tourist attractions in Ireland, these are my top tourist attractions

Tourist attractions in Ireland, facts are there there are so many wonderful attractions for tourist and natives alike, that to really appreciate them you need to give yourself a decent amount of time. My top tourist attractions of Ireland happen to be in Wicklow.

The attractions chosen are my personal favorites, but in fact it could be one of many.

Tourist attractions Ireland? it's like asking how long a piece of string is, but anyway, here goes.

The best approach to this is to plan a little. So let's start your plan to see as many of Ireland's tourist attractions as you can.

You've got your facts on the weather in Ireland year round, you've got some of the facts on the best Irish festivals and hopefully you have read my information and facts on the Geography of Ireland now you want to give yourself a guided tour of some of Ireland's tourist attractions.

To give ourselves a starting point we will allow that you're entering Ireland via Dublin. Dublin has many fine attractions but leave them for your final days so that you are not spending all your days on the road directly before heading back.

This way you will be able to base yourself in Dublin and get to see it's finest attractions within handy striking distance of your base. Far less tiring that way.

tourist attractions in Ireland, my No.1

O.K., here we go, head south out of Dublin to County Wicklow. Wicklow has without doubt some of the finest tourist attraction in Ireland along with some of the most breathtaking scenery in Ireland. Head towards Enniskerry village, here you can visit the tallest waterfall in Ireland whilst not tall by many standards the fact is that it is Ireland tallest at 350 feet. Now the waterfall is nothing great and on its own certainly would not be one of the main tourist attractions in Ireland. The waterfall however is just a bonus as just down the road is one of Ireland's most beautiful estate houses, Powerscourt House and Gardens.

Fantastic house and gardens and a view across to Bray and the Irish Sea that is to die for on a fine day. If you are visiting Ireland write this place into your itinerary.

I could never do it justice, on a fine day it genuinely has some of the finest views on earth, not just in Ireland. Don't be tempted to head straight for the west coast or I can guarantee you, you will miss many of the finest tourist attractions in Ireland.

Your next attraction in Wicklow is just a few miles down the road. This next place is one of Ireland's most recognisable symbols, the Round Tower in Glendalough, ( Gleann da Locha, valley of the two lakes.).

The tower itself is 110 feet tall .Glendalough is a sixth century monastic site founded by St. Kevin. Nestling in the bosom of the Wicklow mountains, and surrounded by monastic building and ruins.There is a visitors centre and guided tours are provided. Glendalough is a truly magical, spiritual setting, even for the most hardened soul.

Of course the problem with trying to squeeze in so many tourist attractions is the limit on your time. It's difficult to see everything and still spend some time in a place. If you can however I urge you to do the following. You won't regret it. Before you head to Glendalough, prepare a packed lunch or picnic,get your cameras ready and a real bonus if you have one, a pair of binoculars.

Drive through the Sally Gap ,through some of the most breathtaking and atmospheric places you are ever likey to visit. to the village of Laragh and onto Glendalough. Now when you've absorbed the atmosphere of Glendalough, get into your car and go for a drive from Glendalough through the area known as the Wicklow Gap towards the village of Hollywood .Now it's not the destination, it's the journey.

Those two drives are at least on a par with the Ring of Kerry although only a fraction of the distance. Pull in at one of the little set aside areas, have your lunch surrounded by some of the finest views you are ever likely to see. Get the camera and binoculars out, and take it in.

Again time is not on your side, as I said Wicklow has some of Ireland's finest tourist attractions, it's natural beauty alone ensures it of that. So let's just pretend that you have the time to do this. You've been to Glendalough, driven through either or both the Wicklow and Sally Gap and had a bite to eat as well. Head back to Glendalough and onto the pretty village of Laragh, now head out of Laragh on the Rathdrum road.

A few miles out of Laragh on the right hand side you will see a sign for Glenmalure, go up that road, and when I say up, I mean up. Another magical drive awaits you. You are heading towards Glenmalure at the foot of Ireland's second highest mountain Lugnaquilla.

