{{Short description|none}} {{For|a list of tourist attractions in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland|List of tourist attractions in Ireland}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is already sufficiently detailed; see [[WP:SDNONE]] --> {{Use Hiberno-English|date=October 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}} {{multiple image | direction = vertical | width = 200 | footer = | image1 = Cliffs-Of-Moher-OBriens-From-South.JPG | alt1 = | caption1 = The [[Cliffs of Moher]] in County Clare attracts around 1 million visitors each year. | image2 = Kilkee Strand and West End.jpg | alt2 = | caption2 = Ireland has many beaches and Seaside resorts such as this one in [[Kilkee]]. | image3 = (Ireland) Dublin Castle Up Yard.JPG | alt3 = | caption3 = [[Dublin Castle]], the former seat of [[British rule in Ireland]]. | image4 = Phoenix Park summer.jpg | caption4 = [[Phoenix Park]], the largest inner city park in Europe. }} '''Tourism in the Republic of Ireland''' is one of the biggest contributors to the [[economy of the Republic of Ireland|economy of Ireland]], with 9.0 million people visiting the country in 2017, about 1.8 times Ireland's population.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.failteireland.ie/FailteIreland/media/WebsiteStructure/Documents/3_Research_Insights/5_International_Tourism_Trends/Tourism-Facts-2017_1.pdf?ext=.pdf|title=Fáilte Ireland Tourism Facts 2017|website=Fáilte Ireland|access-date=3 October 2018}}</ref><ref name="Irish Hotels Industry Annual Report">{{cite web|url=http://www.ihf.ie/press/12-03-04twospeedrecovery.htm |title=Irish Tourism Industry in Two Speed Recovery |publisher=Irish Hotel Federation |date=4 March 2012 |access-date=9 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505103924/http://www.ihf.ie/press/12-03-04twospeedrecovery.htm |archive-date=5 May 2012 }}</ref> Each year, about €5.2bn in revenue is made from economic activities directly related to tourists, accounting for nearly 2% of [[gross national product|GNP]] and employing over 200,000 people.<ref name="ITIC End of Year Review 2019">{{cite web|url=https://www.itic.ie/YE19/index.html | title=Year End Review 2019 And Outlook For 2020 | publisher=Irish Tourism Industry Confederation | access-date=1 February 2024}}</ref><ref name="Tourism Ireland - Notes to Editors">{{cite web|url=http://www.tourismireland.com/Home!/About-Us/Press-Releases/2012/Targeting-Spanish-Visitors-for-Ireland.aspx |title=Targeting Spanish Visitors for Ireland |publisher=Tourism Ireland |date=25 January 2012 |access-date=9 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019050824/http://www.tourismireland.com/Home%21/About-Us/Press-Releases/2012/Targeting-Spanish-Visitors-for-Ireland.aspx |archive-date=19 October 2013 }}</ref><ref name="Ireland GNI">{{cite web|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GNP.MKTP.CD?locations=IE |title=GNI (current US$) - Ireland |publisher=The World Bank |access-date=1 February 2024 }}</ref> In 2011 alone, Ireland was voted 'Favourite holiday destination in the World' by readers of [[Frommer's]] Guide, [[Lonely Planet]] listed Ireland as the world's friendliest country and [[Cork City]] as one of the top ten cities in the world and the Irish tourist boards website, DiscoverIreland.com, was named the best tourist board website in the world.<ref name="Fáilte Ireland Youtube Video">{{cite video | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5emdftOIoos&feature=player_embedded |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/5emdftOIoos |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live| title=Failte Ireland Tourism 2011 | publisher=Fáilte Ireland | date=27 January 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="Tourism Ireland Website Award">{{cite web | url=http://www.siliconrepublic.com/new-media/item/21271-tourism-ireland-website-win | title=Tourism Ireland website wins award | publisher=siliconrepublic.com | date=6 April 2011 | access-date=9 September 2012}}</ref> In 2021, Ireland was the "13th most popular tourist destination in the world", with 11 million visitors, according to the [[UN Tourism|UN World Tourism Organisation]].<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.irishstar.com/travel/ireland/ireland-one-worlds-most-popular-31284366 | website = irishstar.com | title = Ireland is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, according to the UN World Tourism Organisation | date = October 2023 | accessdate = 12 February 2026 }}</ref> Most tourists visiting Ireland come from the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, and France.
==History== In 1764, an [[England|English]] man named John Bush travelled to Ireland and wrote an account of his experience, giving impressions of the famous sights he saw as well as useful information to visitors who might come after him, regarding the sourcing of good-quality accommodation etc:
<blockquote> Every stranger, therefore, that proposes making any stay in Dublin, if it be but for a fortnight, I would advise to have immediate recourse to the public coffee-houses, of which he will find several in Essex-Street by the [[The Old Custom House, Dublin|Custom-house]], and there get directions to the private inhabitants of the town who furnish lodgings...{{sfn|Bush|1769|page=20}} </blockquote>
By the late 19th century, [[guidebook]]s to Ireland were still being produced by and for the [[Great Britain|British]] market (at least), to which [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|Ireland still belonged]]. In the introduction to ''"Ireland (Part I)"'', published in 1890 as part of the [[Thorough Guides]] series, the editors remarked that: <blockquote> Ireland contains a number of tourist districts, not difficult to comprehend in one or two tours, but [[Geography of Ireland|geographically detached and distinct]] in their kinds of scenery. The country may be likened to an oval dish, the rim of which represents the mountainous and rocky seaboard, and the centre the [[Midland Region, Ireland|inland plain]]. The plain is in parts rough and broken, but hardly anywhere can it be said to rise to the character of first-class scenery.{{sfn|Baddeley|1890|page=xi}} </blockquote>
==Transport in Ireland== {{main|Transport in Ireland}} Ireland's national flag carrier is Aer Lingus, which services Europe, North America and North Africa, but the vast majority of flights originating from continental Europe come from another Irish company, [[Ryanair]], the biggest low-cost airline in the world. These airlines, along with others, fly into all three of Ireland's international airports, [[Shannon Airport]], [[Dublin Airport]] and [[Cork Airport]]. Dublin Airport is by far the busiest, accounting for over 80% of passengers entering and leaving Ireland in 2011.<ref name="Dublin Airport Authority Financial Report">{{cite web|url=http://www.daa.ie/daa_ar_2011/ |title=Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011 |publisher=Dublin Airport Authority |access-date=14 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160320084036/http://daa.ie/daa_ar_2011/ |archive-date=20 March 2016 }}</ref> Along with these airports there are several other regional airports in the country including [[Ireland West Airport]] and [[Kerry Airport]], which both operate international flights to Europe.
