844 235 6240 Ireland is renowned for its rich tapestry of culture, tradition and history. From an international day where everyone wants to be Irish to influencing its own style of music, introducing the world to leprechauns and creating an immediately-distinguishable style of pub no matter where in the world you are, Irish culture has left its imprint on the world.
Activity: Hiking
Duration: 7 days
Comfort: Classic
Historical Sites: Skellig Michael beehive huts, ruins of the Blasket Islands, Fastnet Lighthouse, Baltimore Beacon and Sheep’s Head Lighthouse.
Activity: Hiking
Duration: 7 days
Comfort: Classic
Historical Sites: Dublin sites such as the historic downtown and Trinity University, Glendalough Monastic City, Powerscourt Estate and gardens.
Activity: Hiking
Duration: 7 days
Comfort: Classic
Historical Sites: Clare Island castle, Aran Islands sites, Dun Aonghus fort, Croagh Patrick pilgrimage, and the Burren megalithic sites.
Activity: Hiking
Duration: 7 days
Comfort: Classic
Historical Sites: Gallrus Oratory, clocháns (beehive huts), archeology, Minard Castle and Blasket Island Centre.
Activity: Biking
Duration: 7 days
Comfort: Classic
Historical Sites: Dun Aonghus fort, Padriag Pearse’s Cottage, the Gaeltacht communities of the Aran Islands, Poulnabrone Dolman
Activity: Hiking
Duration: 7 days
Comfort: Classic
Historical Sites: Rathlin Island Lighthouse, Dunluce Castle, famine village, Grianán of Aileach fort, Glenveagh Castle, Drumcliff and Yeats Grave.
St Patrick’s Day is synonymous with Ireland and Irish culture for most of the world. St Patrick was actually born in Wales and brought to Ireland as a slave in 5th century. After escaping to Europe where he learned of Christianity, he was made a bishop. Bringing back the word of God to the pagans of Ireland, he dedicated his life to converting the Irish to Christianity, and was made a saint for it (in fact, one of Ireland’s three patron saints, alongside St Brigid and St Columba).
St Patrick’s Day – a sort of national day for Ireland – is celebrated each year on March 17th, St Patrick’s date of death. It started out as a religious affair in the 17th century, commemorating the arrival of Christianity, though has since evolved. The Irish emigrants to North America, Australia and other parts of the new world brought this tradition with them – a tradition that flourished in their new communities, particularly in America. In fact, many celebrations of St Patrick’s Day are bigger in the Irish diaspora than in Ireland itself. From parades to fireworks, green dye, brilliant costumes, and the drinking of Irish whiskey and Guinness, St Patrick’s Day is a merry and joyful time of year – a time of year when the entire world suddenly becomes Irish.
Probably the most iconic and easily-distinguished mountain in Ireland, this cone-shaped mountain rises above County Mayo on the west coast of Ireland. At the top, there is a little shrine to St Patrick – it is said that the saint made a pilgrimage here and spent 40 days and 40 nights on the mountain. To this day, people come from all over the world to climb the mountain either as a pilgrimage in St Patrick’s steps or simply to enjoy the view and rich history.
The best of all St Patrick’s Day parades in Ireland is found in Dublin. Colourful street parades through downtown Dublin, historical walks around the capital, an array of workshops and museums on offer, the world’s largest céilí and of course plenty of pubs, parties and music are to be expected during St Patrick’s Day in Dublin.
“We’re all in the gutter but some of us
are looking at the stars.”
| Oscar Wilde | Irish playwright & novelist
In Irish folklore, the Tuatha de Danann were the original inhabitants of Ireland – that is, until the Milesians (the Celts) arrived, driving them underground. The Tuatha de Danann became the sidhe – the fairies, the wee folk. Entrances to their world are everywhere – caves, grottos, tombs, barrows, even tree hollows and roots. Associated with the fairies are Fairy Trees – a lone twisted hawthorn (or perhaps ash) tree in a field. It’s bad luck to disturb or destroy them. In fact, a whole road works project (among other construction projects) was modified to avoid chopping down a Fairy Tree.
