57 Sights of Ireland That Will Make You Green with Envy on St. Patricks Day ...

1. Cork Coast

Ireland's coastline easily rivals that of anywhere else in the world. The beaches are among the glorious sights of Ireland.

2. The Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas, Galway

Known simply as Galway Cathedral, it's one of the most impressive churches in Ireland.

3. Dunguaire Castle, Kinvara

The castle was built around 1520. During the summer visitors can enjoy the castle and grounds, and attend a medieval banquet for an evening of Irish food, music and poetry.

4. River Liffey Bridges, Dublin

The bridges over the Liffey River are a major feature of Ireland’s capital city.

5. Rock of Cashel, County Tipperary

The Rock of Cashel was the traditional seat of the kings of Munster for hundreds of years before the Norman invasion.

6. Killarney, County Kerry

Killarney is one of the popular tourist towns of Ireland. Even Queen Victoria paid a visit in 1861.

7. Cork Harbor, County Cork

Brightly colored houses lining a harbor front are among the common sights of Ireland.

8. Glencar Waterfall, Co. Sligo

The great poet W. B. Yeats mentions Glencar Waterfall in his poem, The Stolen Child.

9. The Long Room the Library, Trinity College, Dublin

The library is home to the famous Book of Kells.

10. Irish Pubs

The pubs are one of the great attractions of Ireland. It's a must for visitors to experience the "craic"

11. St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin

St. Patrick's is the largest church in Ireland and was founded in 1191.

12. Blarney Castle, County Cork

Kiss the Blarney Stone and you'll be blessed with eloquence - more commonly known as the "gift of the gab".

13. Woodstown Beach, County Waterford

Not great for sunbathing but fabulous for walking and beachcombing.

14. Kylemore Abbey, Connemara, County Galway

The abbey is a Benedictine monastery founded in 1920. It was created as a home by Belgian nuns who had fled World War I.

15. Glendalough, County Wicklow

The name means the Glen of Two Lakes and the building you can see is part of the remains of one of the oldest monasteries in Ireland.

16. Classiebawn Castle, Colfoney, County Sligo

There are plenty of sights of Ireland off the beaten track. Classiebawn was built for Viscount Palmerston, one of the Victorian Prime Ministers when Ireland was still ruled by Britain.

17. Lough Tay, County Wicklow

The lough (same as loch in Scotland and lake in England) is also known as the Guinness Lake. The shoreline resembles a pint of Guinness and is also on the border of land belonging to the Guinness family estate.

18. Brazen Head, Dublin

Dublin is proud of its hospitable welcome and this is the oldest pub in the city. It known to have started as a coaching inn in 1198 and illustrious patrons include writers James Joyce and Jonathan Swift.

19. Kinsale, Country Cork

Pretty Kinsale is known as the "Gourmet Capital of Ireland".

20. Malahide Castle, Dublin

The castle dates back to 1185 and belonged to the Talbot family for nearly 800 years. Today it is owned by the state.

21. Sunrise Gate

Gorgeous countryside is a staple of the attractions of
Ireland.

22. Cliffs of Moher, County Clare

One of the most fabulous sights of Ireland (and if you're eagle -eyed, you might spot the location in the Harry Potter movie (Half Blood Prince)

23. Stairway to Heaven, Skellig

The Skellig Islands are two small, steep, and rocky islands west of Bolus Head on the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry. Skellig is famous for thriving populations of gannets and puffins, and for an early Christian monastery that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

24. Phoenix Park, Dublin

The largest enclosed park in the whole of Europe.

25. Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry

The peninsula is the most westerly point in Ireland. Next stop USA. This is one of the most gorgeous places in the country and hugely popular with visitors.

26. St. Colman's Cathedral, Cobh, County Cork

You won't be disappointed with pretty towns like this dotted all around the coast of Ireland. And the cathedral is one of the tallest buildings in Ireland.

27. Campanile, Trinity College, Dublin

You could easily spend a whole day just wandering around the college enjoying the architecture and grounds.

