Irish Attractions

If you’re planning a holiday in Ireland you’ll no doubt have already researched the sights, attractions and prepared your list of things to see and do.  You’ll be set to visit Ireland’s fantastic, world famous visitor attractions like the Giant’s Causeway, Blarney Castle, the Cliffs of Moher or Dublin’s Temple Bar but if you just follow the tourist trail you could be missing out on some really great alternative attractions.  Here’s just a snapshot of some of the more unusual or out of the way attractions across Ireland to give you the taste for adventuring off the beaten track.

Get up close and personal with some amazing birds of prey at Eagles Flying in County Sligo. There are over 350 birds and animals from 76 different species for you to see, touch and admire.  The falconers work a wide range of the 100 birds of prey on a daily basis and you can marvel as eagles, owls, hawks and even the wonderful vultures fly overhead. And some lucky visitors will experience the thrill of have one of these amazingly beautiful birds landing on their own hand. There is nothing more thrilling than being checked out by an eagle or seeing the shadow of a 3 metre wing span flying overhead.  In between meeting the birds of prey up close you can see the other birds in the aviaries, walk around the pretty parklands or cuddle animals in the pet zoo.

For a more astral experience visit The Planetarium in County Armagh.  This will appeal to amateur astrologers and space novices alike.  Sitting in the Space Theatre you will be plunged deep into our universe through the Planetariums amazing 360’ immersive projection system. This creates stunning visualisations of our night sky and takes you through stars, planets and galaxies to other worlds beyond.  Find out how man has explored and discovered space in the Earth to Heaven exhibition and how technology has enabled us to gain a better understanding of the Earth and our place in the Universe.

Tear yourself away from deep space and travel deep underground.  The Arigna Mining Experience in Roscommon lets you experience the realities of mining over 400 years to the 20th century.  The village of Arigna is situated in a beautiful landscape that hides it’s industrial past. Coal mining was one of the main industries in Arigna for over 400 years until the last mines closed in 1990 and now the mine experience ensures that the exhausting and hazardous work of a coal mining is not forgotten. Guided by the miners that have worked the mines you’ll get a first hand view of what it was really like to live and work in Arigna. Your guides will take you into the mine and lead you through its history and development and letting you experience for a short while the harsh, cramped and challenging work. 

And staying underground, visit Marble Arch Caves in County Fermanagh. These caves are a fascinating natural underworld of rivers, waterfalls, winding passages and lofty chambers. Be guided through a labyrinth or stalactites and stalagmites; see shimmering mineral veils and cascades of creamy calcite walls.

If you’re in need of some arts and culture on your alternative site seeing tour take some time to see the Hunt Collection in Custom House, Limerick. Not only is Custom House a stunning Georgian Palladian building it is home to the eclectic and intriguing collection of artefacts made by John and Gertrude Hunt. Their collection has been created based on each items design quality, craftsmanship, and artistic merit and you will see things ranging from paintings by famous artists - Picasso, Renoir and Gauguin – to the beautiful quality work of gifted but anonymous craftsmen.  Some items are grouped chronologically or by specific themes but more often than not they are presented just as the Hunts displayed them as a private collection in the family house.  A truly wonderful experience.

There are lots of opportunities to learn more about Ireland’s heritage but these next attractions give you a much more personal experience. The Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre in County Offaly is housed in the C19 Bonded Warehouse. Here you will see how the Tullamore Dew Whiskey/Irish Mist Liqueur was made, including the various work stages such as malting, cooperaging and bottling. You’ll learn how the development of the Grand Canal allowed trade to grow. Visitors can wander through the various distilling stages such as seeing the bees collecting honey for the production of Irish Mist, the malting process, bottling or cooperage areas and learn how the whiskey was made. You will learn how the development of the Grand Canal allowed trade to grow and even dress as a C19 bargeman.

Staying with the industrial theme visit the Skerries Mill Complex with its watermill, 5 and 4 sail windmills and the all important mill races, ponds and wetlands.  This is a fascinating journey through the history of milling which starts in the C16 and ends in early C20. You can get hands on with milling to grind your own flour or explore inside the wind mill itself.

If your journey around Ireland takes you to the southern counties then we recommend that you walk the Youghal Heritage Trail.  Youghal, situated on the Blackwater River is one of the best examples of a Norman Walled Port in Ireland today. On your walk you will see the C13 town walls, the famous 'Clock Tower',  Tyntes Castle and the most famous of Youghal's buildings Mrytle Grove. This was once the home of Sir Walter Raleigh.

Hopefully this has been enough to whet your appetite for finding some alternative Irish attractions, something a bit different and something that will make your Irish holiday unforgetable.