10 Wonders Of Ireland

Ireland is filled with magic and wonder. There are many unique landscapes and structures to discover that are both man-made and natural.

There are too many to list, so here are 10 wonders of Ireland to include on “your bucket list” for your next vacation exploring the land of 40 shades of green….

The Phoenix Park, Dublin City.

Europe’s biggest enclosed park, the Phoenix Park in Dublin City, is teeming with beautiful stately homes and stunning sights, and it’s even got its own herd of fallow deer. With 1,752 acres to explore, the Phoenix Park is twice as big as New York’s Central Park.

Newgrange, County Meath.

The breathtaking winter solstice illumination at Newgrange in the Boyne Valley, gives this passage tomb great global significance. Being 5,000 years old, makes Newgrange older than Stonehenge and the great Egyptian pyramids, too. And five millennia later, it still hasn’t lost any of its wonder.

Giant’s Causeway, County Antrim.

Constantly ranked among Northern Ireland’s top tourist attractions, the Giant’s Causeway with it’s 40,000-year-old volcanic basalt columns is a unique jewel in the crown of the Antrim coastline and a natural wonder –  It’s also known to the Irish as “the 8th Wonder of the World”.

Lough Neagh – Co. Antrim, Co. Armagh, Co. Derry, Co. Down and Co. Tyrone.

Lough Neagh, Ireland’s largest lake, is a destination that ripples with history, heritage, nature and beautiful scenery. Surrounded by some charming Irish villages, the tranquil Lough Neagh is a paradise for nature lovers and foodies alike.

Slieve League Cliffs, County Donegal.

Wild, dramatic, majestic – the towering Slieve League Cliffs in County Donegal are among the highest sea cliffs in Europe. From their highest point, it’s a staggering 609m drop into the swirling Atlantic Ocean below.

Benbulben, County Sligo.

Benbulben is known as County Sligo’s ‘Table Mountain’ and was formed during the Ice age, when large parts of the earth were under glaciers. It was originally merely a large ridge, however the moving glaciers cut into the earth, leaving a distinct formation, now called Benbulben. Benbulben hosts a unique variety of plants, possessing some organisms found nowhere else in Ireland. Many are artic alpine plants, due to the mountain’s height, which allows for cooler temperatures than is normal.

The River Shannon.

The Shannon is the largest river in Ireland, and is 386km long from its source at the Shannon Pot in the foothills of the Cuilcagh Mountains in County Cavan to its estuary below Limerick City. The Shannon Region owes its name to this mighty river which flows through the heart of the area from Shannonbridge at its mid-section to its confluence with the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Shannon Estuary.

The Burren, County Clare. 

Ireland is so much more than 40 shades of green – and nowhere are its many hues more celebrated than in the Burren – County Clare’s limestone paradise on the Wild Atlantic Way. A wildly diverse ecosystem awaits any visitor to this corner of County Clare, dedicated a Special Area of Conservation by the EU. Of Ireland’s 900 native plants species, the Burren is home to 70% – including the mountain avens, an Arctic-Alpine plant brought here by glaciers in the last Ice Age. The Burren Eco-Tourism Network was also recently awarded the title of Best Community Tourism Project in the Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2021 guide.

Doolin Cave located beneath the Burren, is carved by the wild Atlantic and is home to the largest stalactite in the Northern Hemisphere.

Rock of Cashel, County Tipperary 

Also known as the seat of Kings, the Rock of Cashel is said to have been dropped in the heart of Tipperary’s Golden Vale by the devil himself. It was here that lightning struck, men were massacred and St Patrick converted the King of Munster to Christianity. When you visit, it’s plainly obvious that this is no ordinary rock. The 12th-century round tower is the oldest surviving building on the Rock and the ruins of a Romanesque chapel – Cormac’s Chapel – is one of the earliest, and finest churches built in the Romanesque style.

Carrauntoohill, County Kerry.

It’s no Everest, but standing at 1,039m, Carrauntoohill is the highest mountain in Ireland, and is set among the beautiful Macgillycuddy Reeks in Co Kerry. The Reeks, with 27 individual peaks, are Ireland’s highest mountain range and cover an area of around 100 square kilometers from the Gap of Dunloe in the east to Glencar in the west. The most popular route, is the Devil’s Ladder (12km return). It’s a pretty strenuous walk that will take you between four and six hours – However the view from its peak makes the arduous climb seem totally worth it.

The wonder of “your Irish bucket list”…  

Why not make a plan to start ticking these Irish wonders off “your bucket list”? Or find some additional wonders to add to your list. There are so many special places to go…

Contact Specialized Travel Services to experience the authenticity of the Emerald Isle, while travelling in comfort in one of our luxury chauffeur drive vehicles. You can relax and enjoy the scenic views without the stress of driving or the worry of getting lost along the way. Or if you prefer to self drive we can arrange that for you as well.

Take a look at some of our private chauffeur drive vacations and our self drive packages on our website for additional suggestions of places to visit on your next vacation in Ireland.

Or if you feel it’s just too difficult to plan anything at present, then our “Gift of Ireland” gift certificates make perfect sense. You have the freedom of choice to decide what to do & plenty of time to plan as the gift certificate won’t expire for 5 years from the date of purchase.

We would love to hear from you – Click here to complete our contact form or you can send us an email – newyork@jeremyd50.sg-host.com

Note: Featured image at the top of the blog is of Benbulben in County Sligo photographed by Chris Hill  ©Tourism Ireland