Things to do & places to visit in Ireland's Hidden Heartlands, Ireland

Ireland's Hidden Heartlands #7 destination in Ireland 2023. Timezone: Europe/Dublin, current date and time: Tuesday, May 07, 2024, 5:24.

Top things to do (37)

Top places to visit (29 attractions)

5.0 Galway Tour Company (5.209 reviews)
- Great day trip to the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren!
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM Walking Tours • Sightseeing Tours • Private Tours • Bus Tours • Day Trips

My parents, my sister with her boyfriend and I went on the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren day trip on 5th of August. We really enjoyed it! There have been a couple of stops on the way before we hit the port of Doolin to take a boat trip to view the Cliffs from the water level (this was optional and involved additional charge). It was followed by a delicious lunch in a local pub. The fish was so fresh, simply to die for! After that we hit the top of the Cliffs so we could admire them from a different angle. Our driver Tommy was great! Full of stories and jokes, making sure we had enough time to take in beautiful views and enjoy the trip. And most importantly, he had his ways to make the rain stop every time we left the bus He made us all feel welcome and it was a pleasure spending the day out with him! See more..
5.0 Wild Atlantic Way Day Tours - Galway (2.615 reviews)
- Cliffs of moher with Wild Atlantic Way Day Tour
Tuesday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sightseeing Tours • Private Tours • Bus Tours • Day Trips

We spent an amazing day with John, he was humours and shared with us useful information about local life, we have also seen different hidden places not just the cliffs. The price comparing to the service is absolutely competitive especially for students, I strongly recommend Wild Atlantic Way Day tours they're professional and we had the chance to start earlier than other tours, so we had chance to take net pictures with no crowds. Thank you WAWD Tour for the trip! See more..
5.0 Lally Tours - Day Tours (2.212 reviews)
- Highly recommend!!
Tuesday: 8:30 AM - 6:00 PM City Tours • Historical & Heritage Tours • Hop-On Hop-Off Tours • Sightseeing Tours • Private Tours

Wow! Completely blown away by our day trip from Galway to the Cliffs of Moher via Kinvara, Ballyvaughan, Doolin. Our driver and tour guide was John B. His knowledge of the area, great story telling, sense of humour, wit, charm, warmth and friendliness made the experience that extra bit special and for that reason alone we are planning our next trip with Lally tours! The customer service and professionalism shown to us was simply outstanding. Everything is planned impeccably with Lally's - (e.g., Lally's provide a menu for lunch in a local venue. The driver will call in your order, in advance, which takes the hassle and stress away especially during a busy lunch hour). The tour is certainly value for money, the coach was impeccably clean and comfortable with a w.c. onboard. It really was one of the best tours we've experienced internationally. Thank you John B and team. Looking forward to the next one! See more..
5.0 Trad on the Prom (1.828 reviews)
- WOW. Just… wow.
Tuesday: 8:30 PM - 10:30 PM Spent 1-2 hours Theatre & Performances

Performers who have captivated audiences in extraordinary and groundbreaking productions such as 'Riverdance', 'The Chieftains' and 'Lord of the Dance' have gathered together on ONE STAGE to present an unforgettable entertainment experience in Galway, the City of the Tribes. The music will touch your soul and the dancing will take your breath away. It's a truly remarkable experience suitable for all ages and nationalities. See more..
5.0 Heart of Burren Walks (607 reviews)
- Fun hike and interesting
Tuesday: 10:30 AM - 1:00 PM Cultural Tours • Walking Tours

