Ireland Vacations with DiscoveringIreland.com

County Louth is a place of contrasts, where the past and the present sit side by side. It’s a place where you can find something new and different around every corner, be it discovering a hidden treasure or something as simple as an old well. Discovering the hidden gems of County Louth will take you on a journey that may just change your life forever.

Explore County Louth with our Things to Do in Louth Guide. We’ve gathered the best activities, places and hidden gems in Louth so your trip is as unforgettable as possible. Although it’s the smallest county in Ireland, that doesn’t mean it’s short on activities!

From history, culture and adventure there’s something for everyone in Ireland’s historic county of Louth. Enjoy the very best of County Louth with a wealth of things to do, from magnificent coastal walks and tranquil woodland, to cosy pubs and good food.

Carlingford Omeath Greenway

The Carlingford Omeath Greenway is a 7 km walk, cycle or jog with stunning views of Carlingford Lough. It links the village of Carlingford with Omeath and makes up part of the “The Great Eastern Greenway”.  Alongside this greenway are many things to see and do, both by land and water.

Dundalk Stadium

Dundalk stadium is home to League of Ireland football club, Dundalk FC. It currently has a capacity of 5,000. The ground is located adjacent to Oriel Park, where the Lilywhites play their European games against some of Europe’s biggest sides like Borussia Dortmund, AEK Athens and BATE Borisov.

Mellifont Abbey

Mellifont Abbey was founded in 1142 by St. Malachy, who sent the monks of Bangor to establish a new monastery following the example of Clonmacnoise in Ireland. The abbey was named after the river on which it was built. In 1495 the Irish Parliament met here, in the White Hall. There are now 44 acres of grounds including The National Nature Reserve and rich archaeological site with a ruined 12th century Abbey, historic walled gardens, 5 blue listed structures and fantastic wildlife watching opportunities including Red Squirrels, Swans and Buzzards to name just a few.

Discover ancient ruins and learn more about the history of Mellifont Abbey. Hike through nature trails, and taste delicious food at restaurants nearby.

This historic site is a perfect place to learn about the interesting history of Ireland, and view many historical artifacts. You can also tour the ruins of three monastic buildings that date back to the 11th century AD, which sit comfortably within picturesque grounds.

Carlingford Adventure Centre

With so many things to do, and an abundance of beautiful scenery in the Carlingford Adventure Centre, there’s plenty to keep the whole family occupied. There are numerous trails for hikers and cyclists, the lakes for those who enjoy sailing and fishing, and the nearby villages for families looking for things to do away from home.

Carlingford Adventure Centre is a unique venue that offers activities for all the family. With over 30 different activities and classes, including archery, climbing and, laser combat, there is something to do for everyone! The qualified instructors will ensure your experience is safe and enjoyable. And if you want to leave your adventurous skills behind, there is also a café menu featuring hot drinks and sausage rolls, croissants etc

Carlingford Adventure Centre is ideally located in the middle of Carlingford and close to all amenities with ample parking. The centre caters for various activities including abseiling, canoeing and raft building, team building events , paintballing and quad biking.

Funtasia Theme Park

Come enjoy the rides, delicious food and gaming at the Funtasia theme park in Drogheda, Co. Louth! Exciting rides and attractions await at Funtasia Theme Park. Take the kids for a fun day out, with thrilling roller coasters, themed areas and plenty to do for all ages. The perfect day out when you’re in the Louth region!

Monasterboice

Monasterboice is an area of outstanding natural beauty, resting on the edge of the Boyne Valley. A range of things to do are available from walking, cycling and kayaking to fishing, horse riding and golfing.

Monasterboice is home to a stunning religious site, known as the finest example of Romanesque architecture in Ireland. The beautiful, ancient church has been an important part of Irish life for more than 1200 years.

Whether you are looking for an adventure, family day out or just a nice walk in the fresh air, a visit to Louth can offer you all of this and more. Discover everything from attractions, culture and events to shops, cafes and restaurants. From nature walks, beaches and historic buildings…Why not start planning your next getaway?