Perhaps one of the biggest Irish stereotypes, Leprechauns are part of the sidhe or the fairy folk. They are devious, they are clever, they are cheeky, and they tend to get their way. They can magically vanish into thin air, and have perfected the art of tricking humans. But if you do manage to catch one, they will supposedly grant you wishes.
Where do Leprechauns live? Why on the Leprechaun Reserve in Carlingford of course. At last count, there were 236 Leprechauns living in the EU-funded Leprechaun sanctuary!
Traditional Irish music – called simply “trad music” in Ireland – is perhaps the most accurate Irish culture stereotype. Irish trad music has endured better than most European folk music – and it is simply everywhere. If you’re in a town with a few pubs, chances are there’s likely to be Irish trad music somewhere every night of the week. One thing that’s important to note though is that Irish trad music is a late-night affair, usually not starting until 9 or 10pm.
What is Irish trad music? There are some elements that define the genre. Starting with the instruments, there are a few ones that have used in Irish trad music over the centuries, but for our purposes, we’re focussing on currently popular instruments.
Traditionally, Irish trad musicians use a combination of a harp, a fiddle, a bodhran (a type of drum) and a tin whistle or flute. Other possible instruments include a bouzouki (a string instrument) and the uillean pipes (somewhat along the lines of the bagpipes). Songs are usually upbeat, fast, and rhythmic – in fact, most of the songs are folk songs, and often include a lot of repetition (for singing along). Topics might range from everyday life to love stories to mythological tales.
There is also sean-nós singing – an old style of singing. Sean-nós songs are sung solo and unaccompanied at the top of the range and therefore quite difficult to do. Sean-nós songs usually place more importance on lyrics than melody.
Doolin is a small and vibrant coastal village located just to the north of the Cliffs of Moher and just a hop away from the Aran Islands, themselves bastions of Irish tradition including Iris trad music. Though colourful Doolin village is a popular spot due to its proximity to the famous Cliffs of Moher, it also means that you will have plenty of options to choose from when looking to get your west coast Irish trad music fix. And besides, it’s hard to beat the coastal views!
A bustling little market town in Ireland’s northwest, Sligo is bursting with great places to. eat and drink – as well as pubs to hear Irish trad music. From Sligo’s oldest pub Connolly’s to the gastropub Hargadons or the super-traditional Shoot the Crows, you’ll have plenty of options to hear some trad music. Or head down to the coastal village of Strandhill to relax in front of an open fire while enjoying the trad music. Visiting in summer? Enjoy the late-night summer sunset over the ocean!
Dingle town is the heart and soul of the Dingle Peninsula in Co Kerry. From the Dingle Way to Mt Brandon or the beaches of the Mahrees, Dingle is primed for outdoor lovers. After a day’s hike, head back to colourful and lively Dingle for some of the best seafood in Ireland paired with some of the best Irish trad music. Don’t want to stay out late but still want music? Head over to hardware stone/pub (yes it’s both!) Foxy John’s who do a pre-dinner trad music session.
Irish pubs are a little bit like an Irish embassy or perhaps a portal into Ireland. Once you’re in an Irish pub – no matter where you are in the world – it’s a little bit like you’ve walked into Ireland.
Irish pubs have a particular style to them – lots of wood, a bit dark, an open fireplace or a warm stove, a bar with an array of Irish beers on tap (Guinness of course is a given), a friendly barman, a few regular patrons – usually in the middle of telling a really funny story – and a trad band in the corner warming up for a trad music session later that night.
In the pubs of rural Ireland, most patrons generally agree that less is more. By which they mean that the less amenities a pub has – and the older it is – the better the locals will say the pub is. The “best” pubs (read – the most traditional) are the pubs that sell only beer and spirits. The more you add such as a TV or food or cocktails, the less ‘traditional’ many locals will claim a pub to be.
Of course that’s not to say pubs with a kitchen or TV aren’t good. In fact, quite the opposite! (They just aren’t as ‘traditional’ to local pub-goers).
