More Hidden Gem Places to Visit in Ireland

by Donal Buckley

Last year, I spent the holidays in Dublin and wrote an article on it when I returned. But this year, instead of going for the winter, my family went during Spring Break. We go back to Ireland a decent amount, and most trips include visiting family and taking strolls around the city of Dublin. But, like when we went during the holidays, my family wanted to make the most of our time back and try some new things. So, for a couple of days, my dad and I traveled up north and explored the country some more. These are some hidden gem places in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Belfast

Belfast is the largest city and capital of Northern Ireland. If you didn’t know, Ireland is actually divided into 32 counties, and six of them belong to Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK. So technically, we were travelling to a different country — you might not be able to tell, though, since there’s no border patrol or passport required to enter. If you’re flying in through Dublin, the two capital cities are just under two hours apart by car. Keep in mind, if you do go up north, you’ll have to pay in British pounds instead of euros.

Regardless, one of Belfast’s most iconic tourist attractions is the Titanic Museum. But something more underground is the Black Cab tour. Throughout the late 60s to 90s, Northern Ireland went through a period of political turmoil known as the “Troubles.” As the capital of the country, Belfast is an epicenter of history and remnants of the conflict are left over even today. My dad and I went on a Black Cab tour, where a driver picks you up and drives you around various parts of the city, pointing out murals that were painted during and since the Troubles. The driver also gives an unbiased account of what happened, so if you’re looking to learn something new, I’d highly recommend this tour. Unlike other tours, we were the only ones in the car, meaning it was much more conversation-based and personal, as opposed to going around in a bus. We left feeling satisfied and well-informed.

Belfast also has other cool spots, like the extravagant City Hall. I briefly mentioned the Titanic Museum before, and the reason why it’s so popular is because it was actually built in Belfast. I had been there when I was little, so we didn’t go again, but there’s a list of Titanic victims just outside City Hall, so we paid our respects. Right across from City Hall was a lavish restaurant chain known as The Ivy, where we went for dinner. They have over 50 across the UK and Ireland, and if it’s within your budget, I’d recommend their burgers and cocktails.

Derry

Also known as Londonderry, this is another city synonymous with the Troubles. Like Belfast, there’s plenty of tours to understand Derry’s role in the conflict, including the neighborhood where Bloody Sunday happened and general walking tours around historic churches in the city. Derry’s also known as the walled city because the whole city is surrounded by castle walls. We merely passed by a group doing this tour, but you can walk its perimeter while on a historic castle. Along the way, you’ll even see some cannons and each one has a plaque that says where it originally came from.

My dad and I were motivated to visit Derry for two different reasons. He had been reading up on the history of Northern Ireland, where I had simply just finished watching Derry Girls. This mostly lighthearted comedy follows the lives of teenagers growing up during the Troubles, and has easily skyrocketed to one of my favorite shows. So, naturally, we paid a visit to the Derry Girls mural, which also happened to be along the castle walk. I snapped a pic and we continued on our way.

Other than tours and murals, Derry was a cute and walkable city. Unlike Belfast, we didn’t spend the night, instead using it as a pit stop and quick history lesson before continuing onward. Still, those who have even a few hours to spare and are in the area should definitely check it out. It’s just over an hour by car from Belfast.

Carlingford
Belfast and Derry were the only two cities in Northern Ireland that we visited. Back in the Republic of Ireland, my dad and I spent a night at the chilly Carlingford coast before heading back to Dublin. The best way I can describe Carlingford is as a folky beach town. It’s very small, and like most of the country, very old as well. Like Derry, the town is built on the foundations of a castle and remnants of this castle — like a prison, that was really just a room — are preserved for tourists to take a look at.

The town itself is lined with gift shops, antique stores, and bars. My dad told me his father used to take his mother here for days out together. It was nice to experience, even just for a bit, what my grandparents enjoyed doing in their memory. We had dinner at the Carlingford Arms, one of their favorite spots, which is an iconic and historic pub of the town. It was lined with cheeky sayings, but I won’t spoil any of them so you can experience them for yourself when you visit.

The Countryside

Not exactly a “place,” but hours of driving in Ireland means you’re winding through an endless countryside. All of Ireland is known for its lush, green landscape with farms as far as the eye can see. And of course, sheep! No matter if it was the morning, afternoon, or getting close to sunset, the view was breathtaking. A picture doesn’t do it justice and if you’re going to go to Ireland, you need to experience the countryside at least once.

As we were heading through the countryside, we’d drive through small towns, each with their own distinct vibe. It was cool seeing just how different each one was, and how each local lived their life there. We also drove through historic landmarks, such as castles and famous battlegrounds. Ireland is tens of thousands of years old, and it was fun seeing even an ounce of history. It makes me appreciate going there much more.

Starbucks

Wait, what? Obviously, Starbucks isn’t unique to Ireland — there’s literally four around USC. But I do want to point out that, when you’re travelling internationally, Starbucks offers different foods. And honestly, the Northern Irish Starbucks felt gourmet compared to what we have here. From a pistachio & raspberry cookie to salted caramel florentines, I felt like I was in a fancy French cafe and not a fast food chain. Sadly, I didn’t get around to trying anything other than a lemon muffin, which was still miles better than what we have here.

As I continue to visit Ireland, I’m grateful for the opportunity to make the trips unique. This was my second time ever visiting Northern Ireland, and now that I’m older, I remember it enough to make recommendations on where to go. I also wrote an article recently on spending St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin, so if you’re looking for some more things to check out in Dublin, I’d recommend giving that a read. Overall, I love going back, and can’t wait for next time so I can make part three.