance in the sense that in 1993, fossilized footprints were found which are said to be approximately 385 years old. These footprints are important as these acts as the oldest remnants of vertebrate life on land. This is an important discovery in the history of mankind. Apart from being known for this discovery, there are a few gardens and parks which can be explored as they house some unique and special kind of plants and flora. Having reached the town of Valentia, you can easily travel up till Skellig Micheal, as your next destination.

Strandhill is a beautiful coastal town which must be visited by everyone who loves to surf. The town is situated at the western base of the Knocknarea Mountain. This town is quite close to the Sligo town. One of the sites which attracts a large number of tourists is the Dolly’s Cottage. This cottage is said to be two hundred years old which makes it quite interesting. Another significant place which tourists like to visit is the megalithic tombs of Carrowmore. The city also celebrates several interesting festivals. For instance the festival, the Warrior festival is well known all around the world. The central event of the festival is the warrior run. This run is considered to be one of the toughest competitions of Ireland. What started as a mere pub event is now one of the most famous events of the country.

This town is situated near the Cooley Peninsula. The town of Carlingford welcomes people ofall age groups and it provides both a quite and a lively weekend. The term Carlingford literally comes from the Old norse meaning, ‘ a narrow sea inlet of the hag”. The town is made of some magnificent heritage sites which speak volumes about the medieval era. At some point in the history, Ireland was known for its town gates. Unfortunately, hardly any of them remain as evidence. But, the city of Carlingford still has one of the remaining town gate or the Tholsel. Such historical landmarks help narrate the history of Ireland, right from the Norman days till the present. There are certain spots which provide the tourists with a panoramic view of the town. When tourists visit Carlingford, they not only indulge in sight seeing but also enjoy activities such as fishing. Sea food is considered to be one of the most widely relished cuisines in Carlingford. What sets this town different from the rest is the presence of the adventurous park the Skypark. Then there is also the Carlington Adventure Centre. The Leprechaun and fairy Underground Cavern, Foot Golf, Carlingford Leprechaun Hunt and The Greenway are some of the other magnificent places that need to be visited while living in Carlingford town.

Nestled in the north west part of Ireland, Gweedore is a town in Donegal. Just like most of the towns of Ireland, this coastal town is also majorly known for the splendid landscapes and the beaches. This town is culturally rich as this is one of the largest towns where in the people speak Irish. This town is specially known for the Glenveagh National park which is considered to be the largest national park. Apart from the National park, there is also a castle which is quite well known. There are two islands, Gola and tory, which are easily accessible from the town of Gweedore. This area can be slightly difficult to explore as certain parts of the town experience harsh weather conditions. For instance, the Magheraclogher beach is one of the places that does witness very harsh climatic conditions which makes it unbearable for tourists to roam around.

Westport is a planned town of Ireland which is situated on the south east corner of Clew Bay. This city was planned by the architect James Wyatt in the eighteenth century. As far as the architecture style of the town is concerned then it follows the Georgian style. There is a river which meanders through the river. What adds to the beauty are the several bridges made over the Carrowbeg river. Right next to the town of Westport is the famous pilgrimage mountain of Croagh Patrick, commonly known as The Reek. Reek Sundays attract several tourists and visitors all around the year. The history of the town shares close proximity with the pirate queen, Grace O’Malley. It’s a town which has to be included in the travel itinerary.

The town is actually situated over the confluence of the rivers, the Camcor and the little Brosna river into the river Shannon near the Victoria Lock. The town is well equipped with a good transport system, unlike any other Irish town. Known to be a Georgian town, Birr is a town which has its historical significance preserved. The housing structures of the town had the typical Georgian fan light. Even the presence of Emmet Square and Emmet Street are known to be Georgian traits. The streets are planned and elegant. During the sixteenth and the seventeenth century this town was know as Parsonstown instead. Because during this the Parsons family were the hereditary landowners and Earls of Rosse. There is a famous monastery in this town which has been known to have produced several gospels of MacRegol. The Seffin Stone is another magnificent structure which has been known for the past several years.

The town Enniskery has the literal meaning of a rugged fort. Nestled all along the topography of the town is the river, Glencullen. One of the monuments which is well known during is the Powerscourt Estate and this building is made up of a large house and 47 acres of garden. As far as the style of the construction is concerned, the style is Palladian. During the year 1974, the garden was completed destroyed in a fire. But both the garden and the house were restored in the year 1996. The town is also famous for Powerscourt Waterfall which is known to be the highest waterfall in Ireland as it is approximately 121 meters high. This town is hardly thirty minutes away from the city of Dublin. And it is through this town that one can also visit the town of Wicklow. This town is often considered to be a place where in people like to retire and settle post his/ her retirement. These towns are well connected with one another. Hence, it will never be easy to hop from one town to another.

This harbor city is situated on the west coast of Ireland and has the river Corrib meandering through it. Just like any other typical Irish town, this town is also known for its pubs and cafés. These cafes usually come combined with live Irish folk music. This lovely Irish music helps in setting a warm ambience for the tourists. Apart for some exceptional eating joints, the city is dotted with several museums, art galleries and boutiques. The Spanish Arch, Galway Cathedral, Galway City Museum and the Eyre Square are some of the famous tourist spots that everyone must visit atleast once in their lifetime. The inhabitants and even some of the tourists celebrate several festivals, like the Arts Festival, Galway Race Week, and the International Oyster and Seafood Festival to name a few.

Cork is an inland town which is situated on the southwest coast of Ireland. The center of this island is the river Lee and this city is connected to the sea by Cork Harbor. Unlike most of the Irish towns which are not so densely populated, this town is a home for a large portion of the Irish population. There are some historical buildings which mark the grandeur of the city. The Hilton steeple of the eighteenth century is one of those historic and significant buildings. There are several places that the tourist must explore. Some of them being the Blarney Castle, Blarney Stone, The English Market and the Fota Wildlife Park. There are several more markets, like the English market which cover the entire length and breadth of the city. These markets are famous and different from any regular markets because they serve organic food. It is also a closed market hence it can be visited and enjoyed all through the year.

Ireland is a stunning country with some of the most beautiful towns, ancient history and warm people. Ireland is one of the all time favorite destinations for a majority of the tourists. The rugged beautiful scenery attracts several people from all around the world and all over the year. The cuisine is so rich with culture and made with such delicacy, that it is one of the most under rated cuisines. Ireland has a seven thousand years of rich history. There some of the historical remains which date back to the sixteenth century. As a result of large scale immigration and conquest, there is a certain amount of diversity in the towns of Ireland. Irrespective of the presence of the plurality of thoughts and ideologies, the town is also known for rich and dominant Irish culture. It is all thanks to the Irish monks who locked themselves in order to be able to help preserve the heritage of the Irish culture. Ireland is full of museums and art galleries which are situated in some of the remotest of the town corners. Use the skip-the-line bookings at Trip.com and wave goodbye to the queues. The Trip.com app can help you find a cheap flight booking for over 5,000 destinations globally. Not only can you compare flights and use the fare finder features. The tickets can be booked in well in advance in order to avoid any last minute disappointments. These tickets can easily be booked online, using the 24 hours online services. So, why wait when you can take a stroll on the streets of Ireland, that too right now. Come and discover the Irish towns with the help of Trip.com.