For travellers from mainland Europe and the UK, another way to enter the country is by sea, with connections by ferry to [[Roscoff]] and [[Cherbourg]] in France, [[Liverpool]] in England and [[Pembroke, Pembrokeshire|Pembroke]], [[Fishguard]] and [[Holyhead]] in Wales, [[Douglas, Isle of Man|Douglas]] on the [[Isle of Man]] and [[Santander, Spain|Santander]] in Spain. These routes are operated by [[Irish Ferries]], [[Stena Line]], [[P&O Ferries]] and [[Brittany Ferries]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.poferries.com/ | title=P&O Ferries Official Website | publisher=P&O Ferries | access-date=14 September 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stenaline.ie/ferry/ |title=Stena Line Official Website |publisher=Stena Line |access-date=14 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120809011117/http://www.stenaline.ie/ferry/ |archive-date=9 August 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.irishferries.com/ie/index-uk-ie.asp | title=Irish Ferries Official Website | publisher=Irish Ferries | access-date=14 September 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120917004143/http://www.irishferries.com/ie/index-uk-ie.asp | archive-date=17 September 2012 | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name = "brittany">{{cite web | url=http://www.brittanyferries.ie/ferry-routes/ireland-spain-ferries | title=Brittany Ferries Official Website – Cork <> Santander route | publisher=[[Brittany Ferries]] | access-date=31 October 2018}}</ref>
[[Motorways in the Republic of Ireland|Motorways]] link Dublin with all the major cities in the country and there are plans to extend the motorway system in the future. In recent years the quality of Irish roads has improved dramatically with the advent of the [[Celtic Tiger]] and significant [[European Union]] funding, although outside the main routes, roads can be quite unpredictable in terms of quality and upkeep, especially in rural areas such as [[County Kerry]] and [[County Donegal]].
The [[Rail transport in Ireland|rail and light rail network]] in Ireland is not as extensive as it once was, but it is still possible to get from city to city using the rail system, although many rural stations have closed along these lines. At the moment there is only one [[Light rail]] system in the country, the [[Luas]] in Dublin. This system opened in 2004 and due to the number of people availing of it (27.5million in 2010), it was stated as being "Dublin's best public transport success story" by [[Minister for Transport (Ireland)|Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport]], [[Leo Varadkar]] in 2011.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.jcdecaux.ie/latest-news/luas-is-dublins-best-public-transport-success-story/ | title=Luas is Dublin's best public transport success story | publisher=JC Decaux | access-date=14 September 2012}}</ref>
==SailRail== [[Transport for Wales Rail]], [[Iarnród Éireann]], as well as [[Irish Ferries]] and [[Stena Line]] promote [[SailRail]]<ref name="irishrail.ie">{{cite web|url=http://www.irishrail.ie/index.jsp?p=118&n=249#SailRail |title=SailRail |publisher=Irishrail.ie |access-date=16 April 2015}}</ref>
SailRail tickets offer a discounted means of travelling from anywhere on the UK rail network to anywhere on the Irish rail network with one ticket.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}} A bus connection from Dublin Port is required to reach Dublin's main train stations, Connolly or Heuston.{{citation needed|date=April 2022}}
==Cities== ===Dublin=== The largest city in [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] is [[Dublin]]. Due to its proximity to Britain, it was the most important city in Ireland during the [[Tudor conquest of Ireland]] and subsequent British Invasions until after 1922 when the [[Irish Free State]] was formed. As the British held a presence here for over 500 years, most of the historic buildings from the 1500s on were built by them. As [[Dublin Airport]] is located just outside the city, most international visitors to Ireland begin their stay here. Among the main attractions in Dublin are [[Dublin Castle]], the seat of British rule in Ireland until 1922, [[Phoenix Park]], one of the largest inner-city parks in the world,<ref name="Trivago - Phoenix Park">{{cite web | url=http://www.trivago.ie/dublin-42454/park--botanical-gardens/phoenix-park-81081/review-o2360# | title=Largest Inner City Park in Europe | publisher=Trivago | access-date=1 January 2006}}</ref> [[General Post Office (Dublin)|The General Post Office]], one of Ireland's most famous buildings due to the [[1916 Easter rising]], [[Kilmainham Gaol]], a former prison turned museum that held and executed the rebels of the 1916 Rising and [[Trinity College, Dublin|Trinity College]], where the [[Book of Kells]] and the [[Book of Durrow]] are held.<ref name="Trinity College Book Collection ">{{cite web|url=http://www.tcd.ie/Library/bookofkells/ |title=The Old Library and the Book of Kells Exhibition |publisher=Trinity College Dublin |access-date=1 January 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110325073207/http://www.tcd.ie/Library/bookofkells/ |archive-date=25 March 2011 }}</ref> In 2010, Dublin was awarded the title of [[UNESCO City of Literature]], as many famous writers such as [[Jonathan Swift]], [[Oscar Wilde]], [[W. B. Yeats]], [[James Joyce]], [[George Bernard Shaw]] and [[Samuel Beckett]] are from the city.<ref name="Dublin - City of Literature">{{cite web | url=http://www.visitdublin.com/see_and_do/literary_dublin | title=City of Literature | publisher=Visit Dublin | access-date=1 January 2006 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110509071303/http://www.visitdublin.com/See_and_Do/Literary_Dublin | archive-date=9 May 2011 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
'''Other attractions''' *[[Guinness Brewery]], a brewery founded in 1759 that produces Guinness. As of 2018, it was most-visited fee-charging tourist attraction in Ireland.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.failteireland.ie/Utility/News-Library/Ireland%E2%80%99s-Top-Visitor-Attractions-Revealed-(1).aspx | publisher = Fáilte Ireland | website = failteireland.ie | title = Ireland's Top Visitor Attractions Revealed | date = 4 August 2019 | accessdate = 7 April 2022 }}</ref> *[[Bloomsday]], a festival of celebration into James Joyce's life, during which the events of his novel [[Ulysses (novel)|Ulysses]] are relived. It is held annually in Dublin on 16 June.<ref name="Irish Times Report on Bloomsday">{{cite news | url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2012/0616/breaking61.html | title=Bloomsday marked in Dublin | newspaper=The Irish Times | date=17 June 2012 | access-date=1 January 2006}}</ref> *The [[Ha'penny Bridge]], a famous Victorian bridge spanning the [[River Liffey]]. *[[Croke Park]], one of Europe's biggest stadiums and principal stadium of the [[Gaelic Athletic Association]] (GAA).<ref name="Croke Park Stadium">{{cite web|url=http://www.crokepark.ie/about/facts---figures |title=Croke Park Facts & Figures |publisher=Croke Park |access-date=1 January 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206215559/http://www.crokepark.ie/about/facts---figures |archive-date=6 February 2010 }}</ref> *[[Temple Bar, Dublin|Temple Bar]], an area on the south side of the city that has preserved its medieval street pattern, with many narrow [[Cobblestone|cobbled streets]]. It is now known for its nightlife. *[[St Stephen's Green]], a city centre public park. *The buildings of [[Georgian Dublin]], e.g. the [[The Custom House|Customs House]] and the houses at [[Fitzwilliam Square]] and [[Merrion Square]], [[Mountjoy Square]], [[Parnell Square]], and [[Henrietta Street, Dublin|Henrietta Street]] (one of the buildings in Henrietta Street is now a museum showcasing the history of that particular Georgian building). *[[Samuel Beckett Bridge]], a recent, 21st century ([[Celtic Tiger]]) landmark in the [[Dublin Docklands|Docklands]]. *The "Millennium Spire" or [[Spire of Dublin]], a recent, 21st century landmark on [[O'Connell Street]]. *[[General Post Office, Dublin|The General Post Office]], a late [[Georgian era|Georgian]] building on O'Connell Street that served as the headquarters of the leaders of the 1916 [[Easter Rising]] (now partially a museum about said Rising). *[[St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin|St. Patrick's Cathedral]], a 12-th century cathedral serving as the national cathedral of the [[Church of Ireland]], largely rebuilt in the 19th century. *[[Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin|Christ Church Cathedral]], an 11-th century cathedral, the cathedral of the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough and the cathedral of the ecclesiastical province of the United Provinces of Dublin and Cashel in the (Anglican) Church of Ireland, largely rebuilt in the 19th century.
