Sraith na hÉireann

Achill Island

Achill Island (Oileán Acla) is Ireland's largest island at about 148 km², connected to the mainland by a bridge since 1888. It features dramatic Atlantic coastline, Croaghaun sea cliffs, Keem Bay, and the deserted village at Slievemore.

Armagh

Armagh (Ard Mhacha) is the ecclesiastical capital of all Ireland for both the Catholic and Church of Ireland traditions, each having an Archbishop. Its two St Patrick's Cathedrals face each other on neighbouring hills.

Arranmore Island

Arranmore (Árainn Mhór) is the largest inhabited island off the Donegal coast, with a population of around 500 people. The island has a strong Irish-speaking tradition, impressive sea cliffs on its western shore, and a sister-city relationship with Arnmore, Pennsylvania, where many emigrants settled.

Athlone

Athlone (Baile Átha Luain) straddles the River Shannon on the border of counties Westmeath and Roscommon. Its Norman castle guards the river crossing at the traditional geographic centre of Ireland.

Ballina

Ballina (Béal an Átha) is the largest town in Co. Mayo, situated on the River Moy — one of Ireland's most productive salmon rivers. It is a popular base for fishing and outdoor activities in north Mayo.

Belfast

Belfast (Béal Feirste) is the capital of Northern Ireland, situated on Belfast Lough at the mouth of the River Lagan. It was the birthplace of the RMS Titanic and was a major industrial centre during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Ben Bulben

Ben Bulben (526 m) is the iconic flat-topped mountain dominating the landscape of north County Sligo. W.B. Yeats, Ireland's most celebrated poet, is buried in Drumcliff churchyard in its shadow.

Bere Island

Bere Island in Bantry Bay, County Cork, was a strategic Royal Navy base until 1938 and retains significant military fortifications. The island is accessible by ferry from Castletownbere and offers walking trails with views of the Beara Peninsula.

Blarney Castle

Blarney Castle, about 8 km northwest of Cork city, is a 15th-century tower house famous for the Blarney Stone. According to tradition, kissing the stone bestows the 'gift of the gab' (eloquence). It is one of Ireland's most popular tourist attractions.

Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre

The Brú na Bóinne (Palace of the Boyne) UNESCO World Heritage Site in Co. Meath encompasses Newgrange, Knowth, Dowth, and over 90 other monuments in the Boyne Valley, making it the richest archaeological complex in Ireland and one of the most important in Europe.

Brandon Mountain

Brandon Mountain (952 m) on the Dingle Peninsula is the second-highest peak in Ireland and the highest outside the MacGillycuddy's Reeks. Named after St Brendan the Navigator, it offers dramatic views over the Atlantic.

Bray

Bray (Bré) is Co. Wicklow's largest town and a seaside resort within the Dublin commuter zone, with a Victorian-era promenade and the dramatic headland of Bray Head. The first section of Ireland's rail network connected Dublin to Bray in 1854.

Bunratty Castle

Bunratty Castle near Shannon in County Clare is a 15th-century tower house and one of Ireland's most visited attractions. It has been fully restored and is famous for its medieval banquets; the adjoining Bunratty Folk Park recreates 19th-century Irish rural life.

Cahir Castle

Cahir Castle in County Tipperary stands on a rocky island in the River Suir and is one of the largest and best-preserved medieval castles in Ireland. It was built by the powerful Butler family in the 15th century and has appeared in several film and television productions.

Cape Clear Island (Oileán Chléire)

Cape Clear Island (Oileán Chléire) is Ireland's southernmost inhabited island, lying off the tip of the Mizen Head Peninsula in West Cork. It is an Irish-speaking Gaeltacht island and home to one of Ireland's most important ornithological observatories.

Carlow

Carlow (Ceatharlach) is the county town of Co. Carlow, on the River Barrow. It is one of Ireland's oldest towns, with a Norman castle built around 1210 still standing in the town centre.

Carrauntoohil

Carrauntoohil (1,038 m) is the highest mountain in Ireland, located in the MacGillycuddy's Reeks in Co. Kerry. Its name in Irish, Corrán Tuathail, means 'Tuathal's sickle'.

Carrickfergus Castle

Carrickfergus Castle, built from 1177 by Anglo-Norman knight John de Courcy, is one of the best-preserved Norman castles in Ireland. It was in continuous military use for over 700 years and was besieged by King John, the Scots, the French, and William III.

Castlebar

Castlebar (Caislean an Bharraigh) is the county town of Co. Mayo and its main commercial centre. In 1798, French and rebel Irish forces routed a British army so quickly the retreat became mockingly known as 'The Castlebar Races'.

