Hidden Heartlands

Simple, splendid, traditional, contemporary, quirky or quintessentially Irish, there’s a perfect self-catering home from home waiting for you on the island of Ireland. Self-catering is a great way to holiday, offering maximum freedom and flexibility. And on the island of Ireland, you can make your break truly memorable with a stay in a castle, cottage, beach house, historic tower or...

Discover a host of hidden gems across the island of Ireland, from dazzling light shows to amazing architecture... Going off the beaten track in Ireland is worth it. There's a whole host of special places to discover, from impossibly beautiful little harbours to vast, undiscovered peninsulas, iconic castle ruins to ancient bog bodies. There's even what locals call a magic...

When you holiday in Ireland, it's good to know that the stunning views and gorgeous coastlines are not the only things you can enjoy for free. Discover amazing museums, spectacular landscapes and insightful visitor centres. There's no end to the exciting things to do in Dublin and fantastic places to go in Ireland Here's a list of 20 free things...

An idyllic region in the Irish midlands offers a surprising array of attractions and many hidden gems you won’t want to miss. County Offaly sits in the heart of Ireland with the majestic River Shannon on its western borders and the soft rolling hills of the Slieve Bloom mountains to the east.A wild mountain park, great expanses of bogland, towering...

Abounding in natural beauty, mountains, cliffs and dramatic coastlines, there is something to captivate even the most seasoned travellers on the island of Ireland. It takes days, weeks really, to see the best of the greenest country in Europe, and trying to figure out what to do can be a bit overwhelming. So save some time and check out this...

St Patrick’s Day parades on the island of Ireland With parades and celebrations galore taking place across the island, Ireland is the best place to be this St Patrick’s day! The epicentre of the merriment is the huge St Patrick’s Day Festival in Dublin (16th-19th March). This year’s National St Patrick’s Day parade, driven by community, diversity, youth and sustainability values, will be...

Fáilte Ireland has today (19/12/22) welcomed confirmation of the Just Transition Fund tourism allocation, which will transform tourism across 8 counties in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and Ireland’s Ancient East through a regenerative tourism scheme. €68million has been allocated to the National Tourism Development Authority to implement a Regenerative Tourism & Placemaking Scheme for Ireland’s Midlands. The focus of the scheme is...

Your ultimate hiking guide - explore 25 epic Irish trails There’s nothing quite like the feeling of fresh air on your face and rugged terrain underfoot as you reach the summit of one of Ireland’s majestic mountains. Wander down woodland routes, escape to the coast on stunning seaside walks and conquer the highest peaks in the country, where spectacular views...

Tens of thousands of traditional music-loving folk gathered in the town of Cavan for the 2010 Fleadh Cheoil and less than 24 hours into my maiden festival visit, I found myself smack bang in the middle of Lough Oughter. Dating back to the early 1950s, Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann (Festival of Music in Ireland) was established to promote Irish traditional...

Autumn is the ideal time to explore the island of Ireland’s fabulous landscape and enjoy the rejuvenating power of nature. Autumn on the island of Ireland offers the perfect combination of bright, crisp days and cosy evenings. As the leaves turn to red and gold, the landscape takes on a vibrant hue that is a gift to photographers and artists...