===Cork=== Situated on the southern coast of Ireland, [[Cork (city)|Cork]] is the second biggest city in the country. Due to a population explosion in the 19th century, many of its public buildings are from this era. In this period two cathedrals were built, the [[Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne]] and [[Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral]]. Another historic attraction from this time is Cork City Gaol which opened in 1824 and was redeveloped as a visitor centre in the 1990s.<ref name="A history of Cork City Gaol">{{cite web | url=http://www.corkcitygaol.com/history.html | title=Cork City Gaol ≈ History | publisher=Cork Gaol | access-date=13 September 2012}}</ref> Cork's best known building and a symbol of the city, the [[Church of St Anne (Shandon)|Church of St. Anne]] in Shandon, is known for its clock tower dubbed the "four faced liar" on account of all four of the clocks showing slightly different times. [[Cork Airport]] is located just outside the city and connects Cork to several other European cities, although many direct flight routes are only available in the summer. In 2024, Cork was named on [[National Geographic]]'s 'best of the world' travel list.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/irelands-fun-city-cork-makes-national-geographics-list-of-worlds-best-places-to-visit-in-2025/a318847520.html | website = independent.ie | title = Ireland's 'fun city' – Cork makes National Geographic’s list of world’s best places to visit in 2025 | date = 24 October 2024 | accessdate = 12 February 2026 }}</ref>
'''Other attractions'''
*[[Fota Wildlife Park]], a zoo located just outside the city on [[Fota Island]], now one of the most popular visitor attractions in the country.<ref name="Fota Wildlife Info, Cork">{{cite web | url=http://www.fotawildlife.ie/about-us | title=Fota Wildlife About us | publisher=Fota Wildlife | access-date=13 September 2012}}</ref> *[[Elizabeth Fort]], a 17th-century [[star fort]] just off Barrack Street, originally built as a defensive fortification outside the city walls, it is now a tourist attraction. *[[Cork Opera House]], an opera house built in the 1850s. *[[English Market|The English Market]], a food market that dates back to 1610. The market draws visitors from throughout the world, including a visit by [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II]] during her [[Queen Elizabeth II's visit to the Republic of Ireland|2011 state visit]] in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/crowds-cheer-as-queen-visits-market-2286880.html|title=Crowds cheer as Queen visits market|work=The Independent|date=20 May 2011 }}</ref><ref name="nyt">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/section/travel|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930035951/http://travel.nytimes.com/travel/guides/europe/ireland/county-cork/cork/19748/old-english-market/attraction-detail.html|url-status= dead|title=Old English Market|archive-date=30 September 2011|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref> *[[University College Cork]], a [[National University of Ireland]], the grounds are popular with visitors due to the fact the [[River Lee (Ireland)|River Lee]] flows through it. *[[Blarney Castle]], a medieval castle in [[Blarney]], a town just west of Cork. The castle is now a partial ruin with some accessible rooms and battlements and is the location of the [[Blarney Stone]], a stone which is rumoured to give you the gift of [[eloquence]] when you kiss it. *[[Spike Island, County Cork|Spike Island]], a former prison island located in Cork harbour, just off the coast of Cobh. A 24-acre star-shaped fort was built in the late 1700s and this became the largest prison in the world in the 1850s, during the famine years. The island was converted into a visitor attraction in 2016 and won the title of 'Europe's Leading Tourist Attraction in 2017.