TVs mean Gaelic football, hurling and rugby matches – cue a lively and energetic atmosphere (as long as you don’t get fans of rival teams here!). Gastropubs are a rising concept in Ireland – the snug atmosphere and good beer of the pub, combined with a menu of delicious and usually local food is a perfect combination of everything that is good in Ireland! Even cocktails are starting to appear in the occasional pub…
Guinness of course is Ireland’s national beer – though there is a serious increase in craft breweries in Ireland, something your guide can help advise you on. Established in Dublin in 1759 by Arthur Guinness Guinness really does taste different in Ireland. Not only does it have the flavour of authenticity (as well as the snug and vibrant atmosphere of the Irish pub) but it also has been proven that Guinness doesn’t travel as well as some beers. The tap has been flowing all day, plus of course local bartenders know the best temperatures and glass to use.
Every European country has a different style castle. In Ireland, they are largely stout, square-ish and angular. In fact, many medieval Irish castles through the 16th century are tower houses, which are large fortified rectangular towers used by local chieftains and landlords, who lived on the easily-defensible upper floors. Some medieval castles were more complex, borrowing styles from the UK and the continent.
The other kind of castles we see often in Ireland are neo-gothic “castles” from the Victorian era, often complete with turrets, towers, crinolines, even their own follies (a folly is more or less a fake castle ruin put in one’s garden or on a hill to improve the view – all the rage in the 1800s).
And lastly, though firmly in the palace (and not castle) category, we have the grand estates and manor-houses of the 18th-20th centuries, often in neo-classical style. These were built by big (usually British) landlords to impress, intimidate and inspire.
A traditional Irish tower house and perfect example of a 15th century chieftain’s fortified home, Ross Castle stands looms over the lake shores of Lough Leane in Killarney National Park. Killarney, Ireland’s first national park, plays host to Ross Castle as well as manors, abbeys, waterfalls, mountains and resident deer. Ross Castle is a .
Hike through Ross Castle and Killarney on our Deluxe Hiking – The Kerry Mountains.
Clinging to a precipice on Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast, Dunluce Castle is one of Ireland’s most dramatic. Used a Game of Thrones filming location and also inspiring a the royal castle in The Chronicles of Narnia, Dunluce Castle is also perfectly positioned along the Causeway Coast hiking path not far from the famed Giant’s Causeway.
Dunluce Castle is a prominent site on Hiking the Causeway Coast.
Huddled on the looming shores of Lough Veagh, Glenveagh Castle is the centrepieces of the desolate yet and hauntingly beautiful Glenveagh National Park. Glenveagh Castle is an example of a Victorian “castle” (used as a hunting lodge).
Visit Glenveagh and more of Donegal on our Biking Donegal from Cliffs to Coast.
Though parts of Powerscourt are quite old, the estate went through extensive renovations in the 1700s, and now resembles a sort of Barbie mansion. Decadent, glorious and exuding grandeur, Powerscourt is a powerful example of the pairing of old and new styles.
Take tea at Powerscourt while hiking the Wicklow Way.
The days are gone where Ireland’s main staples consist of potatoes and cabbage. Perhaps because of this scant legacy, Ireland has been working very hard the past two decades – particularly the last few years – to change the face of Irish cuisine.
Farm to fork, slow cuisine, Michelin star fine dining, gastropubs and organic cuisine are just some of the movements sweeping the Emerald Isle.
Everyone has heard of the hearty the Irish breakfast but it’s even better than what you’ve heard. From whiskey porridge to avocado toast, even during breakfast the Irish manage to include both tradition and new ingredients.
Lunch and dinner are ever better. “Traditional” dishes such as lamb, beef and Guinness stew and seafood pies are of course on most menus. But many menus are getting more creative, incorporating ingredients and dishes from all corners of the world. Many accommodations use ample fresh ingredients from their own kitchen gardens, some have menus where all ingredients come from a certain mile radius (10 or 20 miles sometimes) and the origins of their meat is usually stated.