Cavan

Cavan (An Cabhán) is the county town of Co. Cavan, which has over 365 lakes earning it the nickname the 'lake county'. The town is a service centre for a largely rural county.

Céide Fields

The Céide Fields on the north Mayo coast is the world's most extensive Stone Age monument, comprising a vast network of field walls, dwelling areas, and megalithic tombs preserved beneath a blanket bog for over 5,000 years. The award-winning visitor centre explains how the site was discovered.

Charles Fort, Kinsale

Charles Fort at Summer Cove, Kinsale, was built in the 1670s as one of the largest military fortifications in Ireland. This star-shaped fort was designed to defend Kinsale Harbour and is now a heritage site offering panoramic views of the bay.

Clare Island

Clare Island guards the entrance to Clew Bay in Co. Mayo. With about 150 inhabitants, it is associated with the 16th-century pirate queen Gráinne Ní Mháille (Grace O'Malley), whose castle stands on the island.

Cliffs of Moher

The Cliffs of Moher on the west coast of Co. Clare rise up to 214 m above the Atlantic and stretch for about 14 km. They are Ireland's most visited natural tourist attraction and a UNESCO Global Geopark site.

Clonmacnoise

Clonmacnoise was founded by St Ciarán in 544 AD on the banks of the River Shannon and became one of Ireland's most important early Christian settlements. The site contains round towers, churches, high crosses, and thousands of graveslabs.

Clonmel

Clonmel (Cluain Meala, 'honey meadow') is the county town of Tipperary and its largest settlement, on the River Suir. It was the birthplace of the novelist Laurence Sterne and is a significant commercial centre for the south midlands.

Cobh

Cobh (formerly Queenstown) is a picturesque harbour town in Cork Harbour, dominated by the Gothic St Colman's Cathedral. It was the last port of call for the Titanic in 1912 and was the principal point of departure for millions of Irish emigrants to America.

Comeragh Mountains

The Comeragh Mountains in Co. Waterford rise to 792 m at Fauscoum and contain spectacular coums (glacial corrie lakes), including Coumshingaun, one of the finest glacial corries in Ireland. The Mahon and Sgilloge falls cascade from the plateau.

Cork

Cork (Corcaigh) is Ireland's second-largest city, situated on the River Lee in Co. Cork. Known as the 'Rebel City' for its history of resistance, it was European Capital of Culture in 2005.

Croagh Patrick

Croagh Patrick (764 m) in Co. Mayo is Ireland's holiest mountain, where St Patrick fasted for 40 days. Each year on Reek Sunday (last Sunday in July) tens of thousands make the pilgrimage to the summit.

Derry / Londonderry

Derry (Doire), also known as Londonderry, is Northern Ireland's second-largest city, on the west bank of the River Foyle. It is the only completely walled city in Ireland or Britain and was UK City of Culture in 2013.

Dowth

Dowth is the least visited of the three main Brú na Bóinne passage tombs in Co. Meath, largely unexcavated and retaining a more atmospheric, overgrown appearance. Its passage is oriented to the setting sun at the winter solstice.

Drogheda

Drogheda (Droichead Átha) straddles the River Boyne at the northern end of Co. Louth. It is Co. Louth's largest town and is famous for the medieval St Laurence Gate and its associations with the Battle of the Boyne and Cromwellian massacre.

Dublin

Dublin (Baile Átha Cliath) is the capital and largest city of Ireland, with a metropolitan population of about 1.2 million. Founded by Vikings in the 9th century, it is the seat of government and a major European capital.

Dublin Castle

Dublin Castle was built by King John of England from 1204 and served as the seat of British administration in Ireland for over 700 years. Today it is used for EU presidencies, presidential inaugurations, and State functions, and is open to the public as a heritage attraction.

Dún Aonghasa

Dún Aonghasa (Dun Aengus) on Inis Mór is one of the most spectacular prehistoric forts in Europe, perched on the edge of a 100 m cliff. Dating to the Bronze Age, its three concentric stone walls are still largely intact.

Dún Laoghaire

Dún Laoghaire (formerly Kingstown) is a coastal town south of Dublin with a large Victorian granite pier harbour that was once the main mail packet port to Britain. The National Maritime Museum and James Joyce Museum in nearby Sandycove are popular attractions.

Dundalk

Dundalk (Dún Dealgan) is the county town of Co. Louth and is located close to the Northern Ireland border on the main Dublin–Belfast road. It is traditionally associated with the mythological hero Cú Chulainn.

