Things to do & places to visit in Ireland’s Ancient East, Ireland

Ireland’s Ancient East #9 destination in Ireland 2023. Timezone: Europe/Dublin, current date and time: Tuesday, May 07, 2024, 3:05.

Top things to do (29)

Top places to visit (22 attractions)

5.0 Vagabond Tours (867 reviews)
- You can't go wrong with Vagabond!
Historical & Heritage Tours • Sightseeing Tours • Private Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours

My husband and I booked the 11 Day Ireland Driftwood tour that covered the entire Island in a leisurely laid back style during May 2022. We highly recommend this tour and company for many reasons. First, the tour itself covered many differing areas, from city to town to country and back again. Ireland's beauty and unique/rich history was on open display and we found all activities of equal merit. Our hotels also showed varied styles and reflected each area just as did the cuisine. We booked a few extra days in Dublin because it is not on the itinerary and highly suggest doing so to take in many interesting sites. Secondly, traveling with Covid threats may seem ridiculous but Vagabond sterilized the van each morning, masks were available as well as hand sanitizer. We were asked to keep masks on at all times within the van, sanitize during each re-entry and windows were open to provide circulation. We weren't surprised when our required Covid tests were negative for a return to the USA. Lastly, our tour leader Tim Orr, has a wonderful sense of humor, an in-depth knowledge of Ireland and is an excellent driver. He catered to all 13 passengers needs in what seemed to be an effortless manner belying the hard work behind the scenes. He's a joyful master of many delightful stories and I can honestly say he deserves to be called a legend. I know from other friends who booked with Vagabond that all of the staff is as personable and professional as Tim. See more..
5.0 The Irish Experience (807 reviews)
- Will be back (again!)
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Canyoning & Rappelling Tours • Water Sports • Stand Up Paddleboarding • Kayaking & Canoeing

This is the second summer in a row we’ve gone kayaking with The Irish Experience. We’d a fantastic, enthusiastic guide (Daniel). Everyone (3 adults, 3 kids aged 10, 9 and 8) enjoyed it. The views of the cliffs were spectacular. Cannot recommend highly enough. A great way to see Wexford. Great value too. See more..
5.0 Malzards Pub (743 reviews)
- Do not miss this pub in Stoneyford, Co. Killarney, Ireland!!!
Tuesday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Spent 1-2 hours Bars & Clubs

Family Run Traditiional Irish Pub with Cosy Bar Great Pint and close to a number of Historical Points of Interest. Kells Priory , Jerpoint Abbey, Jerpoint Glass Kilree Tower Mount Juliet House.Accomadation nearby to be recommended is Lawcus Farm House ( See reviews on this site) See more..
5.0 Cork Harbour Boat Hire (452 reviews)
- Would recommend to anyone!!
Adrenaline & Extreme Tours • Boat Tours • Water Sports • Boat Rentals • Speed Boats Tours

A great addition to Cobh! Myself and my three friends booked the 6.30pm slot for the self driving boats. In total there was about four or five boats out with us with the instructors in front. A great trip out on the water, went all the way out around Spike Island. Would recommend to anyone, especially an evening slot as the setting sunlight reflecting on the water was stunning!! See more..
5.0 Cork Ghost Tour (414 reviews)
- Awesome!
City Tours • Cultural Tours • Ghost & Vampire Tours • Historical & Heritage Tours • Walking Tours

We had a brilliant time hearing about the history of Cork interwoven with great stories of different people along the way. It was really high energy and fun and had the whole lot of us laughing constantly. We saw parts of the city we never would have seen and learnt stuff we never would have learnt. Would highly recommend it to everyone- beware of strange women jumping out at you!!! See more..
5.0 Go With The Flow - River Adventures (411 reviews)
- Cannot recommend enough!
Kayaking & Canoeing

Had an absolutely amazing time on the self-guided Valley of the Monks kayak hire. A group of 7 of us went and kayaked along the beautiful Barrow river and stopped for lunch and a swim in the lovely town of Graiguenamanagh. Would highly recommend this route! The folks at Go With the Flow River Adventures were wonderful, helpful and super easy to contact. The boats were in great condition and the trip was great value for money. Cannot recommend these guys enough! See more..
5.0 Beautiful Meath Tours (300 reviews)
- Practically Perfect in every way.
Tuesday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Historical & Heritage Tours • Walking Tours • Sightseeing Tours • Private Tours • Day Trips

Derek picked us up right on time. We had provided an itinerary of items that we hoped to see and he organized them in the best possible position for a custom experience. My three teenagers, young child, and all adults were impressed with his knowledge and excitement in sharing this country. Would 100% recommend. See more..
5.0 Celtic Rider (288 reviews)
- FIVE STAR AND BEYOND
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Motorcycle Tours