To many, Ireland and whiskey are synonymous – with names like Bushmills, Jameson’s, Teeling Tullamore and Powers conjuring up images of cosy pubs, peat fires and shiny distilleries. Granted a distilling license in 1608, Bushmills is the oldest whiskey distillery in Ireland, Irish whiskey was once the world’s favourite spirit. Though it’s had its ups and downs, as of 2019, Ireland is make to having 25 distilleries. It takes a minimum of 5 years to create whiskey though to properly age the casks, most whiskies need to age for 10-21 years. So most distilleries use the intervening time to develop gin, made from the island’s abundant juniper plants, which can be distilled much quicker – it helps that gin is also quite trendy right now!
For so long, Guinness and its associated brands have reigned over Ireland (and if you didn’t want a Guinness, your other choice was usually Heineken). But the recent decade has seen a serious rise in new breweries who have jumped on the craft beer wagon. These small breweries are often region-specific and only sometimes available in pubs, but their small size means they can more easily experiment with different flavours and ingredients. IPAs are the most popular, though you’ll find stouts, blonds and ales. Many of these craft breweries also open their doors to visitors who want to see where the magic happens. Interested in Irish craft beer? We’ve worked with Irish craft breweries
Poitín (pronounced poo-cheen) is a traditional distilled spirit specifically from Ireland.This traditional drink is distilled in a pot still. It is the spirit of choice in remote regions of the island, and traditionally speaking, it was distilled in such rural areas during windy or inclement weather so as to be far from the authorities – Poitín is the Irish version of moonshine! Poitín traditionally uses malted barley, though in modern times other bases have been used, such as corn or potato. Because it was distilled illegally and therefore not passing any standards, poitín quality varied quite a bit, though today, modern Poitín has to pass standards. Though less potent than in the past, the Irish word poit still means “hangover.”
For such a small, wet island, Ireland sure has had her faire share of renowned writers, poets, playwrights and storytellers. Read on to learn a little about each of these well-known, beloved and timeless authors.
“Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams..”| W. B. Yeats
From Ulysses (based on Homer’s Odyssey) to Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man and Dubliners, Joyce has had a profound effect on Ireland’s literary heritage here and abroad. He is regarded as one of the most influential and important authors of the 20th century, and popularised stream of consciousness.
Born and raised in early childhood in Belfast (though educated in Oxford), Lewis is most known for his children’s fantasy series, The Chronicles of Narnia. He has said in the past that the mystical landscapes of counties Antrim and Down vastly influenced his fantastical Narnia world-building.
Bram Stoker is world-famous for writing the novel, Dracula, which he not only solidified the modern idea of a vampire, but created the idea of the character “Count Dracula.” Bram’s novel also brings to Britain images of exotic Eastern European places despite never setting foot there. He lends his name to the Bram Stoker Award in the horror genre.
A clergyman once Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, Swift is remembered for his satire, Gulliver’s Travels, which he claims he wrote “to vex the world rather than divert it”. The Encyclopædia Britannica titles him as the English language’s foremost prose satirist.
Maria was a leading figure in realist children’s literature, aa significant figure in the evolution of European novel at the turn of the 19th century, particularly amongst the growing number of female novelists. Born and raised in England, she spent most of her writing career managing her family estate in Edgeworthtown, Ireland. Largely forgotten today, her most famous novel is Belinda.
Another female Irish author who has been largely forgotten in modern times, Bowen writes in literary modernism, and has written wartime tales and ghost stories. She was interested in “life with the lid on and what happens when the lid comes off” – innocence, betrayal, secrets, and respectability.
The pen name of Brian O’Nolan, Flann is considered a key figure in 20th century Irish literature, and the modernist and postmodernist literature styles. At Swim-Two Birds and The Third Policeman are his most influential works.
Award-winning author, O’Brien was cited as “one of the great creative writers of her generation” by former President of Ireland Mary Robinson. Themes include female emotions and relationships with both sexes. Notable works include The Country Girls trilogy and Little Red Chairs.
Best known for the memoir Angela’s Ashes for which he won a Pulitzer Prize, McCourt is an Irish-American who was born the USA, but was raised in Ireland. It is his Irish heritage that he explores in his memoir.
