Planning a trip to Ireland? Or maybe you live here and planning some excitement over the summer holidays? Ireland is full of beautiful landmarks with historical and thrilling backgrounds. Whether you’re looking for an easy going day out or a wild adventure, here are the top 5 famous landmarks you HAVE to visit in Ireland.
- Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle is one of the most historically significant buildings in Irish history.
From 1204 to 1922 it was the residency of English rule in Ireland. Within this period, it was used as a for the British Monarch’s Irish representative, the Viceroy of Ireland, where ceremonies would be carried out on behalf of the British Monarch.
The Castle was originally built as a fortress under the rein of King John of England. It stood perfectly preserved until April 1684, when a devastating fire caused damage to much of the building. Despite the extent of the fire, parts of the medieval and Viking structures survived and can still be explored by visitors today, which makes it such a popular tourist attraction.
On 16 January 1922, the last ever representative of the British Monarch handed Dublin Castle over to Michael Collins when Ireland officially became an independent state.
The end of the British ruling had come as a result of the Easter Rising of 1916 and the Irish War of Independence. These momentous historical events paved the way for the creation of the Republic of Ireland and were closely associated with the history of Dublin Castle.
This didn’t prevent the use of Dublin Castle, and it is very much used to its fullest extent by the Irish Government today for ceremonies and official business. To find out more about how you can visit Dublin Castle, click here.
- Cliffs of Moher
The Cliffs of Moher are home to some of the most beautiful scenery in Ireland.
The Cliffs are located at the south-western edge of the Burren region in County Clare, Ireland. They rise to 390 feet above the Atlantic Ocean at Hag’s Head and reach their maximum height of 702 feet just north of O’Brien’s Tower.
It is believed that the Cliffs of Moher formed 320 million years ago.
The cliffs of Moher were originally used as a lookout post, a place for quarrying, fishing, collecting birds’ eggs and feathers, with evidence dating back to the 1st century BC.
It was during the 16th century the cliffs started to gage attraction in tourism. Ireland wasn’t seen as a must-visit travel spot within Europe at the time, so the attraction to the cliffs was massive for the country.
O’Brien’s tower was built in 1835 by the local landowner, Cornelius O’Brien. His entrepreneurial mind built the tower in response to a visibly growing tourism market. He thought it might benefit the local economy and help to release people from poverty.
Today, the cliffs are visited by thousands of tourists and admired for their beautiful scenery worldwide. To find out more about visiting the Cliffs of Moher, click here.
3. The Guinness Storehouse
Perhaps not as scenic or historic, but famously one of Ireland most visited sites, the Guinness Storehouse is a tourist attraction at St. James's Gate Brewery in Dublin, Ireland.
Since opening in 2000, the Guinness Storehouse has received over twenty million visitors. The Storehouse covers seven floors surrounding a glass atrium shaped in the form of a pint of Guinness, making it a popular tourist destination for photos and an immersive experience.
The ground floor introduces the beer's four ingredients, and the brewery's founder, Arthur Guinness. Other floors feature the history of Guinness advertising and include an interactive exhibit on responsible drinking. The seventh floor houses the Gravity Bar with views of Dublin and where visitors may drink a pint of Guinness within the famous brewery itself.
To learn more about visiting the Guinness storehouse, click here.