Dunluce Castle

Dunluce Castle on the north Antrim coast dates mainly from the 16th century and was the seat of the MacDonnell clan. Its dramatic clifftop setting above the sea has made it one of the most photographed castle ruins in Ireland.

Dursey Island

Dursey Island at the tip of the Beara Peninsula in Co. Cork is reached by Ireland's only cable car, which also transports cattle. The island has a small permanent population and is a dramatic point on the Wild Atlantic Way.

Ennis

Ennis (Inis) is the county town of Co. Clare, situated on the River Fergus. It is regarded as one of the heartlands of traditional Irish music and is close to the Burren and Cliffs of Moher.

Enniskillen

Enniskillen (Inis Ceithleann) is the county town of Co. Fermanagh, uniquely situated on an island between Upper and Lower Lough Erne. Its castle, which houses the Inniskillings Museum, dominates the town.

Errigal

Errigal (751 m) is the highest mountain in Co. Donegal, recognisable by its conical quartzite cone. It is one of the Seven Sisters of Donegal and offers panoramic views from the Derryveagh Mountains.

The Four Courts

The Four Courts on Inns Quay in Dublin is the headquarters of the Irish superior courts, designed by James Gandon and completed in 1796. During the Irish Civil War in 1922, anti-Treaty forces occupying the building were shelled, destroying priceless Public Record Office archives.

Gallarus Oratory

Gallarus Oratory on the Dingle Peninsula is a remarkable example of early Irish Christian architecture, built in dry-stone corbelling technique without mortar, probably between the 6th and 9th centuries. Despite its age, it remains virtually watertight — a testament to the skill of its builders.

Galtymore

Galtymore (919 m) is the highest peak in the Galty Mountains range and the highest mountain located entirely inland in Ireland. It sits on the border of counties Tipperary and Limerick.

Galway

Galway (Gaillimh) is the principal city of Connacht, situated at the mouth of the River Corrib on Galway Bay. It is a cultural hub and one of Europe's fastest-growing cities, European Capital of Culture in 2020.

Giant's Causeway

The Giant's Causeway on the north coast of Co. Antrim consists of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of volcanic activity 50–60 million years ago. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is Northern Ireland's most popular visitor attraction.

Glendalough

Glendalough (Gleann Dá Loch, 'valley of two lakes') in County Wicklow was founded by St Kevin in the 6th century and became one of Ireland's most important monastic settlements. Its iconic round tower, cathedral, and churches survive amid spectacular mountain scenery.

Great Blasket Island

The Great Blasket Island (An Blascaod Mór) is the largest of the Blasket archipelago off the tip of the Dingle Peninsula. Its Irish-speaking community produced an extraordinary body of literature before the island was evacuated in 1953; today it is a popular day-trip destination in summer.

Great Saltee Island

Great Saltee Island off the Wexford coast is Ireland's largest private island and one of the most important seabird colonies in Europe, hosting puffins, gannets, guillemots, and razorbills in their thousands. It is accessible by boat from Kilmore Quay.

Hill of Tara

The Hill of Tara in County Meath was the ancient seat of the High Kings of Ireland and a major ceremonial centre for thousands of years. The site contains a number of ancient monuments, including the Stone of Destiny (Lia Fáil) upon which kings were inaugurated.

Hungry Hill

Hungry Hill (685 m) is the highest point of the Caha Mountains on the Beara Peninsula in Co. Cork. It is famous for the Hungry Hill waterfall, which drops spectacularly from a clifftop, and for its mention in Daphne du Maurier's novel of the same name.

Inis Mór (Aran Islands)

Inis Mór is the largest of the three Aran Islands in Galway Bay, about 31 km² in area. Famous for the prehistoric clifftop fort of Dún Aonghasa, the island is an Irish-speaking community and important centre of traditional culture.

Mutton Island

Mutton Island is a small island in the inner part of Galway Bay, visible from the Salthill promenade. It has a lighthouse that was manned until automated and has been used historically as a treatment facility. The island is a designated nature reserve.

Inishbofin

Inishbofin (Inis Bó Finne, 'island of the white cow') lies about 9 km off the Connemara coast in County Galway. Its sheltered harbour was used as a Cromwellian prison for Catholic clergy in the 17th century; today the island is known for its clean beaches and birdlife.

Inisheer

Inisheer (Inis Oírr, 'eastern island') is the smallest of the Aran Islands and the closest to the Clare mainland. The wreck of the MV Plassy, washed ashore in 1960 and familiar from the opening credits of the TV series Father Ted, is one of its most photographed landmarks.