Brilliant customer service and cast iron product guarantee. I purchased the amazing Klim badlands suit from Celtic rider 3 years ago. Recently the pants developed a slight leak in torrential rain. Paul and Louise Rawlins took these trousers back without quibble and, sent em off for repair AND provided me with a replacement in the meantime. A few weeks later LOUISE rang me and said "I have your trousers and you can collect them anytime". Imagine my surprise when I rocked up and she presented me with a brand new Klim Badlands trousers.. I can't say how impressed I am still. This is the best clothing I've ever invested in and the warranty completely justifies the premium price. . With back up after sales commitment like this I couldn't recommend any other companies products.. KLIM all the way . Thank you celtic rider #Klim ireland See more..
5.0 Newgrange Falconry (283 reviews)
- Unbelievable
Lessons & Workshops

This will actually blow your mind as an experience. The team at newgrange are so so knowledgeable, approachable and friendly. We had the most wonderful time with their birds, nothing is so spectacular as seeing the size of a golden eagle up close. If that doesn't do it, then seeing a perfectly trained falcon fly from the trees to your outstretched hand for feeding, certainly will. They are truly magnificent birds, and the teams passion for their birds of prey is evident from the beginning. Their wanting for their visitors to learn about the birds and interact with them is also wonderful to see, and they come to your hotel to make an amazing day out for families, friends, and business outings alike. You won't be disappointed! See more..
5.0 Shenanigans The Kilkenny City Walk (226 reviews)
- The best walking tour!
City Tours • Historical & Heritage Tours • Walking Tours • Private Tours

Nevin is a delight. He is so informative, knowledgeable, witty, friendly, makes the group feel comfortable with each other. He has a true gift that is not wasted. The history of Kilkenny is quite fascinating and Nevin presents it in a way for all to understand. It was a delight and.... he’s also a magician. Highly recommend. And a huge thank you to himself. Such a great guy See more..
5.0 Hawkeye School of Falconry (225 reviews)
- Eye opening experience.
Nature & Wildlife Tours

A great time talking with experts on Falconry and learning how to hold and feed them. We visited today from Cork and we had an amazing time. My daughter who loves birds had the time of her life and came away wanting to learn more, as we all did. We had the pleasure of going out with Reggie who is a real star, even if a little tired after his holiday. He still out on a fantastic show for us and made us appreciate how beautiful and intelligent hawks are. I would highly recommend visiting and getting a taste of what it must have been like to see these birds in action. See more..
5.0 Executive Tours Ireland (218 reviews)
- Experience of a Lifetime
Tuesday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Private Tours

Mike Ryan and Eugene (our driver) could not have provided our 8 man golf trip with any better service. If you're booking a van rental for your golf trip in Ireland (which I highly recommend), look no further. Eugene was a consummate professional not to mention just a genuinely great guy to be around. He kept our crew on time and threw in plenty of extras that really enriched our experience. It wouldn't have been half the experience without Executive Tours and Eugene. It's worth every penny. Thanks again Eugene and Mike! See more..
5.0 Mayfield Birds of Prey (212 reviews)
- Must do life experience!
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Nature & Wildlife Areas

Currently Closed & Not Opened Again For Business Until 3rd September 2019 Booking in advance is essential. Mayfield Birds of Prey offers you an opportunity to meet, handle and fly a variety of these wonderful birds. This is an attraction suitable for all the family. We can guarantee excitement, fun and lots of photographic opportunites. The falconer can take you back in time to experience and participate in the ancient art of Falconry. An unforgettable experience will be had by all at Mayfield Birds of Prey. See more..
5.0 Footfalls Walking Holidays (204 reviews)
- Walking Wicklow Way
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Walking Tours

We were treated to an amazing adventure on the Wicklow Way with Philip Stacey and his Footfalls Walking Holidays company. Our group of 10 were both eager and apprehensive to travel. Eager because we have missed experiences like the one offered here and apprehensive because of the challenges of travel during the pandemic. Philip was superb from the “opening bell” to the conclusion of our trip. He put together an incredible itinerary on short notice and was remarkably organized and accommodating to any request that we made. Would look no further when considering a trip in Ireland or Northern Ireland than Footfalls….they were great. See more..
5.0 Joyce's Ireland Hiking Tours (182 reviews)
- Don’t Miss an Opportunity to Hike With Joyce!
Tuesday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM Historical & Heritage Tours • Walking Tours • Hiking & Camping Tours

I have had the privilege of traveling with Joyce on five of her trips. I have even done her Scotland trip twice! Every trip has been amazing! She always offers the best places to stay with delicious menu options. She always leads lovely hikes with stunning views! Finally, she always looks out for her guests to make sure they have the best experience possible! I cherish all of the friendships I have from traveling with Joyce. Don’t miss this opportunity if you love hiking and you love meeting wonderful people! See more..
5.0 Bantry Bay Charters (175 reviews)
- So good we went twice!
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Boat Tours • Fishing Charters & Tours • Dolphin & Whale Watching • Food Tours • Day Trips