===Limerick=== Situated on the mouth of the [[River Shannon]], [[Limerick]] has been an important gateway city for over 800 years. Due to the city's location on the midpoint of the [[Atlantic Corridor]], nearness to Shannon Airport (12 Miles) and good supply of reasonably priced hotels it has become something of a base city for tourists travelling along the west coast of Ireland, although the city has many attractions in its own right. [[King John's Castle (Limerick)|King John's Castle]] in the medieval quarter of the city is arguably the best-known attraction in the city, dating back to 922AD. The old city walls of Limerick surround a small bit of the site, although most of the walls have collapsed. St Marys cathedral also in the medieval quarter is a must see. It is a completely restored 12th-century cathedral with views over the city.<ref name="Limerick City Walls">{{cite web | url=http://www.aegisarchaeology.com/limerick-city-walls | title=Limerick City Walls Conservation Plan | publisher=aegisarchaeology.com | access-date=15 September 2012}}</ref> The [[Hunt Museum]] in the city hosts one of the world's greatest private collections in the world, winning the Museum of the year award many times over the years.<ref name="Rte Report - Hunt Museum ">{{cite web | url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/2003/1125/huntmuseum.html | title=Limerick's Hunt Museum wins award | publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann | date=25 November 2003 | access-date=15 September 2012}}</ref> The museum has a wide collection of both ancient and medieval pieces of art and sculpture, originating from varied locations and civilisations around the world including [[Ancient Greece]], [[Ancient Rome]], [[Ancient Egypt]] and the [[Olmec]] Civilisation. Artists' works in the museum include [[Pablo Picasso]], [[Pierre-Auguste Renoir]], [[Jack B. Yeats]] and [[Henry Moore]].<ref name="Collection of the Hunt Museum">{{cite web | url=http://www.huntmuseum.com/collection.aspx | title=Hunt Museum Collection | publisher=Hunt Museum | access-date=15 September 2012}}</ref>
'''Other attractions''' *[[Foynes]] village and Museum, a small village outside Limerick City that was the last port of call for [[Seaplanes]] heading towards [[Americas|The Americas]]. This stretch of the [[River Shannon]] became one of the biggest civilian airports in Europe during [[World War II]], and was where the drink [[Irish Coffee]] was first served.<ref name="Seaplane museum in Foynes">{{cite web | url=http://www.flyingboatmuseum.com/museum.html | title=Foynes Flying Boat Museum | publisher=Foynes Flying Boat Museum | access-date=15 September 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011065457/http://www.flyingboatmuseum.com/museum.html | archive-date=11 October 2012 | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="Irish Coffee - Foynes">{{cite web | url=http://www.flyingboatmuseum.com/irishcoffee.html | title=Irish Coffee at Foynes | publisher=Foynes Flying Boat Museum | access-date=15 September 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011065354/http://www.flyingboatmuseum.com/irishcoffee.html | archive-date=11 October 2012 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> *[[St John's Cathedral (Limerick)|St John's Cathedral]], one of two cathedrals in the city, this one has been in continuous use since 1861 and its spire is the tallest in the country, topping out at 94m. Built in a [[Gothic Revival architecture|Gothic Revival]] style, it is one of the few Irish buildings designed by [[Philip Charles Hardwick]].<ref name="St John's Cathedral - Limerick">{{cite web | url=http://www.limerickdioceseheritage.org/StJohns/chStJohns.htm | title=History of St John's Cathedral | publisher=Limerick Diocese | access-date=15 September 2012}}</ref> *[[Adare]], a tourist destination and heritage centre, many of the buildings in this village still bear their original thatched roofs or crafted stone exteriors.<ref name="Adare - A History">{{cite web | url=http://www.billchawke.com/?page_id=37 | title=History of Adare | date=11 June 2011 | publisher=Bill Chawke | access-date=15 September 2012}}</ref> *[[Lough Gur]], one of Ireland's most important [[archaeological]] sites, humans have lived at Lough Gur since about 3000BC and there are several [[megalithic]] remains there.
===Galway=== Achieving city status in 1484, [[Galway]] celebrated its quincentenary in 1984. Galway in itself is not particularly known for its attractions, but rather for its lively atmosphere and entertainment scene.<ref name="Galway City on Lonely Planet">{{cite web | url=http://www.lonelyplanet.com/ireland/county-galway/galway-city | title=Introducing Galway City | publisher=Lonely Planet | access-date=15 September 2012}}</ref> This is partly because 25% of the population of Galway (75,529 in 2011) is made up of students primarily from [[NUIG|NUI Galway]] and [[Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology|GMIT]], two third-level institutes in the city. Galway is particularly popular with American tourists as Galway is said to be the most 'Irish' of Ireland's cities, and is one of the few urban areas where you are likely to hear Irish spoken, due to the fact the [[Gaeltacht]] area of [[Connemara]] is only a few kilometres away.<ref name="Galway City on Lonely Planet"/> The biggest lake in the country, [[Lough Corrib]], is situated north of the city.
The ferry to the [[Aran Islands]] is located about 40 minutes away and departs from the village of [[Rossaveal]] regularly. The Aran Islands are located in [[Galway Bay]], and the [[Irish Language]] is by far the most used language on the islands, with the vast majority using the language regularly. As the islands are quite a bit from the mainland, cars are quite rare and the main form of transport is the bicycle.<ref name="Guide to the Aran Island">{{cite web | url=http://www.aranislands.ie/ | title=Aran Islands Guide | publisher=aranislands.ie | access-date=15 September 2012}}</ref>
===Waterford=== Waterford is a city in the [[South-East Region, Ireland|South-East region]] of Ireland. It is the smallest city in the country, with a population of just over 53,504 in 2016, although it is the oldest, being founded by [[Viking]]s in 324AD. Situated in the southeast, the city has one of the warmest climates in Ireland, getting on average an extra hour of sunshine each day.<ref name="Hours of Sunshine in Rosslare">{{cite web | url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/calcdetail.php?seasonid=0&periodid=1981-2010&indexid=SS&stationid=2137 | title=Rosslare Sunshine Hours | publisher=eca.nl | access-date=16 September 2012}}</ref> The seaside town of [[Tramore]] is located just south of the city and has 5 km long beach, and is also a surfing spot.
==Coastlines and resorts== As the Republic of Ireland occupies just over 80% of the [[island of Ireland]], the country has become famous for its scenic coastline and villages and towns by the shoreline. The most widely known of these are situated in the west of Ireland, mostly in [[Munster]], but other areas of the country have their own individual resorts as well. The [[Cliffs of Moher]] are the most famous cliffs in Ireland, but the highest cliffs in Ireland are the [[Croaghaun]], on the Atlantic coast of [[Achill Island]] off [[County Mayo]], which rise to 688 m, over three times higher than the Cliffs of Moher.<ref name="Ireland's Sea Cliffs">{{cite web | url=http://www.geograph.ie/photo/148102 | title=Croaghaun, Ireland's highest cliffs | publisher=Geograph.ie | access-date=16 September 2012}}</ref> The [[Slieve League]] cliffs in [[County Donegal]] are often incorrectly stated as being the highest, but at only 601m, they come in second.