We read about Tony's hike in the Burren in one of Rick Steves' tour books and were very happy with this tour. Tony is a wealth of knowledge and so interesting to listen to. It was 3 hours long, and we felt we could have hiked more with him. He recited a couple of poems, discussed the flora, the geology of the terrain, and we bombarded him with questions. We were rained on, sleeted on and nearly blown away, but it didn't dampen our spirits. After our hike l, we mentioned we were going to lunch in Doolin, and he said to try a hot whiskey to warm us up. Now we aren't whiskey lovers, but he assured us stating that he isn't either but that we wouldn't be disappointed, and we weren't. Beautiful scenery and a great guide. See more..
5.0 Rathcroghan Royal Site & Visitor Centre (584 reviews)
- Fascinating tour of the mythological landscape
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM Spent 2-3 hours Visitor Centers • Historic Sites • Ancient Ruins

Rathcroghan, in County Roscommon, is the hidden heart of the West of Ireland. When you visit this area, just off the N5 Dublin to Westport road, you can experience the home of Celtic Warrior Queen Maeve, the Goddess Morrigan, the Cattle Raid of Cooley, and seat of Gaelic Royalty – this is the Land of Legends for over 5,000 years. Here you can walk in the footsteps of the ancestors, imagine yourself transported back through time to the age of warriors and heroes, and enjoy this fascinating slice of Irish Heritage. The Rathcroghan Complex, with over 200 ancient monuments, is the historical royal capital of Connacht, Ireland’s Western province. We have been nominated to World Heritage Status, and Rathcroghan Visitor Centre offers a BRAND NEW Rathcroghan and Medieval Tulsk exhibition (open April 2014) with fully insured guided tours tailored to suit you; whether your interest is History, Genealogy, Literature, Archaeology, Heritage, Spirituality, or Mythology. Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, in the Medieval village of Tulsk, provides professional guided tours with a qualified historian/archaeologist; plus self-guide information, maps and advice; family friendly activities, workshops and special events, and full café facilities. You can shop for unique hand crafted gifts, an unparalleled specialist book selection, and expert advice no matter what your interest in Irish Culture, History or Heritage. See more..
5.0 Give It A Go (459 reviews)
- Kayaking on the river Corrib
Tuesday: 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM Boat Tours • Water Sports • Nature & Wildlife Tours • Kayaking & Canoeing

Just back from a fantastic morning kayaking on the river Corrib with our guide Duncan from Give it a go Ireland .We were a party of four, 2 adults and 2 children aged 9 and 5. We went in double kayaks, so a parent and child to each one. It was such fun. Felt very safe at all times. Saw loads of wildlife from the little ducks ,swans and even a heron. There was a hidden lake which we had to meander through the jungle reeds to get to, felt like a real adventure! The kids loved the interaction with the other people also using the river. Waving and talking across at the passing boats and rowers and the friendly banter back to us was great craic. Highly reccomend the experience. Great family activity and highlight of our holiday so far. See more..
5.0 Castlefergus Equestrian (380 reviews)
- Great Riding
Tuesday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent 2-3 hours Rides & Activities • Equestrian Trails • Horseback Riding Tours

Castlefergus Equestrian Centre,Quin,Co. Clare. Run by the O Brien Family. Horse Riding and Pony Trekking for all the family in the heart of the Irish Countryside. We're passionate about our horses and love sharing that experience with you. We ensure that all visitors have a fantastic horse riding experience. All levels of riding abilities, from beginners to advanced riders, small children, adults and seniors are welcome. Ride past a 15th century castle , in the fields with the sheep and baby lambs and Along the river banks of the River Rine. Situated 15 minutes drive from Shannon Airport. 40 minutes from the cliffs of Moher. 30 minutes from Limerick , 15 minutes from Ennis and 5 minutes drive from Dromoland Castle. See more..
5.0 Micil Distillery (319 reviews)
- Enjoyable afternoon!
Distillery Tours

Would highly recommend the tour- it was a great mix between leaning about gin and poitín, funny stories and tasting the wonderful drinks (including a bonus of tasting the heritage edition poitín!). Pàdraic had a fantastic, easy to listen to style. Well worth an visit! Slàinte! See more..
5.0 Joyce Country Sheepdogs (312 reviews)
- A trip highlight!
Tuesday: 11:00 AM - 4:30 PM Spent 1-2 hours Farms

