St. Patrick's Day Countdown: Where to go in Ireland in 2025?

Our countdown to St. Patrick’s Day—with daily offers and fun facts—ends tomorrow. Don't miss our 17% off sitewide sale, running all weekend in honor of our national holiday!

St. Patrick's Day marks the real start of the tourism season here in Ireland - with many sites opening for the first time since shuttering last autumn. Today, the team at My Irish Jeweler is sharing its top travel tips - perfect for those planning a trip, or folks that want to enjoy a virtual tour of our green isle without leaving the comfort of their chair.

This list draws brings together previous recommendations like our whistle-stop guide to the Wild Atlantic Way. So be warned—it may take more than one visit to get through them all!

ULSTER

Starting from the very northern tip of Ireland you have the proud province of Ulster. Home to one of my own favourite travel spots on the entire island, Co. Donegal.

Donegal is a big county, packed with things to see and do including the oldest Celtic stone cross still standing in Ireland, the Carndonagh Cross. Donegal is also home to the tallest sea cliffs in Ireland at Sliabh Liag, a spot our own Gemma conquered on one of her road trips.

Ulster is also home to plenty of other spectacular sights including those in Co. Antrim, the county where I was born and one of my wife's favourite destinations.

The Causeway Coast boasts dramatic landscapes formed by ancient volcanoes, delicious whiskey at Bushmills, exhilarating experiences like Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, and romantic ruins like Dunluce castle—so it's easy to see why it's a hit with our family and so many others!

Those that venture inland a touch from here will find Slemish mountain, the supposed site of St. Patrick's calling to christianity, and the Dark Hedges, made famous by the Game of Thrones. And of course bustling Belfast with it's Titanic Experience is a city that is well worth a visit, especially for fans of history.

Farther south, Co. Armagh is not short of sites either with Navan Fort or Eamhain Mhacha a great stop for fans of Irish legends, home to the boy Cuchulainn. This was reportedly one of the great royal sites of ancient Ireland and the capital of Ulster until it was abandoned after the first century.

Slieve Gullion forest park is another of my family's favourites in Co. Armagh, with beautiful wooded trails, spectacular views, and storybook adventures - the fairy trail in particular was a big hit with my kids.

Ulster is also home to My Irish Jeweler's own Vicky who sings the praises of her "new" county Cavan, with a lake for each day of the year. Counties Fermanagh and Monaghan are also worth a look, as are the mountains of Mourne in Co. Down and Northern Ireland’s tallest high stone cross in Co. Tyrone.

LEINSTER

South of Ulster, Leinster takes in much of the eastern half of Ireland and is known to many as the "ancient east." This name is apt given the many neolithic sites that dot the countryside, built in alignment with the rising or setting sun.

Although most closely associated with the winter solstice, people travel in their thousands year round to take in Brú na Bóinne, the palace of the Boyne, and the spectacular neolithic sites of Newgrange, Knowth, and Dowth in Co. Meath. A UNESCO World Heritage Site for good reason, these ancient structures maintain an otherworldly presence that seems to transport visitors back thousands of years—even with hundreds of tourists daily.

Many visitors stop at Newgrange, but Knowth is certainly worth a look. You will find the oldest known illustration of the moon in history and over 200 individual pieces of megalithic art.

Those that want to visit these two sites will need to book tickets online for the visitor centre in advance to avoid disappointment. But if you forget, you needn’t miss out on the whole experience - you can drive up directly to Dowth and take a look outside without tickets.

Or if you prefer to go a little off the beaten track, a visit to the spectacular ruins at Loughcrew will give you ancient Ireland without the crowds. This is a favourite camping spot for my own family and a visit to the site requires just a short, steep but safe climb, even for children, up the spookily named Sliabh na Caillí, the Hill of the Crone. The view from the top alone is worth the hike - it's said that on a clear day you can see at least 18 counties! An added prize for climbers is a visit inside the chamber of Cairn T if it is open, intricately decorated with ancient art.

And for those that enjoy a the outdoors, Ireland has hikes galore, so be sure to keep your walking boots handy! Co. Wicklow on our doorstep here at My Irish Jeweler is home to one of my own favourites - a 2 to 3 hr hike up Tonelagee Mountain with a view of stunning, heart shaped Lough Ouler a wonderful reward for your efforts.

While in Wicklow it would be remiss to skip Glendalough, the monastic site that is home to one of Ireland's most unusual high stone crosses and a beautiful spot for picnics.

Those keen on high stone crosses could also tour several of them in Leinster, with the spectacular Muiredach Cross in Co. Louth, and The Cross of the Scriptures, the crowning jewel at the impressive site at Clonmacnoise in Co. Offaly.

While in Co. Offaly you could also take in a slightly younger, site at Birr Castle. Offaly has been synonymous with astronomy in Ireland for hundreds of years. With a solar trail that puts our place in space in perspective, this spot offers a fun for all ages and is on the hit list for my own family this year!

While on the subject of castles, Ireland is said to have more than 30,000 to choose from, and Leinster is absolutely lousy with them!

Three castles have been the symbol of Dublin since 1230AD. The capital certainly boasts a wealth of spectacular examples including Dublin Castle itself or Malahide, Howth, Swords and Ardgillan in the north of the county.

There are of course impressive castles outside the capital too! Our customer service superstar Vicky was quite taken with Tullynally Castle in Co. Westmeath on her recent visit, and my own family enjoyed Carlow Castle in Co. Carlow.

Co. Carlow also rewards those who venture off the typical tourist trail with its vibrant arts scene, monastic ruins, and the leafy River Barrow—complete with natural swimming spots. Just be careful not to go too far with the flow!