Inishmaan

Inishmaan (Inis Meáin, 'middle island') is the second-largest of the Aran Islands off the Galway coast. The playwright J.M. Synge spent several summers there gathering the folklore and language that inspired his plays, including The Playboy of the Western World.

Inishturk

Inishturk (Inis Toirc, 'island of the boar') is a small inhabited island off the coast of Co. Mayo with about 58 permanent residents. It offers dramatic Atlantic scenery and is popular with hillwalkers and sea kayakers.

Ireland's Eye

Ireland's Eye (Inis Mac Neasáin) is a small uninhabited island about 1 km off Howth in Co. Dublin. It has the ruins of an early Christian church, a 19th-century Martello tower, and large seabird colonies including gannets and guillemots.

Jerpoint Abbey

Jerpoint Abbey, founded in the 12th century near Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny, is one of Ireland's best-preserved Cistercian abbeys. Its cloister arcade contains remarkable carved figures, and the abbey church retains its Romanesque tower.

Kilkenny

Kilkenny (Cill Chainnigh) is a medieval city on the River Nore, dominated by Kilkenny Castle. Known as the 'Marble City', it was the seat of the Confederation of Kilkenny in the 1640s and is a centre of Irish craft and design.

Kilkenny Castle

Kilkenny Castle was built by the Normans in the 12th century and for centuries was the seat of the powerful Butler dynasty. Dramatically situated above the River Nore, it was handed over to the Irish State in 1967 and is now one of the country's most visited heritage sites.

Killarney

Killarney (Cill Airne) is Co. Kerry's most visited town, situated at the edge of Killarney National Park with its famous three lakes, Torc Waterfall, and Muckross House. It is the starting point for the Ring of Kerry scenic drive.

Kilmainham Gaol

Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin was Ireland's largest unoccupied prison when it closed in 1924. It held many of Ireland's most famous political prisoners, including the leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising who were executed in its yard, and is now one of the most visited heritage sites in the country.

Knockmealdown

Knockmealdown (794 m) is the highest peak of the Knockmealdown Mountains, which straddle the border between Counties Tipperary and Waterford. The Vee, a dramatic mountain pass cutting through the range, is one of the most scenic drives in Munster.

Knocknarea

Knocknarea (327 m) is a prominent limestone hill near Sligo town. On its summit sits Meascán Méabha, a massive unexcavated cairn traditionally said to be the tomb of Queen Maeve of Connacht.

Knowth

Knowth in the Brú na Bóinne complex is the largest passage tomb in Ireland and Western Europe, built around 3200 BC. It contains two passage tombs — one longer than Newgrange — and is covered with the world's largest collection of megalithic art.

Lambay Island

Lambay Island is the largest island off the Dublin coast, lying about 6 km from Rush. It is privately owned, managed as a wildlife sanctuary, and is home to Ireland's largest colony of grey seals. The island has a castle designed by Edwin Lutyens.

Letterkenny

Letterkenny (Leitir Ceanainn) is the largest town in Co. Donegal, situated at the head of Lough Swilly. It serves as the commercial and administrative centre of the county and is home to Letterkenny University Hospital.

Limerick

Limerick (Luimneach) is Ireland's third-largest city, situated on the River Shannon at the head of the Shannon Estuary. It has a Viking and Norman heritage and King John's Castle (1200 AD) overlooks the river.

Longford

Longford (An Longfort) is the county town of Co. Longford, a small midlands county. It is the birthplace of the novelist Maria Edgeworth and sits near the banks of the River Camlin which flows into the Shannon.

Lough Allen

Lough Allen, at about 43 km², is the northernmost and highest of the main Shannon lakes, located in Co. Leitrim with its eastern shore touching Co. Roscommon. The River Shannon exits the lake at its southern end near Drumshanbo.

Lough Conn

Lough Conn is a large lake in north Co. Mayo covering about 48 km². It is connected to Lough Cullin to the south and is renowned for its wild salmon and brown trout fishery.

Lough Corrib

Lough Corrib covers about 176 km² and is the largest lake in the Republic of Ireland and second-largest on the island. It contains nearly 365 islands and is world-renowned for salmon and brown trout fishing.

Lough Derg (Shannon)

Lough Derg is the largest of the Shannon lakes, approximately 50 km long, and forms a natural boundary between counties Clare, Tipperary, and Galway. Killaloe and Ballina sit at its southern tip.

