During my visit to Ireland I was able to experience a few of these emerald gems. Located in counties Galway, Mayo and Donegal these lesser known things to do in Ireland are pure pots of gold located at the end of any Irish rainbow.
Here are five things to do in Ireland’s western and northern coasts.
Westport House in Westport, Ireland; Courtesy of Courtney Elko
1. Westport House
Located in County Mayo on Ireland’s West Coast, Westport House is a historic 480-acre estate that was built by descendants of Irish female pirate and chief of the O’Malley clan, Grace O’Malley, who ruled the land and the sea in the 16th century after her father’s death. The history and stories at Westport House run deep. Grace O’Malley fought numerous battles and rebellions and owned several castles in the west of Ireland.
Westport House was built on the foundation of one of those castles and it is still visible in what is now the dungeons of Westport House. Daughter of the 3rd Viscount Mayo Maud Bourke, who was also the great-great-granddaughter of Grace O’Malley, married Colonel John Browne who had the house built in 1730. Generations of Grace O’Malley and the Browne family continued to run Westport House for more than 300 years until 2017, when it was sold to the Hughes family business group.
Today, owned by a new family and opened to the public, the pirate theme continues at Westport House with the estate’s Pirate Adventure Park. Amusement rides, go-karts, zip lining, archery, falconry, bounce houses, a log flume and more, fill the estate grounds. Pretty walking trails around the gardens, wooded areas and large pond and picnic areas allow visitors to enjoy the natural beauty of the estate, too. The mansion is available for touring and the stories of Grace O’Malley and the generations of her family continue to be told.
Westport House is of course the biggest Ireland thing to do in this area, but the town of Westport itself is also worth a visit. The are numerous shops and restaurants in the town center and it’s definitely worth spending a few days exploring all that Westport has to offer.
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Katie’s Claddagh Cottage in Galway, Ireland; Courtesy of Courtney Elko
2. Katie’s Claddagh Cottage
Tucked in a residential area of Galway is Katie’s Cottage in the Claddagh Arts Centre. This tiny thatched-roof cottage could easily be missed when visiting Galway but this Ireland thing to do is filled with a lost history and artisan Irish gifts.
The Claddagh people, who were poor and lived in thatched roof houses, were the main fishermen in Galway for centuries. The word Claddagh means “stoney shore” (fitting for Galway’s shoreline) and the traditional Irish Claddagh ring originated from this village. Unfortunately, as Galway grew and commercial fishing became more popular in the early 1900s, the Claddagh people slowly disappeared.
Katie’s Claddagh Cottage was constructed to pay homage to the people and the village. Inside Katie’s Claddagh Cottage, visitors can witness how the Claddagh lived and how large Irish families and their animals lived inside the small cottages. Warm up by the turf fire, enjoy a cuppa and some homemade scones while you browse the specialty art studio inside as well. Some of Ireland’s best artists, jewelry makers and vintage interior home accessories, all unique and 100 percent Irish are available for purchase inside Katie’s Claddagh Cottage. This is the place to find vintage Claddagh rings and jewelry!
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Galway Bay Harbor in Galway, Ireland; Courtesy of Courtney Elko
3. Galway Bay Boat Tour
Galway Bay Boat Tours is a family-owned business that allows visitors to get out on to the water in Galway while learning about its rich maritime history. Several tour options are available but all of them offer the history of fishing and the Galway hooker, a traditional fishing boat used in Galway Bay, specifically for its strong seas. On the Galway Bay Boat Tours you will learn the history behind the traditional wooden boats and hear about the Galway hooker restoration project which is attempting to rebuild and restore many of these boat beauties. Once on the water, tour operator Ciaran Oliver will tell stories of the Claddagh fishing village while you motor around Galway Bay and get excellent photo-taking views of the colorful homes situated along the harbor.
Finishing the boat tour with a visit to Katie’s Claddagh Cottage, which is just a short walk away from the docks, is an excellent way to spend a day in Galway.
Slieve League in Donegal, Ireland; Courtesy of Courtney Elko
4. Slieve League
In the shadow of the Cliffs of Moher, the cliffs at Slieve League may not be as popular, but they are actually bigger, nearly three times higher than the Cliffs of Moher extending 1,972 feet up from the ocean. Located about four and a half hours north of the Cliffs of Moher in County Donegal, Slieve League is also situated on Ireland’s West Coast along the Wild Atlantic Way. Shuttle bus tours that depart from the Ti Linn Cafe are available to take visitors to the Slieve League viewpoints.
Also called Sliabh or Slieve Liag, Slieve League offers hiking trails for experienced hikers, and incredible viewpoints for those who do not wish to hike. One Man’s Path is not for the faint of heart as the name tells you everything you need to know about the narrow trail to the mountain summit. There are also boat tours available at Teelin Pier in order to view the towering cliffs from the bottom in Donegal Bay. Make sure to check out the rock formation in Donegal Bay — some say the two large rocks situated in a cliff’s cove look like a giant’s desk and chair.
After experience the awesome Slieve League views, make sure to have a cup of tea and a scone at the Ti Linn Cafe down below in Teelin Village. You can warm up with some Irish stew, browse the artisan items for sale and post some stories to your feed with their free Wi-Fi.
Glenveagh Castle in Donegal, Ireland; Courtesy of Courtney Elko
5. Glenveagh Castle
Located in County Donegal and just 90 minutes from Slieve League is Ireland’s second largest national park. Within the 40,000 acres of Glenveagh National Park you will find Glenveagh Castle. The stone castle was built from granite between 1868 and 1873 and had only three owners, who never had any heirs. The final owner who was from Philadelphia, Henry P. McIlhenny, purchased the castle in 1937. He summered at Glenveagh Castle, which was just a few miles from where his grandfather once lived in County Donegal. In the 1980s, McIlhenny bestowed the castle and estate to Ireland and a few years later the park and castle were opened to the public.
Guided tours (currently unavailable due to COVID-19) inside the castle offer stories about each room and the history of the castle owners through the years. One of the owners mysteriously disappeared while on a walk and was never heard from again. The castle’s outdoor gardens are worth a stroll and have a look out at Lough Veagh and the pool that overlooks the lake waters. There are plenty of hiking and biking trails that surround the castle and the national park as well.
Disclaimer: Please check to see that any of the above recommendations are currently open and welcoming visitors despite the pandemic, before planning a visit.
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