Top 10 things to do in Ireland in 2014 – Part One (Cuid Amháin)

With the Christmas and New Year’s festivities well and truly a distant memory, it’s time to start planning your spring, summer and fall vacation and a trip to Ireland might be exactly what the doctor ordered during 2014. For such a small island there’s so much to see and do with exciting new festivals and attractions on offer each year to compliment the vast selection already on offer.

To help you peer through the endless destinations and Ireland vacation offers we’ve selected the Top 10 things to do in Ireland during 2014. Whether you are seeking an adventure holiday, a taste of Irish art and culture or just want to immerse yourself in the beauty of Ireland’s countryside then we hope this list will help you when seeking Ireland vacation deals in 2014.

1. Limerick City of Culture 2014

Limerick took centre stage during the Irish New Year’s Eve celebrations to kick off 2014 in style and will continue in the celebratory mood as Ireland’s first National City of Culture. The year long festivities includes a high-quality programme of events and initiatives by the banks of the Shannon. Highlights of the festival include Riverdance, The Limerick Food Festival and Proms in the Park.

2. On your bike for the Giro d’Italia Grande Partenza!

Get ready for the world’s biggest cycle race, the Giro d’Italia Grande Partenza. Belfast hosts the Giro d’Italia Big Start (Grande Partenza) from the 8th to 10th May 2014 with three days of unmissable cycling action. This is one of professional cycling’s three Grand Tour events – with three routes in Belfast, Armagh and Dublin.

Giro d’Italia Big Start in Belfast 8th to 10 May (image courtesy of visit-belfast.com)

3. Dive into the Blueway

Try out Ireland’s new Blueway, a marine-trail which opens in Mayo and Galway in 2014. Inspired by the Great Western Greenway cycling route, a sequence of kayak and snorkel trails on the Wild Atlantic Way in Co Mayo and Co Galway give a glimpse of another world

4. Discover the Wild Atlantic Way

Take a journey of discovery with the Wild Atlantic Way, a 2,500km driving route. Ireland’s newest road odyssey where days begin with smoked salmon in Kinsale, County Cork, and end cracking crab claws in Inishowen, County Donegal.

5. Birthday celebrations in Waterford

Waterford City celebrates its 1100th birthday with a year-long programme of events throughout 2014. A visit to this county could literally take you anywhere – from browsing the shops and markets of Waterford City, to learning Irish in the Ring Gaeltacht.

The city offers plenty of shopping options, with loads of cosy pubs to rest your weary feet in afterwards. For those with adventures on their minds, the Comeragh Mountains offer a fantastic location for cycling, climbing and hiking.

Watch out for our next instalment – Part Two (Cuid a Dó) when we complete our Top 10 things to do in Ireland during 2014.