Lough Derg

Lough Derg in County Donegal is one of Ireland's most important Catholic pilgrimage sites, centred on Station Island. Each summer thousands of pilgrims make a three-day penitential retreat there, a tradition reaching back to St Patrick's time.

Lough Erne

Lough Erne consists of two connected lakes — Upper and Lower Lough Erne — in Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The system contains hundreds of islands, including Devenish Island with its famous round tower.

Lough Gill

Lough Gill lies just east of Sligo town, straddling the border of counties Sligo and Leitrim. It contains the Isle of Innisfree, famously celebrated in W.B. Yeats's poem 'The Lake Isle of Innisfree'.

Lough Key

Lough Key in County Roscommon is renowned for its wooded islands and the surrounding Lough Key Forest and Activity Park. Castle Island, with the ruins of a 19th-century castle, sits at the lake's centre and is one of its most photographed features.

Lough Leane

Lough Leane is the largest of the three Killarney lakes in Co. Kerry, covering about 19 km² within Killarney National Park. Its name means 'Lake of Learning' and it contains Innisfallen Island with its 7th-century monastery ruins.

Lough Mask

Lough Mask covers about 86 km² on the border of counties Mayo and Galway. Unusually, it has no visible surface outflow — water drains underground through limestone to reach Lough Corrib to the south.

Lough Neagh

Lough Neagh covers about 383 km² and is the largest freshwater lake in Ireland and the British Isles. It borders five counties of Northern Ireland and is an important habitat for wildlife and fisheries.

Lough Ree

Lough Ree is a large lake on the River Shannon, approximately 30 km long, bordering counties Roscommon, Longford, and Westmeath. It contains numerous islands, several with early monastic sites.

Lough Sheelin

Lough Sheelin straddles the borders of Counties Cavan, Meath, and Westmeath and is celebrated as one of Ireland's finest wild brown trout fisheries. The lake covers about 18 km² and its shores are dotted with historic ruins and woodland.

Lough Tay

Lough Tay, known as 'The Guinness Lake', is a glacial corrie lake nestled between the steep slopes of Luggala and Fancy Mountain in County Wicklow. Its dark waters and the white sandy beach at its northern shore give it an uncanny resemblance to a pint of Guinness when viewed from above.

Loughcrew Cairns

The Loughcrew Cairns (Slieve na Calliagh) in Co. Meath are a group of Neolithic passage tombs, with the main cairns on Carnbane East and West. The tombs contain examples of megalithic art and some are aligned with equinox sunrises.

Lugnaquilla

Lugnaquilla (925 m) is the highest peak in Leinster and the second-highest mountain in Ireland outside Kerry. It lies within the Wicklow Mountains National Park.

MacGillycuddy's Reeks

MacGillycuddy's Reeks (Na Cruacha Dubha) in Co. Kerry is Ireland's highest mountain range, containing the island's highest nine peaks including Carrauntoohil (1,038 m). The name comes from the MacGillycuddy family who owned lands in the area.

Mellifont Abbey

Old Mellifont Abbey in Co. Louth was Ireland's first Cistercian monastery, founded in 1142 with the help of St Malachy and monks from Clairvaux in France. The lavabo (washroom) octagon is one of the finest pieces of Romanesque architecture in Ireland.

Monaghan

Monaghan (Muineachán) is the county town of Co. Monaghan and an important regional centre close to the Northern Ireland border. The county is known for its drumlin landscape — rolling low hills formed by glaciation.

Mourne Mountains

The Mourne Mountains in Co. Down are a range of granite peaks that sweep down to the Irish Sea between Newcastle and Carlingford Lough. Slieve Donard (850 m) is the highest peak; the range was the inspiration for C.S. Lewis's Narnia.

Mullingar

Mullingar (An Muileann gCearr) is the county town of Co. Westmeath, known as the 'Lakelands capital' due to the many lakes in the county. The imposing Cathedral of Christ the King dominates the town centre.

Mweelrea

Mweelrea (814 m) is the highest mountain in Connacht, rising above Killary Harbour — Ireland's only fjord — in Co. Mayo. Its name in Irish, Maol Réidh, means 'smooth summit bald hill'.

Naas

Naas (Nás na Ríogh, 'assembly place of the kings') is the county town of Co. Kildare and one of the fastest-growing towns in Ireland due to its proximity to Dublin. It was historically the royal seat of the kings of Leinster.

Navan

Navan (An Uaimh) is the county town of Co. Meath, Ireland's fastest-growing county, at the confluence of the Blackwater and Boyne rivers. It is close to the Hill of Tara and the Brú na Bóinne UNESCO site.