The south and south west of Ireland is particularly known for its seaside resorts including [[Kilkee]], [[Lahinch]], [[Quilty, County Clare|Quilty]], [[Spanish Point, County Clare|Spanish Point]] and [[Doonbeg]] in [[County Clare]]; [[Youghal]], [[Ballycotton]], [[Kinsale]] and [[Bantry]] in [[County Cork]] and [[Glenbeigh]], [[Dingle]], [[Castlegregory]] and [[Ballybunion]] in [[County Kerry]]. As the west of the country faces the stormy [[Atlantic]], it has become synonymous with [[surfing]], particularly in counties Donegal, [[County Sligo|Sligo]] and Clare.<ref name="Surfing in Ireland">{{cite web | url=http://www.wannasurf.com/spot/Europe/Ireland/ | title=Surfing Locations split by Location | publisher=wannasurf.com | access-date=16 September 2012}}</ref>
==Tourism routes and regions== A number of [[tourist trail]]s and [[Tourism region|regions]] were developed in the 2010s to market Ireland as a tourist destination.<ref name="IA">{{cite web |url=https://irishamerica.com/2016/12/irelands-ancient-south-east/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161208131057/http://irishamerica.com/2016/12/irelands-ancient-south-east/ |title=Ireland's Ancient South East |work=IrishAmerica.com |first=Sharon |last=Ní Chonchúir |date=December 2016 |archive-date=8 December 2016 }}</ref>
===Wild Atlantic Way=== {{main|Wild Atlantic Way}} A tourism driving route, the ''Wild Atlantic Way'', extends for 2,500 km of roadway along the West coast.
===Ireland's Ancient East=== {{main| Ireland's Ancient East}} ''Ireland's Ancient East'' ({{Langx|ga|Sean-Oirthear na hÉireann}}) is a touring region encompassing 17 counties on the eastern side of Ireland.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/life/travel/ireland/irelands-ancient-east-what-is-our-new-tourism-proposition-exactly-34865495.html|title=What is Ireland's Ancient East, exactly?|website=independent|date=10 July 2016 }}</ref> It is divided into three "zones",<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bandbireland.com/feature/iae/irelands-ancient-east|title=Ireland's Ancient East | The Areas of Ireland 's Ancient East}}</ref> and is built around four "pillars": Ancient Ireland, [[Early Christian Ireland]], [[Medieval Ireland]] and Anglo Ireland.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/life/travel/travel-news/irelands-ancient-east-launched-as-follow-up-to-wild-atlantic-way-31140326.html|title='Ireland's Ancient East' launched as follow-up to Wild Atlantic Way|website=independent|date=14 April 2015 }}</ref>
===Ireland's Hidden Heartlands=== ''Ireland's Hidden Heartlands'' is a touring region encompassing the [[River Shannon#Geography|Shannon region]] and [[Beara-Breifne Way]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/f%C3%A1ilte-ireland-unveils-hidden-heartlands-brand-for-the-midlands-1.3459957 |title=Fáilte Ireland unveils Hidden Heartlands brand for the midlands |date=12 April 2018 |first=Eoghan |last=MacConnell |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]}}</ref> It was launched in July 2018.<ref>{{cite news |work=[[Athlone Advertiser]] |url-status=live |date=12 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718131709/http://www.advertiser.ie/athlone/article/101788/athlone-features-in-tv-ad-as-part-of-irelands-hidden-heartlands-campaign |access-date=18 July 2018 |archive-date=18 July 2018 |url=http://www.advertiser.ie/athlone/article/101788/athlone-features-in-tv-ad-as-part-of-irelands-hidden-heartlands-campaign |title=Athlone features in TV ad as part of Ireland's Hidden Heartlands campaign}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Activities for a fantastic short break in Ireland's Hidden Heartlands|url=https://www.irishcentral.com/travel/travel-tips/irelands-hidden-heartlands-activities|access-date=2021-04-30|website=IrishCentral.com|date=July 2019 }}</ref> Unlike the Wild Atlantic Way, the touring region doesn't have a set driving route,{{citation needed|date=May 2021}} and instead highlights various sights throughout counties [[County Westmeath|Westmeath]], [[County Offaly|Offaly]], [[County Roscommon|Roscommon]], [[County Longford|Longford]], [[County Cavan|Cavan]], [[County Leitrim|Leitrim]], and parts of [[County Tipperary|Tipperary]], [[County Clare|Clare]] and [[County Galway|Galway]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Heartlands|first=Ireland's Hidden|date=2018-06-30|title=Beginner's Guide to Ireland's Hidden Heartlands|url=https://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/travel/2018/0627/973663-beginners-guide-embrace-irelands-hidden-heartlands/|language=en}}</ref>
===Reeks District=== The ''Reeks District'' is a tourism region in [[County Kerry]] which was created as a [[Destination marketing organization|destination marketing concept]] in 2018, having previously being promoted as the "Mid-Kerry region".<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.radiokerry.ie/mid-kerry-rebrands-reeks-district/ | website = radiokerry.ie | title = Mid-Kerry rebrands as 'The Reeks District' | date = 30 April 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Lucey|first=Anne|date=18 December 2018 |title=Kerry's rebranded Reeks District looks to draw the tourists|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-30892671.html|access-date=10 November 2020|website=Irish Examiner|language=en}}</ref> Taking its name from the [[MacGillycuddy's Reeks|MacGillycuddy Reeks]], the area was voted as one of the "top 6 to visit" globally by [[Rough Guides]] in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ireland's 'Reeks District' makes Rough Guides' Top 6 to visit for 2019|url=https://www.independent.ie/life/travel/travel-news/irelands-reeks-district-makes-rough-guides-top-6-to-visit-for-2019-37687310.html| date = 7 January 2019 | access-date=10 November 2020 |first = Pól | last = Ó Conghaile | website=independent.ie | language=en}}</ref>
==Festivals and events== [[File:Happy Saint Patrick's Day 2010, Dublin, Ireland, Accordion Violin.jpg|thumb|left|Women playing violin in the [[Dublin]] [[Saint Patrick's Day|St. Patrick's Day]] Parade]] Ireland has many festivals, most of which take place annually. The most famous by far is the [[Saint Patrick's Day#Ireland|St Patrick's Festival]] which takes place in every county all over Ireland and celebrates [[Irish culture]] the world over. Although St. Patrick's Day festivals are held all over the world on 17 March, the festival in Ireland lasts over a week, and includes the parades on the 17 as well as the [[Skyfest]] celebrations, a fireworks display held somewhere different in Ireland every year. Part of the celebrations include [[Seachtain na Gaeilge]] (Irish Week), which aims to promote the [[Irish language]] during the two weeks proceeding the festival. The parade in [[Dublin]] is the focal point of the festival, with over 500,000 people attending it in 2012.<ref name="St Patrick's Day ">{{cite web | url=http://www.independent.ie/national-news/dublin-hosts-st-patricks-day-party-3053700.html | title=Dublin hosts St Patrick's Day party | publisher=Irish Independent | date=17 March 2012 | access-date=16 September 2012}}</ref>
For Irish people, probably the most celebrated sporting events are the annual finals of the [[All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship]] and the [[All-Ireland Senior Football Championship]]. These matches, normally held around the middle of September, are normally fully sold out, with well over 80,000 people packed into [[Croke Park]], the largest stadium in Europe not used primarily for Soccer.
