Things to do / places to see in Ireland

[Hardy]

This kind of question is impossible unless you provide some indication of the interests of your visitors. Some people like to visit old pubs, others couldn't car less. Some would find an old railway bridge interesting, others wouldn't even notice it. Some would visit gardens and look at flowers, others wouldn't dream of doing this.

Exactly. The tourist set pieces are well known or easily figured out and people will select based on their preferences. What I enjoy most when I visit a place is meeting the locals, trying their grub, figuring out how the place works and experiencing, as best I can, the way of life. I'm sure that's a pretty common approach.

So bring/send them to where the locals are - individually, in families or in large groups.

A few days B&B-ing is hard to beat for meeting and interacting with typical Irish people.
Small pubs where they can get talking to people. They don't have to be drinkers.
Take them to your local as well. Of all the things visitors remember, I find this is the biggest hitter. I'm always getting asked, years on, "how is <whatever character they met in the local>?"
As well as tourist trails and walking paths, walk the local roads and streets. Stop and talk.
Car boot sales, markets, etc. They'll meet grass roots Irish on both sides of the stalls and just as many new Irish.
The races.
A traditional session.
Of course take/send them to GAA matches. Make sure to include a club match where they can stand on the sideline and hear the smack of boot on leather, hurley on sliotar, shoulder on shoulder.

[BennyCake]

Off the usual beaten track Dublinwise and going on the reaction to tourists I have brought there but you can recommend that they

1 Walk out the pier at Ringsend out to the lighthouse
2 Walk around the hill of Howth
3 Do Glasnevin cemetery tour
4 Go up the 3 Rock Mountain for the views of the city
5 Pop out to Dalkey on the dart and see the seals and harbours.

They no doubt will do all the other guidebook things anyway.

Disappointed with Glasnevin. No tour guide, and you spend hours running around looking for graves of famous folk.  Needs a good guide.

[BennyCake]

+1 Achill Island. The drive from Keel to Keem.

Slea Head Drive...spectacular

It sure is. It's my favourite spot in all of Ireland. Stunning.

[seafoid]

This kind of question is impossible unless you provide some indication of the interests of your visitors. Some people like to visit old pubs, others couldn't car less. Some would find an old railway bridge interesting, others wouldn't even notice it. Some would visit gardens and look at flowers, others wouldn't dream of doing this.

Exactly. The tourist set pieces are well known or easily figured out and people will select based on their preferences. What I enjoy most when I visit a place is meeting the locals, trying their grub, figuring out how the place works and experiencing, as best I can, the way of life. I'm sure that's a pretty common approach.

So bring/send them to where the locals are - individually, in families or in large groups.

A few days B&B-ing is hard to beat for meeting and interacting with typical Irish people.
Small pubs where they can get talking to people. They don't have to be drinkers.
Take them to your local as well. Of all the things visitors remember, I find this is the biggest hitter. I'm always getting asked, years on, "how is <whatever character they met in the local>?"
As well as tourist trails and walking paths, walk the local roads and streets. Stop and talk.
Car boot sales, markets, etc. They'll meet grass roots Irish on both sides of the stalls and just as many new Irish.
The races.
A traditional session.
Of course take/send them to GAA matches. Make sure to include a club match where they can stand on the sideline and hear the smack of boot on leather, hurley on sliotar, shoulder on shoulder.

a good list, Hardy
I would add

- Visiting a festival if possible
- Get the Michelin guide if you are into food
- the sea, especially in the West
- less crowded places if the visitors are from a big city eg  Gougane Barra , Glendalough   

[Oraisteach]

Always find Slieve League breath-taking

[Canalman]

Off the usual beaten track Dublinwise and going on the reaction to tourists I have brought there but you can recommend that they

1 Walk out the pier at Ringsend out to the lighthouse
2 Walk around the hill of Howth
3 Do Glasnevin cemetery tour
4 Go up the 3 Rock Mountain for the views of the city
5 Pop out to Dalkey on the dart and see the seals and harbours.

They no doubt will do all the other guidebook things anyway.

Disappointed with Glasnevin. No tour guide, and you spend hours running around looking for graves of famous folk.  Needs a good guide.

Went on a guided tour myself only a few years ago. The guide was excellent. Brought us direct to the "interesting" graves .

Have never been to Kilmainham Jail myself but have heard rave reviews about it. Croke Park museum likewise although have never been also.

Outside Dublin a photo at the Free Derry wall/ mural  would to me be a must for any tourist.

[5 Sams]

Always find Slieve League breath-taking

Yep would be in my top 5 as well.

[foxcommander]

Orangefest Belfast July 12th

An activity holiday for all the family which includes top notch music, tea & sandwiches in a field, bible worship and lectures, adventure and mild peril.

Free to join in.

[foxcommander]

If down Meath way Hill of Tara and Trim Castle are pretty good. Pity some idiot decided to damage the stone at Tara recently.

[bcarrier]

Failte ireland posted this list last year.

Not sure what the grounds for inclusing the National aquatic centre and excluding Croke Park, Aviva etc are

Top 10 Fee-Charging Attractions 2012
Name of Attraction                                         2012

Guinness Storehouse Dublin                             1,087,209
Dublin Zoo Dublin                                            1,029,417
Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience Clare               873,988
National Aquatic Centre Dublin                            813,406
Book of Kells Dublin                                           561,259
Tayto Park Meath                                               391,000
St Patrick's Cathedral Dublin                               385,000
Fota Wildlife Park Cork                                       377,500
Blarney Castle Cork                                           329,000
Kilmainham Gaol Dublin                                      310,910

Top 10 Free Attractions 2012

Name of Attraction                                                                      2012

The National Gallery of Ireland Dublin                                  660,486
National Botanic Gardens Dublin                                          544,685
National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology                            409,275
Farmleigh Dublin                                                                375,064
Science Gallery at Trinity College Dublin Dublin                    302,171
National Museum of Ireland - Natural History                        290,927
National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts & History         271,309
Chester Beatty Library Dublin                                              255,704
Holy Cross Abbey Tipperary                                               240,000
Connemara National Park                                                   202,543

My 2c would be that the things that are world class in Ireland would include:

Links golf
Mountain climbing/walking
Horseracing
The coast
The better pubs

I'd include the GAA but not sure an outsider would see it that way.

[CD]

Always find Slieve League breath-taking

Yep would be in my top 5 as well.

Picture postcard view from every single point on the compass from the top  - if they want nice photos of their visit it's a winner - a pint or a nice bite of food in Ardara sets it all off.

[Tony Baloney]

Always find Slieve League breath-taking

Yep would be in my top 5 as well.

1. Somewhere in Kerry
2. Somewhere in Kerry
3. Somewhere in Kerry
4. Somewhere in Kerry
5. Slieve League

That actually made me lol. Cheeky cnut!

[snoopdog]

Orangefest Belfast July 12th

An activity holiday for all the family which includes top notch music, tea & sandwiches in a field, bible worship and lectures, adventure and mild peril.

Free to join in.
[/quote
And a chance to meet open minded people. Lol 

[armaghniac]

Armagh v Antrim in the Ulster final.

[Fear Bun Na Sceilpe]

Gaoth Dobhair