My wife and I had the pleasure of going on an outing with Bantry Bay Charters while our family was visiting from the States, and we had so much fun, we went out another day! Brian, Sharon, and their experienced team were accommodating, knowledgeable, and made us feel safe throughout our voyages. The kids had a blast too! We would highly recommend their services to anyone looking to get out on the water and see Ireland from a different perspective! Their boat is spacious enough to walk around on and spot the wildlife and steady enough to prevent you from getting seasick. Brian also gave us an education on wildlife in the area and the history of Bantry Bay. We even got a chance to do some fishing! We can’t say enough about how much we enjoyed Bantry Bay Charters and we're already looking forward to our next voyage with them! See more..
5.0 Cobh Rebel Walking Tours (138 reviews)
- Excellent tour - you won't be disappointed
Tuesday: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM Historical & Heritage Tours • Walking Tours

We were visiting Cobh as part of a 12 night cruise and had seen reviews of this tour beforehand. Despite there only being 2 of us we effectively had a private tour with Keiran who is a local guy with a real passion and knowledge of the history of the place. We learnt a significant amount over the 2 hours at a fraction of the price of the ships tours. We would highly recommend and if you get the opportunity whilst visiting Cobh don't miss Keiran's tour. See more..
5.0 Fairways and FunDays (114 reviews)
- Sligo Tour
Multi-day Tours • Sightseeing Tours • Private Tours • Self-Guided Tours & Rentals

A group of 4 travelled to Sligo and played 3 fantastic courses on the west coast (Enniscrone, Rosses Point and Strandhill). We had a good location in Sligo town and the Glasshouse Hotel was ideal for our trip, serving excellant food at breakfast and dinner. The three courses we played were magnificant and we would 100% recommend Fairways and Fundays again. Phil and Marie were excellant to deal with and replied to every query within hours. The whole trip was great value and stress free, as everything was pre-booked and pre-paid. We would highly recommend Fairways and Fundays! See more..
5.0 Boyne Valley Activities- Day Tours (111 reviews)
- Fantastic fun!
Boat Tours

Absolutely lashing rain didn't stop the absolute craic on the River Boyne. In fact, on a rainy day it might be the activity to go for, you're in a river anyway. The guides were fantastic and got everyone involved, the 'rapids' at the end were loved by the kids. Highly recommended. See more..
5.0 Beyond the Glass Adventure Tours (110 reviews)
- Best Way to Experience Ireland!
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM City Tours • Multi-day Tours • Bike Tours

If you enjoy the outdoors, the 8 day adventure tour is truly the best way to experience Ireland! We hiked, biked and journeyed up the western coast of Ireland from Cork to Achill Island. It was absolutely amazing! James, our tour guide, was truly committed to making our experience adventurous and fun! James shared his tremendous knowledge of Ireland's history, mythology and music. I am so thankful that I found this tour through TripAdvisor. There is just no way I could have planned a vacation like this. I knew I would enjoy this tour, but it was better than I ever imagined! Thank you, James, for making my first trip to Ireland so memorable and magical! I will be back! See more..
5.0 Small Escorted Tours Of Ireland (106 reviews)
- A trip of a lifetime to Ireland!
Tuesday: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Multi-day Tours • Cultural Tours • Historical & Heritage Tours • Sightseeing Tours • Day Trips

Although our trip was delayed by over 2-years due to COVID, it was worth the wait. Paul Hoyne, our tour guide, came highly recommended by a peer - who was spot on! Besides doing a fantastic job explaining the history of Ireland, Paul was extremely personable and accommodated our needs throughout the tour. Ireland is a beautiful country. Working with the Small Escorted Tours Of Ireland company allowed us to build an itinerary that enabled us to see so much of the country in a limited amount of time. It was an excellent experience. I would highly recommend the Small Escorted Tours Of Ireland company and Paul Hoyne as your tour guide! See more..
5.0 Wild Atlantic Sports (100 reviews)
- Great route, Great scenery
Tuesday: Bike Tours • Gear Rentals

Highly recommed Ruth and her business Wild Atlantic Sports. We had booked for the Coast tour. Ruth contacted me to say she was extremely busy and the day we wanted to have the tour wasn't possible as she had to drop.bikes of elsewhere for a large group, she offered us a couple of other options one being a full days rental for same price which we took. Met Ruth on time on Monday morning gave us a lot of tips, advice and information. We had great weather and my wife and I set off to the "Old Head" route. Stopped many times at Sandy cove and many other spots to take many pictures. In total we did approximately 50kms, (electricbikes) we had a great trip to the old head and then back then to Charles Fort, James Fort. Stopped at a couple of bars and enjoyed a couple of well earned pints. We left the.bikes locked up at agreed location for Ruth to pick up, which she did. Would recommend and would.do again See more..