Ireland

Good Craic, Characters & Coastlines

9 WAYS TO FILL YOUR HEART IN IRELAND

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Tourism Ireland

AH, IRELAND...

She's a beauty, to be sure. But this island is more than just a pretty face and a set of rolling hills. A trip to Ireland can be heart-filling, soul-warming and full of 'good craic' if you do it right. To help ya have the grandest time, we've handpicked nine of our favourite adventures:

GOOD CRAIC

'Craic' is an almost indefinable part of the Irish spirit. It’s good natured fun; it’s the local gossip in town; it’s the quintessential Irish sense of humour. Best served with other people, whether down the local pub or at an ancient festival. Basically, good craic is a good time.

1. DISCOVER PUCA FESTIVAL

Take everything you know about Halloween (ie. bags of candy and trick or treating) and forget it.

Because Ireland’s ancient pagan celebration of Samhain, in particular its Púca Festival, is where it’s at. Púca is all about welcoming some of the more strange, wonderful, very mischievous creatures that come into the world during the Celtic New Year. How do these creatures get into the world? Through the chasms of space and time at places like the Hill of Ward. Ceremonial, celebratory craic. Highly recommend.

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2. GO WILD ON HORSEBACK

Whether you're an equestrian expert or just a regular horse enthusiast, galloping your way along Ireland's west coast is an adventure and a half.

The lovely folk at Island View Riding Stables will take you out for a day (or days, plural) on one of their very noble, and very friendly, steeds. Walk through water, trot along hilltops, take in the epic Wild Atlantic Way. You'll be gifted lungs full of fresh Irish air, and a whole lot of funny Irish banter from your local tour guides. Craic at a canter. Lol.

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3. DIVE THE FAMOUS FORTY FOOT

Know what really enlivens the spirit? A seriously cold plunge in the seriously cold Irish Sea. It’s a seriously good time.

People have been swimming this spot at Dublin Bay for over 250 years now, sharing the waters with herons and cormorants and the occasional seal. It’s an all-season, all-weather activity, and a time-honoured Christmas day tradition for locals. So go on, join ‘em for a cold swim and a shot of endorphins. Don’t chicken out, or they’ll think you’re no craic at all.

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GOOD CHARACTERS

Cead Míle Fáilte is Gaelic for "a hundred thousands welcomes”—and if that doesn’t sum up the warmth of this place, we don’t know what does. A trip to the Emerald Isle isn’t complete without a heartwarming convo or three with some bona fide locals. If you’re up for a chat, here’s how to find it:

4. GO ON A PUB CRAWL IN DUBLIN

Now, this is not your average tipple trail. A night out is only as good as the people you're with; fortunately there's plenty to work with in this regard in Dublin.

Roaring fires, Guinness, trad music and most importantly, a series of tall tales which get taller and taller as the night wears on. We recommend the a literary pub crawl celebrating Ireland's star-studded line up of writers, from Wilde to Rooney. It's street theatre meets drinking meets learning.

Click to SAY SLÁINTE

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5. HAVE A PINT WITH A GHOST

Yeah, you read that right. Grace Neill’s is a 410-year-old pub in Donaghadee, County Down that’s home to a few ghostly inhabitants.

Apparently the supernatural presence is so strong here that the pub’s been visited by quite a few paranormal TV crews and ghost hunters. Which means it must be legit. These ghosts aren’t just your regular ghosts either—they’re smuggler and pirate and sailor ghosts who have all frequented this Northern Irish gem from time to time. Don’t expect eerie vibes though, this is still very much your cosy Irish pub with trad music and tasty grub. Find out about them over a yarn with some locals.

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6. MAKE A BOHRÁN DRUM WITH A MASTER CRAFTSMAN

Music is a big deal in Ireland, especially their traditional music. And Malachy Kearns (or Malachy Bodhrán as the locals call him) is a big deal in traditional drumming.

Malachy has been hand making all the bodhráin for Riverdance for nearly three decades, and if you fancy yourself a drummer (or a craftsperson) you can join him for a lesson in making one of Ireland’s oldest instruments. You can even paint your family crest/football team on if you’re feeling particularly patriotic.

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GOOD COASTLINES

Ireland is an island, remember. Which means it’s home to a shit-tonne of drivable/swimmable/Instagrammable coastline - over 1,450 kilometres of coast, in fact. Whether you’re a road tripper, ocean swimmer or Instagrammer, there’s a little something seaside to suit all travellers:

7. ROAD TRIP GIANT'S CAUSEWAY COASTAL ROUTER

Ireland has got UNESCO World Heritage sites coming out of its …  isle. Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland is one of these. It’s home to otherworldly, hexagon-shaped rocks, thanks to a volcanic eruption back in the day. Very cool.

Local legend reckons a giant, named Finn MacCool, built the causeway when he wanted to cross the channel to battle another giant. Mucho MacCool. We recommend jumping in the car and driving the full 313 kilometres of pristine coastline, stopping by beaches, small seaside villages, local pubs and, of course, Game of Thrones locations.

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8. GO FULL STAR WARS ON SKELLIG MICHAEL

Yep, this super dramatic, isolated island off the coast of the Ring of Kerry was one of the epic locations in both Star Wars: A Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Not into pop culture? All good, you don't need the force to appreciate the beauty of this extraordinary place. Go hiking, check out an ancient monastery or peep a nest of puffins (they’re birds, FYI). But you gotta book those boat tickets ahead of time, as only a handful of people are permitted to visit the island everyday. It’s a blessing (no crowds) and a curse (if you’re not an organised traveller).

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9. TREK THE DINGLE WAY

More into trekking? We (and Ireland) have got your back. Our choice of ocean-side amble is the splendiforous Dingle Way, a trail that follows the entire 180 kilometre Dingle Peninsula Coast from Dingle Town to Tralee.

Honestly, the scenery is just epic—from swathes of sand to the Slieve Mish Mountains. The full trek will take you roughly a week to conquer. BYO boots and a little flask of whisky to really complement the Irish vistas.

Click to RING A DING DINGLE

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