An authentic insight into hill sheep farming and rural Irish life with working sheepdog demonstrations. Interaction with puppies and sheep shearing demonstration during high season. This is set against some of the most breathtaking scenery in Ireland. Rest room facilities available along with picnic tables for guest use. Scheduled demonstration times are 11am, 1pm and 3.30 pm Monday -Saturday, however alternative times are available by prior arrangement. See more..
5.0 Kayakmor (309 reviews)
- Lough Corrib Paddle
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM Kayaking & Canoeing

This was a marvellous experience paddling the bucolic Lough Corrib, Ireland’s largest lake. Arranged by phone prior to our holiday we met our host Jim at Kilbeg Pier 30 mins north of Galway and after a safety talk we were fully kitted out in wet suits and buoyancy aids. Despite our family being a mix of complete novices and infrequent paddlers we chose individual kayaks. We were blessed with perfect conditions, the only ripples caused by our paddles and spent the next 3 hours exploring the Lough with Jim as our guide, pointing out the local flora, fauna and surroundings. There is nothing negative to say. Weather perfect, the peace and serenity of the water unspoilt by crowds or motor craft, good company and just the right amount of time on the water. Would wholly recommend Kayakmor and Jim if you are looking for an active few hours in this beautiful part of the world See more..
5.0 Ben's Surf Clinic (304 reviews)
- Great surf camp!
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM Surfing & Windsurfing

Our 8 year old son loved surf camp at Bens Surf Clinic in August and is already asking to go back next year. Different instructors each day were great with him. This was his first time trying surfing and he had great fun for the whole week, thanks to the instructors. Instructors were very aware of local conditions on the day, not just surf but also weever fish and checking up on sun cream etc. It was their busiest time of year and everything went smoothly, which shows how well-organised they are. Equipment all good and safe. Good to have such a well-stocked shop there too. We asked Ben to recommend the best ice cream shop in Lahinch (he said Spooneys) and he was right. Would definitely recommend to others and we will be back ourselves. See more..
5.0 Ennis Walking Tours (302 reviews)
- Lovely
Tuesday: 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM City Tours • Historical & Heritage Tours • Walking Tours • Sightseeing Tours • Private Tours

Easy to follow map. Beautiful walking tour, so many many sights along the way. Lots of pubs to stop at for lunch or just a drink. We stopped at a pub called "The Local". They had great food and service. Good down home atmosphere. We were lucky enough to meet the pastor of "St. Columba's Church" and get our own personal tour! Beautiful church, steeped with history. Ennis is a clean, friendly place with a rich history and beautiful landscaping. See more..
5.0 Aran Celtic Tours (298 reviews)
- Best Mini Bus Tour
Hop-On Hop-Off Tours • Taxis & Shuttles • Private Tours • Bus Tours • Day Trips

Had an excellent experience visiting Inis Mór this past weekend with a group of friends. We decided to take a minibus and Patrick Hernon was our tour guide/bus driver. The bus was in great condition, really comfortable and spacious, with clean windows which is great for picture taking while driving, and Patrick’s narration of the island was great. Along with being an expert, he’s also personable and quite funny! Our whole group loved it. If you’re deciding between a mini bus or a bike tour, they’re the same cost for the day and the bus will make sure you’re to your boat on time (which is a big deal if you’re only going for one day!). Highly, highly recommend Patrick!! See more..
5.0 O`Dalaigh Jewellers (266 reviews)
- Fantastic craftsmanship
Speciality & Gift Shops

Johnny and Annie started creating unique hand crafted jewellery in 1973. Since then the business has developed with the help of their son Jonathan who is carrying on the family tradition and now manages the business. Their full collection of jewellery can be seen at their flagship store in Clifden, where there is a full open plan workshop to see the jewellery being made. They also have a small retail shop at the Cliffs of Moher. See more..
5.0 Pedal Power Galway (235 reviews)
- The craic was mighty
Tuesday: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM Bar, Club & Pub Tours • Historical & Heritage Tours • Bike Tours • Sightseeing Tours • Food Tours

