|
|
Ireland Attractions
Home » Ireland » Ireland - Activities and Attractions » Ireland AttractionsIreland has so many attractions from its historical landmarks to its beautiful gardens. Below is a list of several counties in Ireland and the attractions found within each of these particular counties:
County Antrim
Belfast City is found in County Antrim and is the capital of Northern Ireland. The city of Belfast is rich in culture as both history and politics play a significant role in the structure of Belfast. Belfast offers a wide variety of cultures in art, dance, music, sports, and historical sites.
• City Hall: Found on Donegall Square in Belfast, this magnificent building dominates the city with its brilliant architecture of classical renaissance style. City Hall was completed in 1903 and is graced with beautiful Italian marble interior inside and first-rate Portland stone outside.
• Ulster Museum: This museum is recognized for its Irish ancient artifacts, riches from the Armada shipwreck, Girona, and the Early Ireland Gallery (10,000 BC to 1,500 BC).
• The Botanic Gardens: These beautiful rose gardens and herbaceous borders were established in 1920. The Tropical Ravine has a high walkway that offers a wonderful view. The Palm House has a conservatory holding tropical plants such as banana plants, coffee, and sugar.
• St. Anne's Cathedral: Constructed between 1899 and 1927, St. Anne's Cathedral contains gorgeous mosaics. This Anglican Church encompasses part of the original building.
• Belfast Zoo: This fascinating zoo contains 40 endangered species of animals. Belfast Zoo has received national and international praise for unusual animal breeding.
County Clare
County Clare is bursting with inspiring landscapes, lakes, seascapes, caves, and cliffs. There are a host of attractions that visitors can enjoy in this amazing county.
• The Burren: Located in the northwest corner of County Clare, the Burren contains over 500 square miles of karstic limestone. Translated "stony place", this area is paradise for ecologists and botanists due to the distinctive rock and flora. The assortment of flora with Alpine, Mediterranean, and Arctic plants is truly inspiring.
• Alwee Caves: These caves are open to visitors to receive guided tours. Alwee Caves were discovered in the 1940's and contain beautiful, underground waterfalls, stalactite and stalagmite formations, and caverns.
County Dublin
Dublin is the capital of the Republic of Ireland and is a city rich in history. Dublin is the proud home to the oldest pub in Ireland, "The Brazen Head", and the oldest university, Trinity College. It is by far the largest and most cosmopolitan city in Ireland.
• O'Connell Street: O'Connell Street is the primary thoroughfare and the widest street in Dublin. Travel through and visit the enormous monument of Daniel O'Connell on the south end, or at the north end visit Charles Stewart Parnell's monument. Stop in at the General Post Office, which was the temporary government of Ireland in the 1916 Easter Rising.
• Dublin Writers Museum: This 18th century restored mansion is found at the north end of Parnell Square. The Museum contains the works of some of Irelands most prolific writers: Shaw, Yeats, Joyce, Swift, and Behan. It also possesses a striking assembly of photographs, painting, and memorabilia of the different writers.
• Phoenix Park: This park is the largest enclosed city park in Europe. Inside Phoenix Park visit Dublin Zoological Gardens, one of the best zoos in Europe. Visitors will appreciate the large diversity of birds, animals, and reptiles.
• Temple Bay Area: This eclectic and historical region is the cultural quarter of Dublin. It is bursting with art, music, pubs, cafes, theater, and a huge variety of restaurants. The Market in Meeting House Square is found in the Temple Bay Area and hosts numerous open-air events.
County Cork
County Cork is the largest county in Ireland. It is home to the Republic of Ireland's second largest city.
• Blarney Castle: Dermot McCarthy, King of Munster, constructed this infamous castle in 1446. Blarney castle is situated on a thousand acres of picturesque woodland, and is partially concealed by trees, some of which are nearly a thousand years old. Although Blarney castle has a rich history of witness to the turbulence of Irish chiefs, by the 1700's Blarney Castle no longer served as a fortress. It is understood that Queen Elizabeth desired this castle for herself.
• Cobh Island: Located on the Great Island, Cobh is one of the three large islands found in Cork Harbor. It was previously known as Queenstown during the Great Hunger from 1844 to 1848. If you have time, visit the multi-media exhibit at Cobh's Victorian Railroad Station where you can hear the haunting history of this port as many sailed from it in the appalling "coffin ships" and never reached their destination.
• St. Coman's Cathedral: Located above Cobh Harbour, this beautiful cathedral possesses a massive neo-Gothic spire and a bell carillon that weighs 7,700 pounds. St. Coman's Cathedral is sure to stand out with its beautifully colored windows and incredible mosaic flooring.
Related Ireland - Activities and Attractions Articles