With foreign holidays far flung still hanging in the balance, many Brits have started looking at travel options closer to home to satisfy their getaway cravings this summer.
Well, here’s some good news; as part of the Common Travel Area of the United Kingdom, rules concerning travel to the Republic of Ireland are currently some of the most accommodating to British tourists.
The UK government’s official advice states that ‘’You do not need to take a COVID-19 test or quarantine on arrival in England if you are travelling within the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, (the Common Travel Area), and you have not been outside of the Common Travel Area in the previous 10 days.’’
So far, so promising. What’s more, the Irish government have announced that from 19th July, passengers arriving into Ireland from outside the EU (England, Wales and Scotland, but not Northern Ireland) won’t be subject to any travel-related testing or quarantine, should they have been fully vaccinated.
Of course, it should be noted that these restrictions could be tightened at short notice, and booking a holiday in the current climate presents risks. But if you are keen to consider potential destinations for a long weekend away in Ireland, then rest assured, from culture to culinary curiosity, castles and concerts, the Emerald Isle has got you covered.
With all that in mind, here are 5 of the best places for a long weekend away in Ireland.
TUCK INTO A THRIVING FOOD SCENE IN DUBLIN
2020 marked a major year in Ireland’s thriving, focused food scene, with three restaurants being awarded much coveted 2 Michelin star status for the first time. Two of those eateries are in the capital, Dublin, with four more receiving 1 star in the city. This was the first time a city in Ireland had received this amount of coveted accolades and it’s not only in Dublin’s fine dining institutions that excitement about the country’s cuisine is at fever pitch.
A slightly more down-to-earth option is the superb Bastible (named after the cooking pot which used to sit proudly in the centre of every Irish dinner table) who cook modern fare using local ingredients only when they’re on song with the season. Right now, it’s a set menu only format at £55 pound a head – a relative steal for the quality of the cooking.
Their sibling restaurant Clanbrassil House in Merchant’s Quay is equally good, with their hash browns already achieving cult status in the city. They’re set to reopen this month with a new head chef and we can’t wait to see what they’ve got planned.
Dublin is also famous for seafood, with the Irish Sea on its doorstep bringing in everything from the famous Dublin Bay prawns (actually langoustine) to Irish oysters and Lambay Island crab claws. You can sample some of these delights at Temple Bar Food Market. Or, for a sit down, roll your sleeves up kinda meal, visit Klaw, a crabshack doing the freshest stuff you’ll find.
If you’re still not convinced, Dublin’s unofficial anthem ‘Molly Malone’ tells the story of a woman buying fresh cockles and mussels from the bountiful catch at the city’s quayside each morning. Says it all really…
TOUR THE COUNTRY’S CASTLES
Lovingly restored, lying in ruin or somewhere in between, the sheer number of castles in Ireland is astonishing. In fact, Irish historians and leading castle experts reckon there are around 30’000 in the country, some not much more than a collection of stones, sure, but some still standing as majestically and proudly as the day they were built.
In the serene, vast surrounds of the Irish countryside, these castles represent a mystical site, and whilst you’re not going to be able to see all 30’000 on your trip, taking a tour of some of most famous represents a enticing framework from which to base your long weekend away in Ireland.
It should be noted that this is the type of trip best suited to private vehicle, as public transport won’t serve some of the more remote sites. For a really neat way to tour Ireland’s castles, consider motorhome and campervan hire, allowing you to control your itinerary both in terms of the historical sites you visit and enabling you to sleep in more remote settings along the way.
Ireland has over 1400 points of interest that welcome motorhomes, many of which are free. Though there’s no central database of where to say legally, local tourist information offices should provide the necessary answers – check out a list of each locality’s office and their contact details here.
Read: 5 IDEAL historic castles to visit on your historic holiday to Ireland
SPEND THE WEEKEND HIKING IN CONNEMARA NATIONAL PARK
Though Ireland isn’t exactly short on vast, striking landscapes, Connemara National Park, a 3 hour drive west of Dublin (or 4 and a half hour train then bus via Galway), is perhaps the most jaw droppingly beautiful of all.
Boasting mountains, lakes, heathland and several small fishing villages, Connemara is also home to a pony native to the region. You can spot all of this and much more taking a hiking holiday here, with the park open every day except Christmas and free to enter. Right next to the park’s entrance is the small town of Letterfrack, with the town of Clifden 20 minutes further on. Both have plenty of accommodation options. You can also, in theory, apply for a wild camping permit to pitch a tent in the park, though getting accepted isn’t always easy.
We’ve written more about visiting Connemara and neighbouring Cong and our top tips to make your trip as enjoyable as possible. Do check it out.
SOAK UP SOME CULTURE IN CORK CITY
The second largest city in Ireland, Cork City packs some serious cultural punch, even being named European Capital of Culture in 2005. It’s only grown in stature since, attracting arts, architecture, literature and history lovers from near and far.
On your itinerary, visiting Cork City gaol is essential. Once a jail, now a museum, it represents a valuable insight into the city’s history. You should also take time to check out the English Market, one of the world’s oldest. Here, you can sample fresh seafood from the nearby Celtic Sea and Wild Atlantic, and get your hands on some of the region’s famous West Cork soda bread amongst other freshly baked goodies.
Architecturally, St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral, the Honan Chapel and nearby Blarney Castle (one of those 30’000 we mentioned and home to the famous Blarney Stone) are all well worth your attention. Finish off with a stroll in Fitzgerald Park and a look at Cork Public Museum and you’ll end your long weekend away in Ireland educated and inspired.
GO ON A PUB CRAWL & CATCH A CONCERT OF TRADITIONAL IRISH MUSIC IN GALWAY
We got this far without mentioning Guinness. Should you be planning your trip in early Autumn, when the weather is mild and bright, then you shouldn’t miss Galway’s International Guinness and Oyster Festival, which runs from the 24th to the 26th of September, and is considered the largest seafood eating extravaganza on the planet. There’s also a line up of traditional Irish music to keep you entertained long after the shucking is over.
Speaking of traditional Irish music, Galway has several fantastic old school pubs that play host to nightly performances from local bands. Taaffes Bar and Tig Choili are two of the best of their kind in the country, featuring concerts each and every night, but in Galway, all you have to do is wander the streets and keep your ears open, particularly in the Latin Quarter, to hear buskers and bands on the fiddle, flute and whistle, accordion, and pipes.
Now that sounds like the ideal weekend away in Ireland to us. Sláinte!