We had so much fun doing Pedal Power as part of a hen weekend in Galway. We sang and cycled our way around the city centre with so many people waving and cheering us on. Paul, our guide, was so much craic. He stopped off every now and then and gave us some history on the area and he wowed us with his singing/rapping. We stopped at 2 bars for free shots as well. 100% would recommend for a group activity in Galway. See more..
5.0 Curraghduff Farm (222 reviews)
- Perfect Alpaca Getaway
Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas • Farms

Curraghduff Farm: Alpaca Experience and Glamping Farm. BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL. The Newton family welcome you to their home at Curraghduff Farm and offer Alpaca Walks, Alpaca Meet and Greets and Accommodation. Book your alpaca experience where you can take plenty of pictures and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Lough Corrib, Connemara and surrounding mountains. You will also get to meet all the other animals on the farm. Drinks and a homemade biscuit are provided at the end of your tour. We now offer Glamping accommodation. Contact us to plan your Alpaca Experience. See more..
5.0 The Paddle Shack (216 reviews)
- Family Kayaking
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM Stand Up Paddleboarding • Kayaking & Canoeing

Absolutely amazing experience! A great family trip, Aoife and Rory went the extra mile to accommodate us especially with are 2 year 11 month old child who was as good as gold for 2 hours. It is so peacefully out on the water, it’s a physical work out for 2hrs but relaxing at the same time. Highly recommended! See more..
5.0 Ollie's Tours (214 reviews)
- Aran Island - Inis Oirr bike tour
Tuesday: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM City Tours • Cultural Tours • Walking Tours • Sightseeing Tours • Private Tours

We (adult and three kids aged 10,13 and 16) did the Aran Islands bike tour to Inis Oirr, and our local guide Siodhmhaith was amazing. Very knowledgeable about the islands and she even fixed my daughter’s bike when the chain came off! I would not have enjoyed the island as much without her - her little local stories brought it closer, and her tips on good selfie locations and angles was superb. She then took us to Una’s for scones and again a lovely chat with Una about the Aran Islands knitting was just so interesting. Siodhmhaith is worth her weight in gold, couldn’t recommend her and the tour more - amazing day out! See more..
5.0 Ireland Chauffeur Travel (195 reviews)
- Welcome Back to Traveling!!!
Tuesday: 9:30 AM - 8:00 PM Taxis & Shuttles • Sightseeing Tours • Private Tours

Wow! What a day we had! Alison at ICT listened to our wants and built us a fantastic itinerary. Our two "wants" were to see the Cliffs of Moher and eat lunch in Doolin at Gus O'Connors. The itinerary she built had the 14 of us picked up right at our hotel in Athlone, travel the Irish countryside, lunch in Doolin, travel the Atlantic coast highway (spectacular views) , stop at the cliffs for 1 1/2 hours, continue up the coastal highway and be let off right back at the hotel in Athlone. The mini coach was comfortable, clean and very accommodating. Our driver Andy, was top notch. He went way above and beyond adding Irish history and facts to our experience. All in all a great day! See more..
5.0 Epic Ireland (186 reviews)
- A very fun day in Galway
Tuesday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Adrenaline & Extreme Tours • Climbing Tours • Sightseeing Tours • Hiking & Camping Tours • Day Trips

This was a great tour with kids in tow. Guide/leader Mi has a nice way with teens, is super patient and the tour lets you see some cool stuff on the Wild Atlantic Way. The caving was great, two of our party declined and that was handled perfectly, and the cliff diving was the highlight, not too scary and very very cool. Do this tour if you are at all interested, you will be glad you did. See more..
5.0 Knights & Conquests Heritage Centre (183 reviews)
- Fantastic!
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Visitor Centers