Get a beautiful meal at the Glenmalure Lodge Hotel owned by the very friendly couple Anne and Paddy Dowling. They'll look after you well. Wicklow was the last county in Ireland to be designated a county because of it's resistance to British rule and the O'Byrne family were the leaders in this area. The townsland of Ballinacor , which takes in Glenmalure,was their base. The famous Military Road is a direct result of their beligerance. You will get all the facts you need from the locals but here is just the background.

More details on the Military Road are at the bottom of the page under More Options

Just a few hundred yards down the road from the lodge take a photograph of one of the most scenic Gaelic Football pitches,or any football pitch for that matter, that you'll ever come across. The name of the local club is Ballinacor.

Stay the night at the lodge and depending on what night of the week it is chances are there will be plenty of music.

Next day , head for Avondale , near Rathdrum, and visit the gorgeous former home of the famous Irish politician Charles Stuart Parnell, and then drive through the picturesque Vale of Avoca and head south out of County Wicklow.

More tourist attractions in Wicklow,Ireland

The Wicklow Way

Of course this is only one part of the attractive package of tourist attractions that is Wicklow. The Wicklow Way,one of Ireland's more popular tourist attractions for those looking to get away from it all, a walk from Marley Park in Dublin, right through Wicklow to Clonegal in Carlow is another of the top tourist attractions in Ireland. Wicklow Mountains National Park covers part of a mountain range that extends over most of County Wicklow.

The upper slopes and rounded peaks are blanketed with heath and bog. The open vistas are interrupted only by forestry plantations and the winding mountain roads. Fast-flowing streams descend into the deep lakes of the wooded valleys and continue their course into the surrounding lowlands. Be aware though it is a tough walk and you need to be in good shape and well prepared.

The Military Road would not be considered by many to be amongst the top tourist attractions in Ireland but I think when you consider the whole package it fits in nicely.

The Wicklow Mountains were for centuries the strongholds of the O'Byrnes and O'Tooles, and even up until 1803 a leader of the 1798 Rising, Michael Dwyer, was able to remain at large among them. It was to make theses mountain strongholds accessible to the British Army that the Military road was built after 1798. It runs from Rathfarnham , just south of Dublin, to Aughavannagh, and today it open up the beauties of the central Wicklow area to the visitor. Relics of the road's original purpose are the block-houses that can be seen at several points along the route.

From Rathfarnham the road rises steeply, with fine views back over the city of Dublin , until it levels out to pass across the boggy plateau of the Featherbed. As it approaches Kippure Mountain ( 2, 475 feet) , the road looks down on two mountain tarns. Upper Lough Bray and Lower Lough Bray. A little beyond is the source of the River Liffey, which meanders down the mountain slopes into county Kildare and then flows northwards to enter County Dublin near the County Kildare village of Leixlip.

Wicklow National Park

Another beautiful tourist attraction in Ireland is the area in which Glendalough is based is The Wicklow National Park .The park initially covered an area of 3,700 hectares centred on Glendalough, but has been considerably extended since and now covers an area of close to 20,000 hectares, including the internationally important Liffey Head Bog. The main Park visitor facilities and Education Centre are still located in the Glendalough Valley.

The Park includes the beautiful Upper Lake at Glendalough and most of the glaciated valley in which it lies. It is famous for its woodlands and wildlife.

Even allowing for the tourist attraction I have already mentioned, we still only saw a fraction of what this beautiful county has to offer.

Now, don't get me wrong, Ireland has many attractions, it just happens that Wicklow is my favourite because of it's overall qualities. I couldn't do it justice here.

The only way you are going to find your favourite tourist attractions in Ireland is to come visit us. You know you'll be welcome.

P.S. I will be giving my own little spiel on plenty more tourist attractions in Ireland, so don't forget to add this site to your favourites and comeback here to catch up.


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