28. Abandoned, County Kerry

Abandoned cottages dotted around the countryside always make great photo opportunities.

29. The Magdalen Asylum, County Cork

The Magdalene Asylums were institutes for wayward girls. although they existed in other countries, the heavy catholic doctrine made them particularly brutal in Ireland.

30. Cottage, Inishmaan, Aran Islands, County Galway

The Aran Islands are definitely on my list of places to visit in Ireland.

31. Wicklow Head Lighthouse, County Wicklow

Fancy a stay in a lighthouse? Imagine the views.

32. Ashford Castle, County Mayo

One of the many castles of Ireland that has been turned into a hotel.

33. Croagh Patrick

The holiest mountain in Ireland.

34. Dunboy Castle, Castletownbere, County Cork

The castle was subject to a siege in 1602 and 58 survivors of the siege were executed in the nearby market square.

35. Dún Chaoin Pier, County Kerry

Pronounced Dunquin, it is the most westerly settlement in
Ireland.

36. Rock of Dunamase, County Laois,

The rock is the site of the ruins of Dunamase Castle and presents fabulous views across to the Slieve Bloom Mountains.

37. Connemara, County Galway

Did you know that it is said that there are 42 shades of green in Ireland.

38. Dalkey, Leinster

Dalkey is a village suburb of Dublin and a popular seaside resort. Maeve Binchy (bestselling author) and Bono (U2) have lived here in the past.

39. Ring of Kerry

One of the major attractions of Ireland and there are just too many points of interest to mention here including lakes, the country park, houses and viewpoints.

40. The Megalithic Passage Tomb, Newgrange, County Meath

Can you believe this is older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian Pyramids? It was built in 3200 BCE.

41. Daredevil Cliffs, Inishmore, Aran Islands

The cliffs are stunning and the views even more so.

42. English Market, Cork

There's been a market on the site since 1788. The current entrance dates back to 1962.

43. Birr Castle, County Offaly

The castle house isn't open to the public but the stunning gardens are. The grounds are also home to the Historic Science Centre, a museum of Ireland's historic scientists and their contributions to botany and astronomy.

44. Bantry House, County Cork

As well as the house and gardens and the stunning bay, Bantry is home to the Armada Exhibition, the story of a failed attempt of a French invasion force in 1796.

45. Tomb, the Burren, County Clare

The megolithic tomb on The Burren is one of the oldest monuments in the world.

46. Dingle, County Kerry

Sorry - I know you've already seen the Dingle Peninsula but it's so blooming gorgeous.

47. Gougane Barra Forest, Bantry, County Cork

Are you thinking of faeries and sprites and all manner of magical creatures? Maybe a leprechaun or two?

48. Tralee, County Kerry

Tralee is the largest town in County Kerry and is known for its Rose of Tralee International Festival.

49. Saint Kevin's Way, County Wicklow

The Saint Kevin's Way is a pilgrim path 19 miles long. It begins in Hollywood, winds through the Wicklow Gap and ends at the ruins of the monastery in Glendalough, founded by St. Kevin. .

50. Fastnet Lighthouse, Mizen Head, County Cork

The last lighthouse before the Americas.

51. Brannockstown, Kildare

Even when Ireland isn't green she is beautiful.

52. Lia Fail, Hill of Tara, County Meath

The Stone of Destiny is the ancient coronation stone of the Kings of Ireland.

53. Jamesons Whiskey Distillery Museum, Dublin

The Irish are as fond of their whiskey as the Scots and the museum tour is a popular tourist activity.

54. Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin

Notorious as being the site where Irish soldiers were shot dead by British troops after the Easter Rising in 1916

55. James Joyce Museum

There is such wealth in Irish literature and James Joyce was one of its greatest exponents.

56. Waterford Crystal, Waterford, Munster

The business was started back in 1783. Tours of the factory are very popular.

57. The Emerald Isle

And let's end with a simple contemplation of Ireland's beauty.

Are you convinced enough to put Ireland on your travel wish list?