Up-and-coming author of Normal People and Conversations with Friends, Sally Rooney is an author from the west coast of Ireland who has become a hit world-wide.
Best known for his fantasy children’s series Artemis Fowl, Colfer’s books are heavily influenced by Irish mythology and legend, notably the Irish version of fairies. He has worked with Marvel, written graphic novels, and has also published some adult crime fiction.
Notable for both his Charlie Parker crime novels (19 as of 2020) as well as his darker fantasy stories, ghost stories and fairytale retellings, Connolly is a prolific writer. He explores themes such as morality, compassion, salvation, and redemption.
Ryan is the author of five novels, including the Captain Korolev series set in Moscow, shortlisted for the Irish Fiction Award, and WWI and WWII-era novels.
Currently a professor at Columbia University, this Wexford-born author has written several novels and stories exploring themes like Irish society, living abroad, creativity, preserving personal identity, homosexuality and loss.
An Irish-Canadian writer, Donogue is best known for Room, a Man Booker Prize winner, and its subsequent screenplay.
Binchy has written 16 novels selling 40 million copies worldwide. Often set in rural Ireland, she focuses on themes such as tensions between urban and rural life, Irish history of the 20th and 21st centuries, human nature, and contrasts of Irish vs English.
A Laureate for Irish Fiction, Barry is noted for his dense and heavy literary writing style and is often considered one of Ireland’s finest writers. Two of his novels have been shortlisted for the ManBooker Prize. His work focuses on life in Ireland in the last two centuries, through war, upheaval and political risings.
Though born in Dublin, she is usually considered a “British” writer, even making The Times list of 50 greatest British writers since 1945. She has written 25 novels, exploring themes of good and evil, sexual relationships, morality, and the unconscious.
The cold smell of potato mould, the squelch and slap
Of soggy peat, the curt cuts of an edge
Through living roots awaken in my head.But I’ve no spade to follow men like them.
Between my finger and my thumb
The squat pen rests.
I’ll dig with it.| Seamus Heaney, “Digging”
Ireland’s most famous playwright – and possibly most famous writer – Oscar was a flamboyant dandy known for his wit and satire. He wrote half a dozen plays – the most famous being The Importance of Being Earnest – poems, stories and a gothic novel, The Picture of Dorian Grey. He was tried and exiled for homosexuality.
Unlike the rest of this list, Brendan Behan wrote not just in English but also in Irish Gaelic, publishing a half a dozen plays. In his spare time, he also volunteered with the IRA! When he died, he had the biggest Irish funeral of all time after those of Michael Collins and Charles Stewart Parnell, both associated with the Irish nationalism.
Beckett is best known for his play, Waiting for Godot. His writing styles can be described as minimalist, absurd, and tragic-comic, a founding member of so-called style, “Theatre of the Absurd.” In 1969, he won a Nobel Prize for Literature.
Goldsmith is a lesser-known Irish playwright from the 18th century. Plays such as She Stoops to Conquer and The Good Natur’d Man are his most notable works.
Shaw wrote more than 60 plays – Pygmalian being the most well-known – and won the 1925 Nobel Prize for Literature. Covering themes such as contemporary satire and historical allegory, he was a leading playwright of his era. He was also a political activist.
Often considered Ireland’s national poet, Yeats was from Co Sligo on the west coast, and much of his inspiration was found in the mountains, woods, waterscapes and folklore of Sligo.
Another winner of the Nobel Prize (1995), Heaney is often regarded as the most significant Irish poet after Yeats.
Kavanagh is an Irish poet whose poems are known for accounts of commonplace and everyday Irish life, and was part of the Irish literary revival. His most famous poem is “On Raglan Road.”
Tomás Ó Criomhthain (anglised to the above) was a native Irish speaker for the literary Blasket Islands, off the coast of Dingle. His most famous work is The Islandman, a memoir that details the unique island way of life that is now extinct. His work is considered classics of Irish-language literature.
Also of the Blasket Islands, Peig Sayers has been described by the Irish Folklore Commission as “one of the greatest woman storytellers of recent times.” She is best known for Peig, her autobiography, and tales of folklore in An Old Woman’s Reflections.