Nenagh

Nenagh (An tAonach) is the principal town of North Tipperary, situated near the northern shore of Lough Derg. The circular Nenagh Castle keep, built around 1200, is one of the best-preserved examples of a Norman round tower in Ireland.

Nephin

Nephin (806 m) is the second-highest peak in Connacht and one of the most isolated mountains in Ireland, rising sharply from the boglands of north-west County Mayo. Its quartzite summit offers panoramic views across the wild Nephin Beg range.

Newgrange (Brú na Bóinne)

Newgrange is a Neolithic passage tomb in the Boyne Valley, Co. Meath, built around 3200 BC. Older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visited prehistoric sites in Europe.

Newry

Newry (An Iúr) is a city in Northern Ireland straddling the border of Counties Down and Armagh on the main Dublin–Belfast road. It is a major shopping destination for both sides of the border and has a fine 18th-century canal system.

Old Head of Kinsale

The Old Head of Kinsale is a narrow peninsula jutting into the Atlantic in Co. Cork, crowned by a lighthouse and Iron Age promontory fort. It was near here that the Lusitania was sunk by a German submarine in 1915.

Omey Island

Omey Island (Iomaí) in Connemara is a tidal island accessible by walking across the sand at low water. It has a small permanent population, ancient monastic remains, and is famous for its annual strand races held at low tide.

Ox Mountains

The Ox Mountains (Sliabh Gamh) form a long upland ridge running southwest to northeast across the Sligo-Mayo border, rising to 546 m at Knockalongy. The Easkey River rises in this range, which also separates the Atlantic coastal lowlands from the interior.

Portlaoise

Portlaoise (Port Laoise) is the county town of Co. Laois and a major transport hub on the Dublin-Cork road and rail line. Portlaoise Prison is Ireland's highest-security prison facility.

Rathlin Island

Rathlin Island lies about 9 km off the north coast of Co. Antrim and is Northern Ireland's only inhabited offshore island, with around 150 permanent residents. It is famous for its seabird colonies and the legend of Robert the Bruce observing a spider in a cave there.

Reginald's Tower, Waterford

Reginald's Tower at the quayside in Waterford was built by the Vikings in the 10th century and is Ireland's oldest civic building in continuous use. Named after the Norse ruler Ragnall, it now houses the Waterford Viking Museum.

River Bann

The River Bann drains Lough Neagh — Ireland's largest lake — and flows north to the Atlantic between Castlerock (Co. Londonderry) and Portstewart (Co. Antrim). The Lower Bann was navigable since ancient times and historically one of Ireland's most important eel fisheries.

River Barrow

The River Barrow flows 192 km from the Slieve Bloom Mountains before joining the Suir and Nore in Waterford Harbour, opening to the Celtic Sea near Hook Head — site of one of the world's oldest lighthouses, in continuous operation since the 5th century.

River Blackwater

The River Blackwater flows 168 km from Co. Kerry eastward before turning sharply south at Cappoquin to reach the Celtic Sea at Youghal — a beautifully preserved medieval walled town in Co. Cork. The Blackwater is one of Ireland's finest salmon and trout rivers.

River Boyne

The River Boyne flows 112 km from Co. Kildare to the Irish Sea at Drogheda, passing the Brú na Bóinne passage tombs (Newgrange, Knowth, Dowth). Its mouth at Drogheda was historically the boundary between Leinster and Ulster.

River Corrib

The River Corrib is just 6 km long — one of Ireland's shortest major rivers — draining Lough Corrib southward through Galway city to Galway Bay. Despite its short length, it is world-famous for its spring salmon run; the annual Galway salmon festival celebrates this remarkable migration.

River Erne

The River Erne rises in Co. Cavan and flows through Upper and Lower Lough Erne in Co. Fermanagh before crossing into Co. Donegal and reaching the Atlantic at Ballyshannon — one of the oldest continuously inhabited towns in Ireland. The Erne hydroelectric dam at Cliff harnessed the river in the 1950s.

River Feale

The River Feale rises in the Stack's Mountains and flows 100 km through Listowel in north Kerry before entering the Shannon Estuary at Ballybunion — a resort town famous for its sea cliffs and golf links. The Feale is an important salmon river and the Listowel Writers' Week celebrates the culture of the Feale valley.

River Finn

The River Finn rises in the Blue Stack Mountains in Co. Donegal and flows 56 km eastward through Ballybofey before joining the River Mourne at Lifford/Strabane, where together they form the River Foyle. Named after the mythological warrior Fionn Mac Cumhaill, it is an important salmon and sea-trout river.

