Spring break on the island of Ireland
Spring break is synonymous with beaches and sunshine, but why not add an explosion of culture into the mix this year, courtesy of the island of Ireland? Hedgerows brim with flowers and crisp pale blue skies will welcome visitors to the island nation, which is becoming increasingly popular as a springtime getaway thanks to its countryside scenery and an array of city activities.
From fields, secluded beaches, hikes, city tours, cuisine and museums, to street parades and a buzzing nightlife, the island of Ireland is topping the list of spring break destinations for both millennial globetrotters and families.
Here are just a few of the things one can expect to experience in Ireland in Spring:
Ireland’s National Day
Every March, landmarks around the world turn to green to celebrate Ireland’s National Day on 17th March. Check off the ultimate bucket list item and a highlight of Ireland’s social calendar, with a first-hand experience of nearly every nook and corner lit with festivities to commemorate the day. Hundreds of St. Patrick’s Day parades take place across the island, with more than half a million revellers taking to the streets of Dublin alone for one of the biggest, most vibrant parade spectaculars in the world: a whirlwind of glittering colours and entrancing choreography, incredible feasts of design and engineering, and a cacophony of joyous sounds.
Kilkenny
There’s a reason Kilkenny is one of Ireland’s short-break capitals – there’s so much to see and do. The city is lined with cobbled streets and an old world charm that offers a sweet escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Castles, St Canice’s Cathedral and the restored medieval Rothe House, the deer park at Jenkinstown and Castlecomer Discovery Park are just some of the unique places to explore in Kilkenny.
Dingle Peninsula
Slea Head Drive has often been considered one of the most beautiful drives on earth, and has the National Geographic, CNN and Trip Advisor’s stamp of approval. If you’re in the mood for a little soul searching, hop into a car and take Dingle’s coast drive that is lined withold monasteries, beehive huts, ancient ruins and stone dwellings. This unmissable 30-mile stretch into the Atlantic Ocean offers views of colourful towns, sea and sky, with an abundance of scenic stops along the way, including Conor Pass - one of Ireland’s highest mountain passes, and Blasket Islands - an uninhabited group of islands off the west coast.