A Heritage & Visitor Centre adjacent to Ireland's tallest Norman Motte in Granard, Co. Longford. An interactive Norman-themed exhibtion for all ages to enjoy. See more..
5.0 My Next Adventure (163 reviews)
- Kayaking in Brian Boru's footsteps
Temporarily closed - Closed until further notice Kayaking & Canoeing

Kayaking on Lough Derg was a wonderful experience for me and my family. We went up and down the river Shannon for close to 2 hours after receiving an instruction in Kayaking from our guide Tadhg. My younger son (7) shared a Kajak with my wife and my other boys (9+11) shared one. Tadhg was also so kind to document our endeavours with his camera. We would highly recommend this experience for anyone staying in the Killaloe area. See more..
5.0 Celtic Chauffeur Services (155 reviews)
- A Special View of Ireland!
Multi-day Tours • Cultural Tours • Distillery Tours • Taxis & Shuttles • Day Trips

Fergus Lally was our driver and guide from Celtic Chauffeur Services and he was a wonderful addition to our Ireland adventure. He provided value-added experiences beyond our expectations. Fergus wiskedd us safely through airport traffic and delivered us to our hotel. Our transportation was always safe and comfortable and colored with his extensive and scholarly knowledge of local customs and history. He loved his work and made our time with him informative and enjoyable. Our tours with Fergus took us to the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher and wound through the Wild Atlantic Way. We visited Canberra and the sites around the filming of the "Quiet Man". We visited a sheep farm where we watched a sheep herding dog flawlessly perform. We felt enormously comfortable and pampered by Fergus. We would highly recommend this company for transport and touring! See more..
5.0 EXIT Athlone Escape Rooms (144 reviews)
- Great Hen Activity!
Tuesday: 10:00 AM - 11:45 PM Spent < 1 hour Escape Games

- Follow the clues - Solve the riddles - Find the keys - Escape the room in only 60 minutes ! EXIT - first in Westmeath room escape game !!! Here in Athlone !!! "Clown Prince of Crime" 10 - game based on comic books ... Escape the trap-room before the Joker comes back !!! "New World Order" 15 - conspiracy theories scenario Find and disarm the bomb before time runs out !!! "Red Room" 18 - Someone murdered a beautiful and young woman. You and your partner are detectives and only you can catch the killer!!! EXIT Athlone room escape game ! See more..
5.0 Connemara Pub Tours (139 reviews)
- Perfect Stag Party Activity!
Tuesday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Bar, Club & Pub Tours

We had a fantastic Connemara Pub tour for my brother's stag party. Joe was our driver who was fantastic and joined in on the craic with us while we visited some great pubs around Connemara. Everything was very well planned and were really flexible with specific requests. Definitely a great activity to do in Galway for any party! Everybody had a brilliant time and were raving about it for the rest of the weekend. See more..
5.0 Carrick Quads (132 reviews)
- Quads and Clay Pigeon Shooting
Tuesday: 11:15 AM - 6:00 PM 4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours

Had serious time on the quads have a massive trail some experience and you get full gear to cover you. We went clay pigeon shooting after got plenty shots, we had serious craic would recommend this place anyone. Owners and the boys were all lovely. See more..
5.0 VIP Chauffeur (129 reviews)
- The luck of the Irish was with us when we booked VIP Chauffeur.
Tuesday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent More than 3 hours Taxis & Shuttles

we aim to offer a high-end personal tour service of Ireland. From the airport meet and greet right though to the departure date our highly trained and experienced drivers shall endeavour to make your vacation a memorable one. Individual itineraries will be tailored and met to suit the needs of each group with a suitable size vehicle provided for both passengers and luggage. See more..
4.5 Tullamore D.E.W. Distillery Experience (1.344 reviews)
- Great Day Out, Great Gift!
Tuesday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 2-3 hours Distilleries

Explore the Home of Tullamore Dew from distillation to maturation. Experience a day like no other as we take you ‘behind the scenes’ of our state-of-the-art Distillery. See more..