River Foyle

The River Foyle flows through Derry city and widens into Lough Foyle, which opens to the Atlantic between Magilligan Point (Co. Londonderry) and Greencastle (Co. Donegal). The Foyle forms part of the international border and Lough Foyle is one of Ireland's most important estuaries for wintering wildfowl.

River Lagan

The River Lagan rises in the Slieve Croob hills in Co. Down and flows 80 km through Belfast before entering Belfast Lough at the harbour. The Titanic was built at Harland & Wolff shipyard right at the river's mouth. The Lagan towpath is today a popular walking and cycling route.

River Lee

The River Lee rises at Gougane Barra and flows east through Cork city before entering Cork Harbour at Passage West. The harbour mouth at Roches Point leads to the Celtic Sea and is one of the world's finest natural harbours — where the Titanic made its last port of call.

River Liffey

The River Liffey (An Life) flows 125 km from the Wicklow Mountains through Dublin city before entering Dublin Bay at the Bull Wall. Its estuary was channelled by the Great South Wall, one of the longest sea walls in the world when built in the 18th century.

River Moy

The River Moy flows 98 km from the Ox Mountains to Killala Bay, passing through Ballina in Co. Mayo. Regarded as Ireland's most prolific salmon river, it once recorded the highest single-day salmon catch in the world. Killala Bay was where the French landed troops to support the 1798 Rebellion.

River Nore

The River Nore flows 140 km from the Slieve Bloom Mountains through Kilkenny city before joining the Barrow just above New Ross, Co. Wexford. Together the Nore, Barrow, and Suir are called the Three Sisters — their combined estuary enters the Celtic Sea near Hook Head.

River Shannon

The River Shannon is Ireland's longest river at 360 km. Its estuary opens to the Atlantic between Loop Head in Co. Clare and Kerry Head — one of the widest river mouths in Europe and a designated Special Area of Conservation.

River Slaney

The River Slaney rises on Lugnaquilla in Co. Wicklow and flows 119 km south through Enniscorthy to Wexford Harbour. The Slaney valley was a key theatre of the 1798 Rebellion, and the estuary at Wexford town is a haven for migratory birds, including the Greenland white-fronted goose.

River Suir

The River Suir rises on Devil's Bit in Co. Tipperary and flows 184 km through Cahir and Clonmel before meeting the Nore and Barrow in Waterford Harbour at Passage East. Together with the Barrow and Nore it forms the Three Sisters estuary, one of Ireland's most scenic river systems.

Rock of Cashel

The Rock of Cashel in Co. Tipperary is a spectacular medieval complex on a limestone outcrop, including a 12th-century round tower, Romanesque chapel, and Gothic cathedral. It was the traditional seat of the Kings of Munster for centuries.

Doon Well and Rock of Doon

The Rock of Doon near Kilmacrennan in Co. Donegal is the traditional inauguration site of the O'Donnell kings of Tír Conaill. The adjacent Doon Well is a holy well still visited by pilgrims who leave votive offerings on surrounding bushes.

Roscommon

Roscommon (Ros Comáin) is the county town of Co. Roscommon, a largely rural county in the heart of Connacht. Roscommon Castle, built in 1269, stands prominently on the edge of the town.

Scattery Island

Scattery Island (Inis Cathaigh) in the Shannon Estuary near Kilrush, Co. Clare, was the site of a monastery founded by St Senan in the 6th century. It has one of Ireland's tallest round towers (29 m) and several churches, accessible by ferry from Kilrush in summer.

Shannon

Shannon (Sionainn) is a planned town in Co. Clare, built from scratch in the 1960s to house workers at Shannon Airport and the Shannon Free Zone — Ireland's first duty-free industrial zone and a model for similar zones worldwide.

Sherkin Island

Sherkin Island lies just 10 minutes by ferry from Baltimore in West Cork. It is home to the ruins of O'Driscoll's Castle and a 15th-century Franciscan friary, as well as a marine research station; its small permanent population swells considerably each summer.

Skellig Michael

Skellig Michael (Sceilig Mhichíl) is a dramatic pinnacle of rock 12 km off the Kerry coast, rising 218 m from the Atlantic. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and contains a remarkably preserved 6th-century monastic settlement.

Slieve Bloom

The Slieve Bloom Mountains straddle the border between Counties Laois and Offaly and rise to 527 m at Arderin. They form an unexpected upland wilderness in Ireland's flat midlands and are traversed by the Slieve Bloom Way long-distance trail.

