3 Good reasons why a visit to Ireland should be top of your ‘bucket list’

FROM ancient blood sacrifices, spirits carrying people off into the night, the highly sacred Shamrock and colourful, tiny mischievous leprechauns – Ireland and its pre-Christianity Celtic lore will have you booking your flight tickets in a matter of seconds – luckily we’re not focusing on the mythology of the now mostly Catholic-Christian country.

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Of all the things one could talk about and mention, a few places truly stand out from the rest and, if you ever find yourself in Ireland, you should definitely make an effort to visit these.

If you’ve watched a movie that was shot in Ireland, you’ve probably caught a glimpse of the Cliffs of Moher.

THE CLIFFS OF MOHER:

Located on the western coast of Ireland, and reaching a magnificent maximum height of 702ft, the Cliffs of Moher span a whopping 14 kilometres as the crow flies.

Now, aside of the absolutely breathtaking views, the Cliffs offer a variety of activities ranging from snapping shots of waves crashing, sunrises and dolphins in the distance.

That’s not all though – annually, between August 31 and September 30, the Cliffs play host to the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival where one might just meet their better half. For more information on this head to: https://www.matchmakerireland.com

Along the route itself, one can easily stumble upon O’Brien’s Tower, which marks the highest point, one of the most popular tourist attractions in County Clare, and which first opened its doors in 1835.

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Another age-old piece of history, is the famous Blarney Castle.

BLARNEY CASTLE:

Aside of this magnificent castle and its stunning views from various angles, the grounds boast some of the most exquisite gardens in Ireland – a dream for many photographers looking to make a name for themselves.

The castle, which dates back all the way to 1200 was destroyed in 1446. Although no evidence remains, it is speculated that an old timber house originally stood on the grounds which was later fortified with stone in 1210.

According to the history books, the castle was rebuilt by Cormac Laidir MacCarthy, Lord of Muscry.

The castle was yet again under siege in 1646 and successfully seized by Parliamentarian forces under the command of Lord Broghill during the Irish Confederate Wars.

The castle was successfully restored to Donough MacCarthy – who was made first Earl of Clancarty.

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During the Williamite War in the 1690s, the then fourth Earl of Clancarty – sharing the same name as the first Earl – was captured by the Williamites. His lands were seized as well.

A sale of the castle commenced and since then it has been under the ownership of several people of whom most famous was Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, Sir Richard Pyne who then sold it in the 1700s.

Closer to the modern era, two families – Jefferyes and Colthurst – joined their hand in marriage in the 19th century and today, that same family still own the lands.

Today, the castle is a partial ruin and is best known for the Blarney Stone as it is referred to in modern times.

The stone is said to – upon being kissed – grant the gift of eloquence, which is how the stone earned it’s original name: The Stone of Eloquence.

WHISKEY AND BEER:

Now then, if you’re headed for Ireland, you’ll be having something to drink for sure.

Ireland is well-known for a variety of things but most commonly, these include whiskey (not whisky) and Guinness.

First off, if you’re a lover of whiskey, you’ll want to put foot and make your way down to Bow Street, Smithfield Village, Dublin 7, Ireland.

At this address you’ll find the Jameson Distillery, which is where Jameson Irish Whiskey was distilled up until 1971.

Today, it is known as a visitors centre which offers tutored whiskey tasting, guided tours as well as JJs Bar – which got it’s name from John Jameson.

Open until 5pm right throughout the week, and can easily be found at St James’s Gate, Ushers, Dublin 8, Ireland, the Guinness Storehouse is another absolute must.

Here, you can experience one of the finest beers Ireland has to offer, all from the comfort of the rooftop bar – I hope you are not afraid of heights.

Now, if you have never been to Ireland, this is some advice that might just come in handy.

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The absolute best times to visit the country just so happen to be between March and May, as well as between September and November, unless you like the cold.

But sheesh, these are just the things most people would love to do and Ireland truly offers so much more, so plan your trip accordingly.

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