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla are set to begin a three-day Ireland vacation today.
Their trip to Ireland will be based on a visit to the counties Waterford and Tipperary and its expected to deliver a multi-million-euro tourism bonanza for the south-east.

Specific details of their Waterford and Tipperary visits are being kept a secret however, it is understood that the visits will involve the interests of the Prince and the Duchess of Cornwall – ranging from heritage, farming, gardens, architecture, equestrian sport, arts, crafts and community development.

County Waterford will host the bulk of the royal itinerary & tourism officials of the county are hopeful the visit will match the tourism boom that Cork enjoyed following the state visit by Queen Elizabeth II, in 2011.

Waterford is Ireland’s oldest city and it boasts strong historic links to previous British monarchs. The Viking Triangle in Waterford city centre, dating back to when the Vikings founded Waterford as Ireland’s first city – is expected to form part of the royal tour as well as the Rock of Cashel. The Rock of Cashel is an ancient royal site of the Kings of Munster and first attained importance as a fortress.

The Viking Triangle area features a number of museums and is also close to both Waterford City Hall, Waterford’s Church of Ireland cathedral and Waterford Crystal.

Getting out and about is very important during these unusual times.  Whether you are working from home or just bored of being at home and looking at the same four walls, then we have some great ideas for socially distanced experiences to enjoy.  Here is a great list of places you could visit to get some much needed fresh-air and time outside of the house, but more specifically in the Rebel County of Cork:

Fota Gardens

Fota Gardens is located on Fota Island, Carrigtwohill, located about 16 kilometres from Cork City.  Their arboretum is internationally recognised and there is also a 19th Century estate located at the centre of the garden which houses the Bakestone Café so you can get a takeaway coffee while you go for a stroll through Fota’s beautiful gardens.

Barleycove Beach

Barleycove beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in County Cork and is located between the headlands of the Mizen Peninsula in West Cork.  The beach is great for surfing, swimming or if you just want to simply go for a walk or get some fresh air before you go to your next destination…. Mizen Head.

Mizen Head

Mizen Head is Ireland’s most south westerly point, and as you would guess,  yes Mizen Head is located in West Cork.  A full visit to Mizen head takes about 2 hours with absolutely stunning views on offer.  There is also a café and a gift shop located here to remember the trip.

Ballycotton Cliff Walk

The Ballycotton Cliff Walk is a 4.6 mile trail located in the beautiful Ballycotton in East Cork.  It offers breathtaking views like no other.  The walk might be slightly too long for some people but trust us the time flies.  The walk ends at the gorgeous Ballyandreen beach which is perfect for a picnic to end your walk.

Fitzgerald’s Park

This one is for the city dwellers.  Fitzgerald’s Park is located in Cork City Centre on the Mardyke.  The perfect place to go and just chill out.  Just a short distance from the UCC campus this beautiful park is open to the public and is perfect for social distancing. 

Old Head of Kinsale

Old Head of Kinsale is one of the most scenic places in the whole of Ireland nevermind Cork.  Start your 10 kilometre walk at the car park, to Garrettstown beach.  The walk will take you approximately 3 hours.  It might sound like a lot but if you are in the mood for a walk then look no further than the Old Head of Kinsale.  We promise you won’t regret going to this gorgeous location.

*Please bear in mind the latest COVID – 19 restrictions when considering these suggestions. Please visit www.gov.ie for the most up-to-date guidelines.

How can you see the length and breadth of Ireland in a limited number of days with comfort, safety and peace of mind? Our escorted bus tours are the perfect way to see a number of key locations and attractions without the hassle and fuss of planning routes, organising tickets and sourcing convenient accommodation. A vacation is supposed to be a carefree and relaxed excursion and at Discovering Ireland we take pride in making your enjoyment our priority. We also have amazing tours of Britain and Scotland.

One of our most popular packages is the ‘Taste of Ireland’ which is a 5 day vacation. This tour allows visitors to see popular sightseeing locations such as the Guinness Storehouses in Dublin, but also bespoke and intimate experiences such as sheepdog trials in the Ring of Kerry. Below we have listed just a few of the benefits of an escorted tour with Discovering Ireland.