Slieve Donard

Slieve Donard (850 m) is the highest mountain in Northern Ireland, part of the Mourne Mountains range in Co. Down. It is named after St Domangard, said to have built an oratory on its summit.

Slieve Gullion

Slieve Gullion (577 m) is the highest point in County Armagh, forming the focal point of the Ring of Gullion, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Associated with the legend of Cú Chulainn, its summit holds a passage tomb and two lake cairns.

Slieve League

Slieve League (595 m) in Co. Donegal features sea cliffs dropping nearly 600 m to the Atlantic, among the highest sea cliffs in Europe. The mountain is a major visitor attraction on the Wild Atlantic Way.

Slieve Mish Mountains

The Slieve Mish Mountains run along the northern spine of the Dingle Peninsula in Co. Kerry, reaching 851 m at Baurtregaum. The range offers excellent walking with views across Tralee Bay and Brandon Bay.

Sligo

Sligo (Sligeach) is the main town of northwest Ireland, at the mouth of the Garavogue River between Lough Gill and Sligo Bay. It is strongly associated with the poet W.B. Yeats, who is buried in Drumcliff churchyard nearby.

Spike Island

Spike Island in Cork Harbour holds the star-shaped Fort Mitchel, which served as a prison from the 1840s onward. At its peak during the Famine era it held over 2,000 convicts, earning the island the nickname 'Ireland's Alcatraz'; it is now a heritage attraction accessible by ferry from Cobh.

St Canice's Cathedral

St Canice's Cathedral in Kilkenny is the second-longest medieval cathedral in Ireland, built in the 13th century on the site of a 6th-century monastery. Its round tower, which visitors can climb, dates from the early Christian period.

Great Sugar Loaf

The Great Sugar Loaf (501 m) is one of the most recognisable mountains in Leinster, its bare quartzite cone rising above the Wicklow landscape south of Bray. Despite its modest height it offers panoramic views from Dublin Bay to the Mourne Mountains.

The Burren

The Burren (Boireann, 'rocky place') is a vast karst limestone plateau covering about 250 km² of north County Clare. It supports an extraordinary mix of Arctic, Alpine, and Mediterranean flora growing in the cracks of its pavements, alongside hundreds of megalithic tombs and ring forts.

Tory Island

Tory Island (Toraigh) lies about 14 km off the north-west coast of Donegal and is the most remote permanently inhabited island in Ireland. It has its own elected king and a unique tradition of naïve painting, and is associated with the mythological Fomorian king Balor.

Tralee

Tralee (Trá Lí) is the county town of Co. Kerry and a major service centre for the Dingle Peninsula region. It hosts the annual Rose of Tralee International Festival and the Kerry County Museum.

Trim Castle

Trim Castle on the River Boyne in County Meath is the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland, with a keep that stands 20 m tall. Built by Hugh de Lacy from 1176, it was used as a location for the film Braveheart and is a centrepiece of the Boyne Valley heritage area.

Tullamore

Tullamore (Tulach Mhór) is the county town of Co. Offaly, located on the Grand Canal. It is famous for the Tullamore D.E.W. Irish whiskey distillery, whose heritage centre is a popular visitor attraction.

Twelve Bens

The Twelve Bens (Na Beanna Beola) are a compact group of quartzite mountains in Connemara, Co. Galway. Benbaun (729 m) is the highest of the group. The dramatic landscape of bogs, lakes, and peaks is the backdrop of Connemara National Park.

Valentia Island

Valentia Island off the Iveragh Peninsula in County Kerry was the European landing point of the first successful transatlantic telegraph cable, laid in 1866. The island is also known for its Tetrapod Trackway, 385-million-year-old fossil footprints left by one of the first vertebrates to walk on land.

Waterford

Waterford (Port Láirge) is Ireland's oldest city, founded by Vikings in 914 AD on the River Suir. The Waterford Crystal factory was famous worldwide, and the city's Viking Triangle heritage area preserves its Scandinavian roots.

Wexford

Wexford (Loch Garman) is a Viking-founded town on the estuary of the River Slaney in the southeast of Ireland. It has one of the narrowest main streets in Ireland and is known for its opera festival.

Whiddy Island

Whiddy Island in Bantry Bay, Co. Cork, was home to a Gulf Oil terminal in the 1970s; in January 1979, the French tanker Betelgeuse exploded there, killing 50 people. The island has a small permanent population and ferry connection from Bantry.

Wicklow

Wicklow (Cill Mhantáin) is the county town of Co. Wicklow, situated on the east coast between Dublin and Wexford. The county is nicknamed the 'Garden of Ireland' for its scenic valleys and gardens.