Another festival that celebrates the Irish Culture and Diaspora all over the world is the [[Rose of Tralee (festival)|Rose of Tralee]]. This international competition, which is celebrated among the [[Irish diaspora|Irish communities all over the world]], is held annually in the town of [[Tralee]] in County Kerry. The winner is picked based on her personality and her ability to be a good role model for the festival and for Ireland during her travels around the world. Unlike other pageants, the competitors are not judged on their appearance or their body. One of the only rules of the competition is that the potential roses have to have an Irish ancestry.<ref name="Rose of Tralee Rules">{{cite web | url=http://www.southerncaliforniaroseoftralee.com/html/entry_info.html | title=Rose of Tralee – Entry Info | publisher=Southern California Rose of Tralee | access-date=16 September 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823105625/http://www.southerncaliforniaroseoftralee.com/html/entry_info.html | archive-date=23 August 2011 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
The [[Galway Races]] is an Irish [[horse-racing]] festival that starts on the last Monday of July every year. Traditionally the busiest days of the races are the Thursday, when the [[Galway Hurdle]] and ladies' day take place. It is famous throughout the world for being one of the world's biggest race meetings. It is estimated that over the week-long festival, 150,000 people attend the event.<ref name="Galway Races Launch">{{cite web|url=http://www.galwayraces.com/launch-of-summer-festival-2012.asp |title=Launch of the Galway Summer Festival 2012 |publisher=Galway Races |access-date=16 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912004225/http://www.galwayraces.com/launch-of-summer-festival-2012.asp |archive-date=12 September 2012 }}</ref>
The [[Galway International Oyster Festival]] is held in the [[City of Galway]]. It has won a number of awards and titles including 'one of the 12 greatest shows on earth' by the [[Sunday Times]], and was listed in the AA Travel Guide as one of Europe's Seven Best Festivals, on par with the [[Oktoberfest|Munich Beer Festival]].<ref>{{cite news | first= Jim | last= Keeble | title= The Greatest Shows on Earth| work= [[The Sunday Times (UK)|The Sunday Times]] | date= 16 January 2000 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=History of the Festival |url=http://www.galwayoysterfest.com/history.asp |publisher=Galway International Oyster Festival Website |access-date=4 May 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060215201058/http://www.galwayoysterfest.com/history.asp |archive-date=15 February 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[Electric Picnic]] is another popular music festival held in [[Stradbally Hall]] in [[Stradbally]], County Laois every year since 2004. It was voted Best Medium-Sized European Festival at the 2010 European Festival Awards, and has been voted Best Big Festival at each of the last four Irish Festival Awards since they began in 2007. Compared to other major music festivals, there is more emphasis on quality festival services such as food and sleeping arrangements. [[Rolling Stone]] Magazine stated it was one of the best festivals they had ever been to.<ref name="Electric Picnic - About">{{cite web | url=http://electricpicnic.ie/about1234 | title=What People Say About Electric Picnic | publisher=Electric Picnic | access-date=16 September 2012}}</ref>
[[File:Beastie is tamed.jpg|thumb|The [[Galway Arts Festival]]]] The [[Lisdoonvarna]] Matchmaking Festival is one of the oldest festivals in the country, originally started in 1892. Held over the month of September every year, the festival attracts between 20,000 and 40,000 romantic hopefuls, coming from all over the world to take part in the events. Willie Daly, the prime matchmaker, uses his notebook of love-seeking profiles to match potential couples, and the festival has evolved to become the biggest matchmaking festival in Europe.<ref name="Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival">{{cite web | url=http://www.matchmakerireland.com/history/ | title=150 years of Matchmaking in Lisdoonvarna | publisher=Match Maker Ireland | access-date=16 September 2012}}</ref>
[[The Galway Arts Festival]] is an annual arts festival that takes place each July in [[Galway City]]. It is an international celebration of the performing and visual arts and an important showcase for the Irish arts. Every year around 150,000 people attend the event annually. Founded in 1978, the festival continues to grow as a major attraction for national and international visitors
==Geological tourism== Ireland has many geological attractions, most being along the coastline of the country. The two most famous geologically important destinations in the Republic are both situated in [[County Clare]]; the [[Cliffs of Moher]] and [[The Burren]]. Another notable geological phenomena, the [[Giant's Causeway]], lies in [[Northern Ireland]]. The Cliffs of Moher are one of the most visited sites in the country, with the rocks at the bottom of the cliffs dated as being about 320 million years old, formed when Ireland was under water during the [[Carboniferous]] Period.<ref name="Cliffs of Moher Geology">{{cite video | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFwGwLFMBcc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211219/zFwGwLFMBcc |archive-date=2021-12-19 |url-status=live| title=Geology of the Cliffs of Moher | via=YouTube | date=17 December 2008}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The Burren was also created during this period. When a tropical sea flooded the south of the country, a buildup of coral ([[Limestone]]) began, covering many places in Ireland. When the sea shallowed, rocks such as [[Sandstone]] and [[Shale]] were deposited over the Limestone, effectively covering it over again. The Burren is one of the largest [[karst]] landscapes in Europe and is one of the few places in the country where the limestone is visible above ground.<ref name="Rock Formations of Clare">{{cite web | url=http://diving.ie/news/two-feet-from-shore-kilkee-co-clare/ | title=Two Feet from Shore | publisher=Diving.ie | access-date=16 September 2012}}</ref>