Today, English is the most widely-spoken language in Ireland, but it wasn’t always so. Before the island spoke English, the inhabitants spoke the Irish language (also known as Irish Gaelic). This traditional language of Ireland was sadly stamped out by the English who ruled Ireland for hundreds of years.
It is interesting to note that though the Irish people speak English as their main language, it is their own particular brand or version of English, one that varies from the English of England, America or Australia. Many words or phrases are largely unlike in Ireland. Some interesting ones to note… when the Irish are flat out, they are busy. Putting something in the press doesn’t relate to journalism, but rather someone is likely telling you where to store dishes or food (it means the cabinet). Don’t ask for a ride, ask for a lift (ride has a very different meaning…!). If someone says it’s grand, they aren’t talking about something that is big or elegant, but more likely they mean alright or it’s fine. And so on.
In the 19th century, there was a Gaelic Revival, brought on by Douglas Hyde, a founding member of the 1876 Cumann Buan-Choimeádta na Gaeilge (or Society for the Preservation of the Irish Language), the origin of the Conradh na Gaeilge (Gaelic League), later founded in 1893. Its goal? Develop interest and protect Irish tradition, sport, music, folklore, dance, and notably, the Irish language.
During the Penal laws of the 17th and 18th centuries, Irish schools had been abolished, and the Irish language was wiped out as a consequence. Instead, these 19th century societies encouraged the teaching of Irish at home. After Irish independence, Irish language was re-introduced to the curriculum at the end of the 20th century.
Connemara is home to prominent Gaelic-speaking communities. Rugged terrain and rough roads keep this beautiful corner of Ireland isolated from too much change. Ireland’s largest island communities, the famous Aran Islands, are bastions of Irish tradition, music and language.
Bike Connemara & Aran IslandsWild and untamed, the narrow West Cork peninsulas are far from the centre of Ireland, and this rural, hard-to-reach region has managed to keep their Gaeltacht communities. Most notably, visit the oft-overlooked Cape Clear island where a population of 100 have kept Irish Gaelic well-oiled!
Island Hopping - Cork & KerryDingle town has become a hotspot for artists and tourists alike in Ireland, but the rest of the Dingle Peninsula is dotted with tiny, rural communities and villages, many of which are part of the Irish Gaeltacht. Head into most rural pubs and you are likely to hear some Irish!
Hike the Dingle Way
You can’t mention the culture of Ireland and not talk about the sheep. According to the National Sheep and Goat Census, there were 3.73 million sheep in Ireland in 2018 (read more here).
According to the census, the highest numbers of Ireland’s sheep are found in counties Donegal (504,408), Mayo (428,361), Galway (408,835), and Kerry (318,720). The lowest numbers are found in counties Limerick (21,638), Clare (23,698), Dublin (25,411), and Longford (37,440).
Considering that the Republic of Ireland has 4.91 million and Northern Ireland has another 1.8 million people (though no data about their numbers of sheep), that’s a lot of sheep!
Traditionally, the Irish have used these sheep for everything from their meat to make stews, roasts and other traditional dishes, to using their milk for cheese and other dairy products, as well as their wool to make textiles, of which tweed and wool stand out.
In order to obtain the wool, the sheep are sheared using large scissors. The wool was scoured, teased and combed before it could be spun and later woven. In Ireland, wool is made into beautiful jumpers (i.e. sweaters), scarves, blankets, socks and more. Best place to find wool products in Ireland? Head out to the Connemara and the Aran Islands where Irish tradition still reigns strong.
Wool from the sheep is then used to weave into Irish tweed, traditionally on wooden looms. Today, few of these looms are still in use – most of the wool is woven on mechanised looms. Donegal tweed is renowned throughout the world for its high quality tweed textiles. Want to see these traditional looms at work? Head to the wee village of Ardara in Co Donegal.
The overall experience was great. Good trekking with just the right amount of creature comforts and down times.
Michelle Grant
Hiking - The Dingle Way
Reviewed on 06/11/2022
Rated 4.94 out of 5 based on 1,453 reviews
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