I have lived in Ireland for 35 years and allow me to share that most of the time, you will never see these fabulous places in some glossy tourist guidebook. But does that make them not worth a visit? Of course not!
With that, this guide is a little different from the rest and only looks at hidden gems and unique places to visit in Ireland (hopefully, you should never even know of these).
Well, just go through from Ring of Kerry head to Dingle Peninsula to go over to our guide; Letâs check the best things to do in Ireland. Welcome To Our Blog IrelandNewsHeadlines and I am your Friend Frank Richard.
Highlights of Places To Visit In Ireland With Kids
1. Spike Island
Many of the tourists I speak to list Cobh as one of their favourites places in Ireland.
Yet only a handful board the brief ferry to neighbouring Spike Island. Throughout its 1,300 year history the Island has been home to a Monastery (est. AD651), Commissariat Storehouse which held up to two years of food rations for early settlers and was converted into a Fortress with over 24 acres under cannon cover could hold hostile ships at ransom without landing troops on sovereign territory while also becoming one of the largest gaol in the world(1840â1972)
The Island housed offenders before transportation. It became known as âIrelandâs Alcatrazâ. In our opinion Spike Island is the best places to visit in Ireland with kids.
Related Article â Top 10 Places To Visit In Ireland â Secret Gems
2 â The Lost Valley
While the Lost Valley in Mayo will remain a kind of hidden gem, it is one that I can only see growing as one of Irelandâs best places to visit.
In case you might not have heard about it, The Lost Valley is a corner of Mayo that has remained largely untouched since the land was scattered with those who sheltered there during what became known to be called the Great Famine.
The valley is now the property belonging to a private Bourke family. They had worked the land churning profits for a landlord and, curiously enough, one of the families they evicted before owning it themselves. In our opinion The Lost Valley is the best places to visit in Ireland with kids.
3. Largy Waterfall
So overall, Iâd suggest that most folks skip Largy Waterfall Donegal.
Whereas the secret waterfall of Donegal that seems like a scene from Jurassic Park still only looks impressive if you know how to read the tidal clock as getting caught by this with incoming tide and there is no way out.
This hidden gem is based on the Slieve League peninsula in Donegal.
She lives in Largy, a small town tucked away on the road between Killybegs and Kilcar.
4. Ballaghbeama Gap
It is very often wrongly assumed that the Ring of Kerry driving route, as beautifully scenic and jaw-droppingly-gorgeous though it may be, truly represents not only Co. Donât get me wrong â itâs a great drive but there are quite frankly better ones⊠plenty of them in Kerry!
One of my favourite things to do in Kerry is swing along this road through the sublime Ballaghbeama Pass. This road sweeps over the mountains in the heart of gorgeous Iveragh Peninsula.
It is also a great place for walking with many long and short trails to keep fit. Personally, I love driving through this region on my way south. It takes you along an unspoilt scenic route where youâre likely not to meet too much traffic or sheep. This is the perfect hunting ground for you due to beautiful, scenic views that will not quit. In our opinion Ballaghbeama Gap is the best places to visit in Ireland with kids.
Tip: beware, first timers â this road IS pretty narrow in places so drive carefully!
5. Marshâs Library
The Long Room in Trinity College attracts many of the people who come to see this library when they visit Dublin. But thereâs one consistently overlooked library that is equally important and perhaps even more so, historically.
The oldest library in Ireland, Marshâs Library has been on its current site behind St. Patrickâs Cathedral in Dublin since 1707.
Marshâs 25,000 Books + >300+ Manuscripts If you go, look for bullet holes in the bookcases: it is understood they date from the Easter Rising.
If you find yourself asking where to go in Ireland the tourists rarely see, make time for Marshâs.
6. The Swiss Cottage
The Swiss Cottage in Tipperary was built during the early 1800s by Richard Butler and formed part of Lord and Lady Cahirâs estate being historically used as an entertaining place for would-be guests.
A quarter century lifeline has seen the historic cottage carefully restored in 1985 with its unique and quirky features sympathetically preserved as accurately as possible.
Swiss Cottage: This is a perfect dessert to have after visiting the wonderful Cahir Castle.
It takes around 45 min to walk from the castle to the Swiss Cottage strolling along the riverside. In our opinion The Swiss Cottage is the best places to visit in Ireland with kids.
7. The Croaghaun Cliffs
The Slieve League Cliffs in Donegal are often thought of as the highest sea cliffs in all Ireland. Slieve League has the highest sea cliffs in all of Ireland.
Croaghaun cliffs, Achill Island Mayo â The highest sea cliff that can be found in all of Ireland; Croaghaun is a truly stunning sight when viewed.
As it turns out, they are also the third largest in all of Europe. These are located on the north face of Croaghaun mt and can be seen if you walk to the top.
8. Leap Castle
For castle enthusiasts this is the haunted Leap Castle near Roscrea in Coolderry, one of Irelandâs most famous spooky locations.
With the castle here identified as Irelandâs most haunted and home to TV series including Most Haunted filming over the years. The castle is also said to be haunted by a lady in red wearing the stiletto with which she murdered her own son.
The discovery of a secret dungeon that held hundreds of human skeletons added to the notion that Leap Castle is haunted.
The OâCarrolls would apparently trick people in the castle, and drop them through a trapdoor on spitkes situated down at a dungeon. In our opinion Leap Castle is the best places to visit in Ireland with kids.
9. The Marble Arch Caves
Over in Fermanagh, the Marble Arch Caves are situated within both counties Fermanagh and Cavan but reside in what is known as Marble Arch Geopark (tucked right next to Irelandâs Stairway to Heaven).
The Marble Arch Caves are a cluster of natural limestone caves located in the small settlement Florencecourt.
The caves are some 11.5 kms in length making it the longest known cave system within N I.
Check out our ultimate guide to the best things to do in Northern Ireland for more information on what you can get up to done in this neck of the woods.
10. The Dark Sky Reserve
Well as it happens there is in fact a beautiful little spot down below Kerry that sits within an International Dark Sky Reserve â one of only 3 Gold Tier Reserves on the entire planet.
So on a good night, the sky in this part of Kerry (called the Dark Sky Reserve) twinkles with visible celestial bodies lining up themselves above your head to entertain you.
Now, this has been on a bucket list of top things to do in Ireland. Iâve wanted to tick off for quite some time now but each and every single time we get there the sky is positively filled with clouds.
Highlights of Places To Visit In Ireland With Kids
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