Many [[Irish mountains]] are also of geological distinction, most of them being formed in the [[Caledonian orogeny|Caledonian]] or Amorican era. These mountains, formed between 400 and 250 million years ago, would have been the same height as the [[Alps]], but due to weathering, have become much smaller over time.<ref name="Leaving Cert. Geography">{{cite web | url=http://www.skoool.ie/skoool/homeworkzone.asp?id=1923 | title=Volcanoes, earthquakes and fold mountains | publisher=Skoool.ie | access-date=16 September 2012 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019051636/http://www.skoool.ie/skoool/homeworkzone.asp?id=1923 | archive-date=19 October 2013 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
==Statistics== <div class="floatright"> {| |+'''Tourist arrivals of 2024 in %'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=UN Tourism Data Dashboard |url=https://www.unwto.org/tourism-data/un-tourism-tourism-dashboard |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=www.unwto.org}}</ref> |- | <timeline> ImageSize=width:270 height:250 PlotArea=left:60 bottom:25 top:3 right:16 AlignBars=justify Period=from:0 till:12 TimeAxis=orientation:horizontal
Colors= id:gray value:gray(0.5) id:line1 value:gray(0.9) id:line2 value:gray(0.7)
ScaleMajor=unit:year increment:2 start:0 gridcolor:line2 ScaleMinor=unit:year increment:2 start:0 gridcolor:line1
BarData= bar:January text:January bar:February text:February bar:March text:March bar:April text:April bar:May text:May bar:June text:June bar:July text:July bar:August text:August bar:September text:September bar:October text:October bar:November text:November bar:December text:December
PlotData= color:tan1 width:10
bar:January from:start till:6.9 text: bar:February from:start till:6.6 text: bar:March from:start till:7.9 text: bar:April from:start till:8.3 text: bar:May from:start till:9.4 text: bar:June from:start till:10.2 text: bar:July from:start till:9.9 text: bar:August from:start till:11.6 text: bar:September from:start till:8.8 text: bar:October from:start till:8.3 text: bar:November from:start till:6.2 text: bar:December from:start till:5.9 text: </timeline> |}</div>
In 2017 9,932,100 overseas tourists visited Ireland, a 3.5% increase over the previous years figure of 9,584,400.<ref name=":0" /> {| class="wikitable" |+ !Rank !Country !Visitors |- |1 |{{Flagicon|United Kingdom}}United Kingdom |3,728,900 |- |2 |{{Flagicon|United States}}United States & {{Flagicon|Canada}}Canada |2,101,500 |- |3 |{{Flagicon|Germany}}Germany |681,400 |- |4 |{{Flagicon|France}}France |549,300 |- |5 |{{Flagicon|Spain}}Spain |443,200 |- |6 |{{Flagicon|Italy}}Italy |363,300 |- |7 |{{Flagicon|Australia}}Australia, {{Flagicon|New Zealand}}New Zealand & Rest of Oceania |208,500 |- | |Rest of Europe |1,445,200 |- | |Rest of World |410,800 |- | |Total |9,932,100<ref name=":0" /> |} In 2016 9,584,400 overseas tourists visited Ireland, a 9.8% increase over the previous years figure of 8,643,100.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/ot/overseastravelaugust2018/|title=Table 5 Overseas Trips to Ireland by Area of Residence by month, 2016 – 2018|website=Central Statistics Office|date=27 September 2018 |access-date=1 October 2018}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |+ !Rank !Country !Visitors |- |1 |{{Flagicon|United Kingdom}}United Kingdom |3,924,100 |- |2 |{{Flagicon|United States}}United States & {{Flagicon|Canada}}Canada |1,808,000 |- |3 |{{Flagicon|Germany}}Germany |652,200 |- |4 |{{Flagicon|France}}France |531,400 |- |5 |{{Flagicon|Spain}}Spain |394,900 |- |6 |{{Flagicon|Italy}}Italy |344,400 |- |7 |{{Flagicon|Australia}}Australia, {{Flagicon|New Zealand}}New Zealand & Rest of Oceania |204,500 |- | |Rest of Europe |1,379,100 |- | |Rest of World |345,700 |- | |Total |9,584,400<ref name=":0" /> |} In 2015 8,643,100 overseas tourists visited Ireland, a 13.7% increase over the previous years figure of 7,604,400.<ref name="2015statistics">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/ot/overseastraveldecember2015-february2016/|title=Overseas Travel December 2015 - February 2016 - CSO - Central Statistics Office|website=www.cso.ie|date=30 March 2016 }}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |- ! Rank !! Country !! Visitors |- | 1|| {{flagu|United Kingdom}} || 3,546,900 |- | 2 || {{flagu|United States}} & {{flagu|Canada}} || 1,514,200 |- | 3 ||{{flagu|Germany}}|| 629,300 |- | 4 ||{{flagu|France}} || 504,700 |- | 5 || {{flagu|Spain}} || 343,200 |- | 6 || {{flagu|Belgium}}, {{flagu|Netherlands}}, & {{flagu|Luxembourg}}|| 326,000 |- | 7 || {{flagu|Italy}} || 321,400 |- | 8 ||{{flagu|Denmark}}, {{flagu|Finland}}, {{flagu|Norway}} & {{flagu|Sweden}} || 233,900 |- | 9 ||{{flagu|Australia}}, {{flagu|New Zealand}} & Rest of Oceania || 207,600 |- | ||Rest of Europe || 684,900 |- | || Rest of World || 331,000 |- | || Total || 8,643,100<ref name="2015statistics"/> |}
In 2014 7,604,400 overseas tourists visited Ireland, an 8.1% increase over the previous years figure of 6,985,900.<ref name="cso.ie">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cso.ie/en/releasesandpublications/er/ot/overseastravelnovember2014-january2015/|title=Overseas Travel November 2014 - January 2015 - CSO - Central Statistics Office|website=www.cso.ie|date=25 February 2015 }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" |- ! Rank !! Country !! Visitors !! Percentage |- | 1|| {{flagu|United Kingdom}} || 3,163,900|| 41.6% |- | 2 || {{flagu|United States}} & {{flagu|Canada}} || 1,328,600 || 17.5% |- | 3 ||{{flagu|Germany}}|| 455,700 || 6.0% |- | 4 ||{{flagu|France}} || 396,000 || 5.2% |- | 5 || {{flagu|Spain}} || 307,900 || 3.8% |- | 6 || {{flagu|Belgium}}, {{flagu|Netherlands}}, & {{flagu|Luxembourg}}|| 274,700 || 3.6% |- | 7 || {{flagu|Italy}} || 257,800 || 3.4% |- | 8 ||{{flagu|Denmark}}, {{flagu|Finland}}, {{flagu|Norway}} & {{flagu|Sweden}} || 200,300 || 2.6% |- | 9 ||{{flagu|Australia}}, {{flagu|New Zealand}} & Rest of Oceania || 190,000 || 2.5% |- | ||Rest of Europe || 601,500 || 7.9% |- | || Rest of World || 283,800 || 3.7% |- | || Total || 7,604,400 || 100%<ref name="cso.ie"/> |}
In 2013 6,985,900 overseas tourists visited Ireland, a 7.2% increase over the previous years figure.<ref name="cso.ie"/>
