1 Take on the epic wooden rollercoaster in Emerald Park
Scream at the top of your lungs on the biggest wooden rollercoaster in Europe with an inversion at Meath’s Emerald Park. Standing at 32m tall, Cú Chulainn is named after one of Ireland’s greatest mythological warriors, and a ride on this rollercoaster is no less thrilling than the stories of old.
2 | See the oldest solar observatory in the world at Newgrange
Newgrange is famous for the Winter Solstice, but did you know this magnificent monument is the oldest known solar observatory in the world? Walk around the mysterious stone chamber in Meath and step back in time to the Neolithic era when Ireland’s most celebrated passage tomb was built in 3,300BC.
3 | See the pyramids in Wicklow
Visit Wicklow and admire the Great Pyramid of Arklow in the grounds of Old Kilbride Cemetery. The extraordinary burial tomb is inspired by the Great Pyramids of Egypt. Snap a picture of the “largest pyramid tomb beyond the banks of the Nile” then make your way across the cemetery to another Egyptian-influenced mausoleum, owned by the same family laid to rest inside the Arklow Pyramid.
4 | Visit the oldest operational lighthouse in the world
See the oldest operational lighthouse in the world in Wexford and find out why Hook Lighthouse was once voted number one on a Lonely Planet list of the world’s best lighthouses.
Drop by the visitor centre, hear real-life
stories of the lightkeepers who protected seafarers from the jagged rocks, and take in stunning views of Hook Peninsula. If you’re lucky, you might even spot dolphins jumping in the sea.
5 | Hold a snake in Ireland’s only reptile zoo
Come face to face with giant pythons, snapping turtles and American alligators at Ireland’s only dedicated reptile zoo. Learn about these amazing animals at the National Reptile Zoo in Kilkenny. You can even hold a tarantula or pet an iguana during the hourly Animal Encounter sessions with a trained reptile wrangler.
6 | Find the world’s oldest licensed distillery in Kilbeggan
Visit the world’s oldest licensed distillery dating back to 1757 in Westmeath. Learn how whiskey was once made and see these ancient techniques still in action today on the Kilbeggan Distillery Tour.
7 | Climb Ireland’s largest treehouse at Birr Castle Demesne
Explore Birr Castle Demesne, one of the most unique places in Ireland where science, history and nature collide. Stroll around the glorious Offaly gardens and find the tallest box hedges in the world.
Check out the largest treehouse in the country, wander over to the Historic Science Centre to see the Great Telescope and discover the new cutting edge I-LOFAR facility – a trip to Birr Castle Demesne is full of wonders you won’t find anywhere else.
8 | Enjoy a pint in the oldest pub in Ireland
Where better to sink a creamy pint than at the oldest pub in Ireland? With a fantastic location in the heart of the country, Seán’s Bar in Athlone has been around since 900AD, and the pints have only gotten better with time.
Get a selfie in front of the tavern’s bright blue exterior and enjoy the electric atmosphere at this authentic Irish pub.
9 | Discover Ireland’s only island distillery
Discover the unique setting of Cape Clear Island Distillery. The Gaeltacht region off the coast of Cork is the home of Ireland’s only island distillery. Take the ferry from Baltimore to enjoy the island’s famous hospitality and soak up the unbeatable views of Fastnet Rock.
10 | See the trains at West Cork Model Railway Village
Ireland’s only model railway village, West Cork Model Railway Village, is a must-visit when in the Rebel County. Watch the miniature trains travel along the tracks and discover how people lived and worked in days gone by when the historic West Cork Railway Line operated during the 1940s.
11 | Travel to Dursey Island by cable car
Escape from West Cork to Dursey Island on Ireland’s only cable car and admire the breathtaking views as you fly across the Atlantic Ocean. The short but sweet adventure takes 10 minutes but make a day of it and bring a packed lunch to enjoy on the Dursey Island Loop.
12 | Take a tour of Skelligs Chocolate Factory
Go behind the scenes at Skelligs Chocolate and watch chocolatiers at work in the only open plan chocolate factory in Ireland. Make a pitstop in Ballinskelligs, just off the Ring of Kerry, and see how the experts create their delicious chocolatey treats.
13 | See dinosaur footprints on Valentia Island
You know all about Jurassic Park, but have you ever seen dinosaur footprints in real life? Journey to Valentia Island in Kerry and discover the fossilised tracks, thought to be at least 350 million years old.
Scientists believe the tetrapod footprints represent the transition of life from water to land, making them the oldest reliably dated evidence in the world of amphibians on land.
14 | Board a Boeing 314 replica in Limerick
Head to Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum in Limerick where the iconic Irish coffee was born in 1943. Taste the original hot beverage in the former centre of the aviation world and board a life-size Boeing 314 – the only existing B314 replica. Find out what it was like to pilot a flying boat across the Atlantic and test your skills in a realistic B314 flight simulator.
15 | Go kayaking on Ireland’s only fjord
Hop in a kayak and paddle across Ireland’s only fjord at Killary Harbour. Formed by glaciers thousands of years ago, a trip to this beautiful spot is one of the most unique things to do in the heart of Connemara.
16 | Dive underwater at Galway Atlantaquaria
See what lies beneath the surface at Galway Atlantaquaria and explore the largest native species aquarium in the country. Meet conger eels and Irish sharks, get up close and personal with spider crabs and starfish in the Touch Tanks, and find the biggest indoor fin whale skeleton in the world.
Discover the most extensive Stone Age site in the world beneath the wild boglands of North Mayo. A 10-minute drive from Ballycastle, the incredible Céide Fields are the oldest known stone walled fields on the planet where the remains of houses and megalithic tombs are preserved under a blanket of peat.
Explore the land where an ancient farming community lived almost 6,000 years ago then make your way to the Discovery Point across the road for spectacular cliff and coastal views.
18 | Discover the oldest known public gallery of modern art
While away an afternoon at Hugh Lane Gallery, the world’s first known public gallery of modern art. Enter through the blue double doors on Parnell Square and immerse yourself in the celebrated collection of art. See contemporary masterpieces by Monet, Degas and Harry Clarke, and stumble upon Francis Bacon’s studio preserved in the exact manner he left it.
19 | Visit the world-famous Marsh’s Library
Lose yourself in a good book at Marsh’s Library. Just a few minutes from St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the world-famous library is the oldest public library in the country.
Unchanged since it first opened in 1707, spend time inside the historic building in the heart of Dublin. Browse the original oak bookcases filled with literary treasures, see the bullet holes from the Easter Rising, and check out the 18th-century “cages” built to stop readers from stealing the rarest of books.
20 | Spend time in the only butterfly house in Ireland
Brush up on your lepidopterology in Ireland’s one and only butterfly house. Step inside the Cambridge Glasshouse at Malahide Castle and marvel at these colourful creatures. With over 20 species fluttering about, the butterfly house is a hidden gem in North Dublin.