The planning, organising and effort of personally trying to see Ireland in under one week can be a daunting task. Attempting it without help has a significant chance of sucking the joy out of the experience. Ireland has ever changing weather conditions, small narrow country roads and despite our size on a map, it can take some time to see it all! Taking a package with us ensures that you have expert advice at all times with proven enjoyable and experience driven schedules that work! In 2021 there is no reason to leave your enjoyment and experiences to chance. From the Ring of Kerry to Dublin and Connemara to Blarney Castle we have it all.

2. Sightseeing in comfort and style

Whether it’s your first trip to Ireland or a seasonal visit, Ireland has so many things to see and do, it can be difficult to get around to everything. From Dublin city centre to Killarney National Park and everything in between, our Irish tours are packed with attractions and activities. Our private tours come with first class, superior hotel rooms and our fleet of coaches are best in class ensuring a seamless and comfortable experience from start to finish. Meals are also included in this package, meaning you can tuck into tender Irish Angus beef in the Merry Ploughboy Pub in Dublin, eat like royalty at the Bunratty Castle Medieval Banquet or enjoy a delectable table d’hote dinner in Killarney.

3. Expert Knowledge

Our escorted tours are accompanied with an expert guide ensuring that you gain the absolute most out of every minute. We have learned from thousands of vacations what works and what doesn’t. Within each package is a clearly set out itinerary that ensures you have the most optimal and engaging experience, getting insider local knowledge about sights and beating the queues. We have done all the hard work so you can simply sit back and take it all in without missing a moment!

4. Make Unforgettable Memories

Travelling on our coach tours is an amazing group experience. Friendships blossom and many activities are made all the richer when enjoyed as part of a group. Whether travelling alone or as a couple, having that added social experience is a true joy when in the company of fun, like minded travellers. You will never be stuck for a person to take a photo of you, watch over your items for a minute or share a laugh and a story with while taking part in an activity or visiting the many attractions.

5. Value for money

At Discovering Ireland we have long-established working relationships and agreements with key players in the hospitality industry, to get the best deal on ticket prices and tourist attractions. This, along with our group sizes allow us to avail of unique discounts and added perks for our customers to enjoy. Don’t let the cost steal the enjoyment from your vacation, book with Discovering Ireland to get the best Irish vacation rates possible.

Email: info@discoveringireland.com or call us on one of our Toll Free Numbers found on our website.

Sit back, relax and let someone else take the wheel this vacation. Chauffeur driven tours would have been seen as quite exclusive in the past, but they are steadily becoming more popular with visitors embarking on trips to Ireland as each year passes.  We think of it as the clever choice; enjoy Ireland tours in the comfort of our modern fleet of exclusive vehicles from a driver with expert local knowledge. Never let unpredictable weather, road conditions, a wrong turn or a drink with your meal phase you again. Whether you would like to do sightseeing Ireland vacations or if you have a customized trip based around your areas of interest, we have something for everyone. Popular hobby tours include golfing tours and whiskey tours! A frequently asked question, especially from American guests is “how much should I tip a chauffeur ?”. Generally tips are not expected but if desired at the end of a tour it is always greatly appreciated by drivers. Below we have listed 5 amazing scenic drives and ideas to inspire you when planning an Irish chauffeur driven tour.

Ireland is full of incredible experiences and hidden gems perfect for those considering embarking on Ireland tours. When looking for things to do in Ireland in 2021 look no further! We have compiled a list of perfect Irish vacation ideas for you to choose from for your next holiday. Ireland has some of Europe’s best tourist attractions but there are some exceptional hidden gems located on the road less traveled.

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The Wild Atlantic Way is a 2600 km touring route along the West Coast of Ireland. A popular choice for those on a vacation in Ireland and for self drive tours, it it known to be one of the longest defined coastal route in the world. The route winds it’s way all along the Irish west coast from the Inishowen Peninsula in the north down to the picturesque town of Kinsale, County Cork, in the south. Here we have put together our top picks for things to do along the Wild Atlantic Way.

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