{| class="wikitable" |- ! Rank !! Country !! Visitors !! Percentage |- | 1|| {{flagu|United Kingdom}} || 2,929,000|| 42% |- | 2 || {{flagu|United States}} || 1,036,000 || 14.8% |- | 3 ||{{flagu|Germany}}|| 483,000 || 7% |- | 4 ||{{flagu|France}} || 434,000 || 6% |- | 5 || {{flagu|Belgium}}, {{flagu|Netherlands}}, & {{flagu|Luxembourg}}|| 265,000 || 3.8% |- | 6 ||{{flagu|Spain}} || 263,000 || 3.8% |- | 7 || {{flagu|Italy}}|| 234,000 || 3.4% |- | 8 ||{{flagu|Denmark}}, {{flagu|Finland}}, {{flagu|Norway}} & {{flagu|Sweden}} || 210,000 || 3% |- | 9 ||{{flagu|Australia}}, {{flagu|New Zealand}} & Rest of Oceania || 188,000 || 2.7% |- | 10 ||{{flagu|Canada}} || 123,000 || 1.8% |- | ||Rest of Europe|| 575,000 || 8.2% |- | || Rest of World || 248,000 || 3.5% |- | || Total || 6,985,900 || 100% |}
Overall visitor numbers showed a downturn between 2024 and 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tourism slump continues - April data shows decline in visitor numbers|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2025/05/29/tourism-slump-continues-april-data-shows-decline-in-visitor-numbers/|access-date=2025-07-20|website=The Irish Times|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=David |date=2025-06-30 |title=10% fall in number of foreign visitors here in May - CSO |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2025/0630/1521056-cso-tourism-figures/ |language=en}}</ref>
==Entry regulations== {{main|Visa policy of Ireland}} Under the Short-stay Waiver Programme, anyone from the countries on the list below can travel to Ireland within the time remaining on a current UK visa, without the requirement to obtain an Irish visa, and be granted permission to stay in Ireland up to a maximum of 90 days, or the time left on their UK visa to expire.<ref name="Irish visa programme ">{{cite web | url=http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/Visa%20Waiver%20Programme%20Information%20Note%20March%202012.pdf/Files/Visa%20Waiver%20Programme%20Information%20Note%20March%202012.pdf | title=The Irish Short-stay Visa Waiver Programme | publisher=Inis.gov.ie | access-date=14 September 2012}}</ref> {| class="wikitable sortable" !Irish Short-stay Visa Waiver Programme<ref name="Irish visa programme "/> |- |{{flagu|Bahrain}} |- | {{flagu|Belarus}} |- |{{flagu|China}}{{#Tag:ref|In relation to China, nationals of the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and [[Macau]] are already on the list of those nationals who do not require a visa to travel to Ireland.|group =n}} |- |{{flagu|India}} |- |{{flagu|Kazakhstan}} |- |{{flagu|Kosovo}} |- |{{flagu|Kuwait}} |- | {{flagu|Montenegro}} |- |{{flagu|Oman}} |- |{{flagu|Qatar}} |- |{{flagu|Russian Federation}} |- |{{flagu|Saudi Arabia}} |- |{{flagu|Serbia}} |- |{{flagu|Turkey}} |- |{{flagu|Ukraine}} |- |{{flagu|United Arab Emirates}} |- |{{flagu|Uzbekistan}} |- |}
Citizens of most countries can enter Ireland without a [[Visa (document)|visa]], or by the Short-stay Visa Waiver Programme, however citizens of the following countries need a transit visa to even travel through Ireland on their way to another country;<ref name="Visa to travel to Ireland">{{cite web | url=http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/moving_country/moving_to_ireland/coming_to_live_in_ireland/visa_requirements_for_entering_ireland.html | title=Visa requirements for entering Ireland | publisher=Citizens information | access-date=14 September 2012}}</ref> {| class="wikitable sortable" !Citizens of countries who need transit visas<ref name="Visa to travel to Ireland"/> |- | {{flagu|Afghanistan}} |- | {{flagu|Albania}} |- |{{flagu|Cuba}} |- |{{flagu|Democratic Republic of the Congo}} |- |{{flagu|Eritrea}} |- |{{flagu|Ethiopia}} |- |{{flagu|Ghana}} |- |{{flagu|Iran}} |- |{{flagu|Iraq}} |- |{{flagu|Lebanon}} |- |{{flagu|Moldova}} |- |{{flagu|Nigeria}} |- |{{flagu|Somalia}} |- |{{flagu|Sri Lanka}} |- |{{flagu|Zimbabwe}} |- |}
==Tourism organisations== [[Tourism Ireland]] was established under the [[Good Friday Agreement]] of 1998 to promote the island of Ireland overseas. It is jointly funded by the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive on a two-to-one ratio. Tourism Ireland works together with the two tourist boards on the island, [[Fáilte Ireland]] and [[Tourism Northern Ireland]].
[[Fáilte Ireland]] is the biggest tourist body in Ireland with responsibility for promoting domestic tourism and helping to develop the sector as a leading component of the Irish economy. The organisation provides strategic and practical support to develop and sustain Ireland as a tourist destination. The organisation runs Discoverireland.ie, an award-winning website<ref name="Discover Ireland">{{cite web | url=http://www.discoverireland.ie/ | title=Discover Ireland Website Home Page | publisher=Discover Ireland | access-date=16 September 2012}}</ref>
==References== ===Notes=== {{Reflist|group=n}}
===Sources=== {{Reflist}}
==Sources== {{refbegin}} * {{Cite book |last=Baddeley |first= M. J. B. |year=1890 |title= Thorough Guide Series. Ireland (Part I). Northern Counties including Dublin and Neighbourhood (Second Edition - Revised) |location=London |publisher= Dulau & Co., 37, [[Soho Square]], W. | url = https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89096950654&seq=15 | access-date= 2025-07-09 |author-link = M. J. B. Baddeley}} *{{cite book |last=Bush |first=John |title=Hibernia Curiosa: A Letter from a Gentleman in Dublin to his Friend at Dover in Kent, Giving a general View of the Manners, Customs, Dispositions, &c. of the Inhabitants of Ireland |url = https://archive.org/details/hiberniacuriosa00bush/page/12/mode/2up?view=theater |year=1769 |publisher=London (Printed for W. Flexney, opposite Gray's-Inn-Gate, Holbourn); Dublin (J. Potts and J. Williams) | location=London}} {{refend}}
==External links== {{Wikivoyage|Ireland}} {{commons category|Tourism in the Republic of Ireland}} * {{Official website| https://www.discoverireland.ie }}
{{Ireland topics}}{{Economy of Ireland}}{{Tourism in Europe}}
[[Category:Tourism in the Republic of Ireland| ]] [[Category:Tourism in Europe by country|Ireland, Republic Of]] [[Category:Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment]]