Boyne River Valley

Visit a vast burial mound that was built around 3200 B.C., and has an internal chamber that’s illuminated by the winter solstice.

Just half an hour outside of Dublin and set in the midst of a 1,500 acre estate in the Boyne Valley is the beautiful Slane Castle. The castle has been the home of the Conyngham family since the 18th Century, with the major castle reconstruction work taking place in 1785 carried out by James Gandon and James Wyatt.

Located a little south of the town of Malahide in County Fingal, the medieval Malahide Castle is an impressive and imposing structure, blending centuries of history in a single setting. While parts of the castle date back to the 1100s, its grounds offer some of Ireland’s best 18th century garden landscaping, making a trip to Malahide Castle a must for both history and nature enthusiasts.

The Guinness Storehouse is situated at St. James’s Gate Brewery in Dublin. The giant storehouse covers seven floors and is a popular point of interest for tourists - since it opened in 2000, it has received over four million visitors.

Ireland may be known for its lush forests and sparkling lakes, but that doesn’t mean your visit here needs to be sedate. For a day of family thrills, hit the rides at one of Ireland’s largest theme parks, the potato-themed Tayto Park in Ashbourne, County Meath. With a range of activities to please everyone from young children to the grown-ups, you’ll easily find something to keep you entertained.

There are around 50 British-built Martello Towers around the Irish coastline. The majority lie to the east, from Millmount to Bray, around Dublin Bay and also around Cork Harbour on the south coast.