The picturesque town may have originated in Ireland; it is well renowned for its indefinable “Irishness” that never fails to amaze those who come. Ireland’s little towns have it going on, from the friendliness of the locals to the charming buildings and breathtaking scenery. As for history, many of the local settlements seem to have been founded around ancient monasteries that date back millennia.
To whet your hunger for the rest of this stunning country, we have selected the most lovely towns in Ireland. Amid a nation as rough and rocky as it is soft and green, almost all of them are located in some of the most startlingly stunning scenery you’ve ever seen, including mountains, loughs, woods, and stark, sweeping beaches.
Donegal
Due to its proximity to the wildness represented by the towering Blue Stack Mountains, this area is ideal for hikers interested in seeing some very striking vistas. Several beaches, including Rossnowlagh’s 3-kilometer stretch of surfable sand, can be found in the vicinity as well.
Donegal town has a long history, as evidenced by pre-Celtic forts, a castle from the 15th century that you may explore, and the ruins of Donegal Abbey from 1474, from the top of which you can get beautiful views of Donegal Bay.
Clifden
Unlike many Irish cities, it really came into being quite late in the country’s history in the 19th century, growing up due of the similarly late Gothic-revivalist Clifden Castle (constructed around 1818), now a ruin.
Otherwise, Clifden is ideally located for trips into Connemara National Park, where serious hikers can try to summit the “Twelve Bens” in a day. The “Sky Road” is a scenic 11-kilometer drive along the breathtaking Clifden Bay that offers easy access to breathtaking vistas.
Clonakilty
Tourists flock to this town in West Cork, as seen by its colourful architecture and abundance of bars with live music. Actually, in 2017 it was recognised as Europe’s best little town.
Clonakilty’s black pudding, made from a family recipe that has been kept secret since 1880, may be responsible for the town’s notoriety. Perhaps it’s because of the town’s adorable Model Village. One possible explanation is the presence of pre-Celtic ring forts and Norman castles in the region. We see it as a combination of both.
Kenmare
Fans of Harry Potter may recognise Kenmare as the location of the “Kenmare Kestrels,” one of 13 teams in the Quidditch League of Britain and Ireland. Hillwalkers, on the other hand, come for the region’s peace and natural beauty, which can be experienced in places like the Caha Mountains on the Beara Peninsula and Killarney National Park to the north. The town of Kenmare serves as a connecting point for the “Ring of Kerry” and the “Ring of Beara,” two of Ireland’s most popular tourist itineraries.
Birr
Despite being out of the way of more popular attractions, the little village of Birr and its brightly painted Georgian houses are well worth the trip. And like many Irish towns, it has a rich history: in approximately 540 AD, Brendan of Birr, one of the “Twelve Apostles of Ireland,” built a monastery there.
The main draw is Birr Castle and its beautiful surrounding gardens. The castle has been there for at least 1170 and is currently the private seat of the Earls of Rosse, therefore many parts are off-limits to visitors. However, the grounds of the castle house the formerly biggest telescope in the world.
Enniskerry
Enniskerry is a tiny village nestled on the banks of the Glencullen River in the Wicklow Mountains, just 15 miles (24 kilometres) from Dublin.
Because of its proximity to the mountains, the town serves as a convenient jumping-off point for excursions into the wild (121 metres – the highest in the country). The Powerscourt Estate, which includes the magnificent residence and stunning Italian gardens, owns the area where the waterfall is located.
Cobh
This is Titanic town, formerly callled as Queenstown since1849 till Irish independence from Britain in 1920. The RMS Titanic made her penultimate stop here before setting sail across the Atlantic. For over a century, this was also the point of departure for millions of Irish people heading to North America (1848 – 1950).
Rows of colourful homes descend the town’s slopes in an orderly fashion to the port, making the waterside of Cobh an attractive sight from the sea.
Westport
Westport, a town that has won the Irish Tidy Towns Award three times, is a beautiful example of Georgian urban design, with wide boulevards and lovely shopping centres lining both sides of the Carrowbeg River. In the 1780s, the ancient village of Cahernamart was removed to make way for the town of Westport House, which was designed by architect James Wyatt.
Croagh Patrick, or The Reek as it’s known locally, is a prominent landmark that serves as a focal point for the town and a place of national pilgrimage due to the legend that Saint Patrick spent 40 days fasting at its summit in the year 441.
Lismore
A monastery was established in the area around Lismore around 635 A.D., which makes the town rather old. The impressive Lismore Castle, built in 1185, sits on the ruins of the ancient Abbey. This historic structure is privately owned by the Cavendish family and has been since 1753, but visitors can explore certain areas.
However, you’re free to wander through the stunning Castle Gardens at your leisure. The Book of Lismore, a compilation of literature on the lives of saints, was written in this area about the year 1500.
Killarney
Killarney isn’t only a lovely place to visit since it’s the entry point to Killarney National Park, which is a veritable oasis in the middle of the bustling city. Located on the shores of Lough Leane, the town is home to a number of interesting landmarks and attractions, such as the 15th-century Ross Castle, the ruins of Muckross Abbey (founded as a Franciscan friary in 1485) and the Victorian-era Muckross House and its idyllic gardens, which served as the inspiration for the creation of the National Park in 1932. In 2007, the town was named “Best Kept” by the American Planning Association.
Adare
Adare’s picture-perfect thatched houses have contributed to the town’s rise to fame as one of Ireland’s most picturesque and to its designation as a Heritage Town by the Irish government. Adare Manor, which was also erected in the 19th century, is where the cottages were constructed in the 1800s; the location has been documented as early as 1226, when Henry II granted permission to one of his lords to have an 8-day feast at the manor.
In addition, Adare is home to three monasteries, including the Augustinian Priory (1316), the Franciscan friary (1464), and the Trinitarian Abbey (1230), which is now the Catholic Parish church.
Kinsale
Located at the banks of the River Bradon, Kinsale has earned the title of “the beautiful town in Ireland” thanks to its charming architecture and the brilliantly painted storefronts that make strolling the town a pleasure in and of itself.
On one side of the river are the ruins of the 17th-century James’s Fort, while the other side is home to the even earlier Fort Charles. Desmond Castle, a former customs house built in the 1500s, is now home to the International Wine Museum. The Old Head of Kinsale is a nearby rocky outcrop that impressively protrudes into the Celtic Sea and is topped with a lighthouse built in the 17th century.
Carlingford
Carlingford, located on the border with Northern Ireland, is a little town with a rich history that can be seen in its narrow streets and alleys. The Mint, a fortified building from the 15th century, can be found on Tholsel Street, and the harsh stones of King John Castle, erected in 1210, can be seen nearby on Tholsel Street. “The Tholsel” is all that’s left of a gate in the town’s mediaeval defences.
Despite the town’s troubled past, mediaeval Carlingford has been preserved in its entirety, from its churches to its 14th-century market square.
Dingle
This town on the Dingle Peninsula is well-known for its bars, fishing, bottlenose dolphin (or one, named Fungie), and the fact that it is located in a Gaeltacht (Gaelic-speaking) region and so uses Gaelic as its local vernacular language equally as frequently as English.
Dingle harbour was founded following the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century, and it features a stunning vista of rolling hills, including the neighbouring Connor Pass and its waterfall. In addition, thereafter, you may reward yourself by relaxing in one of Dingle’s many pubs for the night.