And striking off the tourist trail and digging a little deeper seems to yield dividends elsewhere too - or at least it was the case for Vicky on her extended stay in the charming Co. Wexford town of Enniscorthy.

Of course, the capital is worth a look if you find yourself there! Dublin boasts too many sites to mention them all - but must see spots on our list include the Book of Kells, a favourite of the team here with Brian Boru's harp and the spectacular long room in Trinity College thrown in as a bonus while there!

You could also catch a match at Croke Park for an exhilarating experience if your schedule allows, or go for the rooftop tour if you're feeling very brave! And for those that like their history, the National Museum should be on the itinerary to see treasures like the Tara Brooch, ancient torcs, the Ardagh Chalice, or the Cross of Cong. Gemma would also be quite cross with me if I forgot to mention the seaside town of Howth, to the north of Dublin. If it's a sunny day, you are likely to bump into her there enjoying some chips from Beshoffs!

MUNSTER

Insider tips from Gemma and the team aside, there quite a bit to be said for seeing the sights too! The province of Munster making up the south and south west of Ireland is not short of tourism hotspots as well as being home to the bulk of Ireland's enigmatic and ancient ogham stones.

There are also more modern delights on offer in Munster too, with delicious restaurants and a bustling market in Co. Cork making it one for the list for anyone that fancies their food - the self proclaimed "food capital of Ireland"! My kids are also always very keen to visit Cork given it is home to FOTA, a delightful wildlife park.

And anyone planning a trip to Ireland is sure to be recommended Co. Kerry. This county is popular for a reason - charming fishing villages like Dingle, glorious beaches, and breathtaking scenery abound, with several of the My Irish Jeweler team fans of holidays here! Gemma told us all about her trip to the "Kingdom" last year.

Co. Kerry has also been designated a gold tier International Dark Sky reserve - one of only 3 places on the planet with this accreditation. So this is a great spot for stargazing. All you need is a clear sky for this one - not always a given but spectacular when it happens.

Heading north from Co. Kerry the big hitters keep coming, with two of the largest tourism draws in Ireland found on the Wild Atlantic Way of Co. Clare - the otherworldly Burren and impressive Cliffs of Moher.

Inland from the Wild Atlantic Way, Co. Limerick boasts charming villages like Adare, apparently Ireland's prettiest (it is very pretty and has a lovely teashop if I remember correctly!), along side truly ancient sites like Lough Gur, home to the oldest and largest stone circle in Western Europe!

And a little off the beaten track, another of my family's favourites is Co. Waterford. With the greenway and beautiful spots for hikes or walks this is a wonderland for those that like the outdoors.

CONNACHT

Those that enjoy cycling are well served in our last Province too. The Great Western Greenway runs from the spectacular island of Achill along a 42km route of disused railway, for a relatively easy cycle with spectacular views of Clew bay and Croagh Patrick. Bike rentals are available at either end and with the lovely town of Westport as your destination, it is a rewarding and not too difficult cycle for all ages.

It is hard to tear yourself away from Achill though, a beautiful spot off the coast of Co. Mayo. The island is accessible by car as well as bike via the bridge at Achill sound. Home of the third highest sea cliffs in Europe and the highest in Ireland, the Croaghaun cliffs are a breathtaking 688 meters (2,257 ft).

For fans of The Banshees of Inisherin, much of the island in the movie were shot on location in Achill - there is even a trail to follow. There are spectacular beaches, an eerie deserted village, surprising wildlife, and tasty cafes and restaurants to check out. Myself and my family spent a very happy week holidaying here a few summers ago - we had a wonderful relaxing trip.

If you fancy really getting away from it all, the Aran Islands should be on your list. Home of the iconic Irish sweater of the same name, this archipelago of three islands just off the coast of Galway has much more to offer than winter woolies. The Irish language is alive and well on the islands with traditional music and storytelling in the local pubs in the evenings. There are also beautiful forts, spectacular blowholes and sea cliffs and stunning landscapes. Accessible by ferry from Galway, these islands are well worth the trip.

With a vibrant and accessible city, Co. Galway is of course also famously the home of the Claddagh ring, Connemara marble (and ponies), as well as some of the most spectacular landscapes in Ireland.

And it seems fitting to finish our tour at a truly ancient spot. You will need decent walking boots and an adventurous spirit but the spectacular Caves of Keash in Co. Sligo will make it worth your while. Also known as Kesh Caves or the Caves of Keshcorran​​, this is a favourite spot for our own Head Jeweler and customer service superstar, Gemma.

These caves have been used by a variety of creatures, including humans for many millenia. The spectacular view alone is worth the sometimes slippery and steep climb. The caves also contain the bones of animals that were once native to Ireland like bears and wolves. Some of these remains date back to 10,000 BC!

Ireland for everyone

So, after that potted tour, we hope we have inspired you to get out and explore. Many in the My Irish Jeweler team have been holidaying in Ireland for years and we are still finding new hidden gems with each trip.

Share your story

So those are our picks. What do you think? Did we miss anything? We love hearing stories of visits to Ireland from our friends around the globe. Stories like a romantic Ogham stone inspired engagement, a clifftop wedding in Clare, or tracing the footsteps of Irish ancestors around Ireland.

Care to share your story or your own travel tips for Ireland? Just comment below or send us an email. We would love to hear from you.

What's Next?

Check back in with us tomorrow for our final entry - Day 17 of our St. Patrick's Day countdown. Or open Door Number 16 of our 17 Days of celebratory offers!