Ireland Sports and Activities

Sports and Activities Discover the wealth of sports and activities available in Ireland for visitors. Try a round of golf in Ireland and you’ll be impressed. Many of our links and parkland courses were designed by international stars to championship standard, courses such as the K Club and Royal Portrush. Ireland is an angler’s paradise, with clear, unpolluted lakes and rivers. Sail around the entire island. Surf at many fine beaches around the coast, from Portrush to Kerry. Cruise along the Shannon-Erne waterway. Try your hand at windsurfing. Scuba-dive beneath the waves. Or swim off one of the clean, safe and abundant EU Flag beaches, for a real sense of freedom on those wide stretches of sand. Hire a bicycle and stop where you want, go where you please. Take a hiking tour along the Moyle Way, or wander pleasantly in a forest park in Limerick. Saddle up in Connemara or at an equestrian centre in Kildare. Ireland hosts a number of annual racing events, including the November Festival of Racing at Down Royal, Punchestown and the Irish Derby in Kildare. Angling in Ireland With the abundance of coastline and inland waterways, Ireland is the perfect destination for all types of angling holidays. Salmon, trout and sea trout are native species with an honoured place in Irish culture, and Ireland's lakes and rivers have preserved their character in a landscape which has changed very little over the centuries. The Irish coastline, almost 5,000km miles long, is washed by some of the cleanest and clearest seas in Europe. It is also one of the most varied, with dramatic cliffs and many miles of wide strands. This variety offers unlimited opportunities to the sea angler, who can find somewhere to fish all year round. Ireland also has some of the cleanest and most lightly-fished freshwaters in Europe. The Irish landscape is one of small fields and wild peat bogs, littered with lakes of all sizes and drained by many rivers - with the result that there are over 11,000km of riverbank for the coarse and pike angler. The pike is one of the most widespread of Irish fish, and pike fishing is as old as Irish angling. Walking In Ireland There are enormous possibilities for walking in Ireland. The mountains are small by world standards, but many rise directly from sea level. The Irish coast is indented with bays and narrow inlets, offering the walker that wonderful combination of hills and the sea. There are great ridge walks in Ireland that take up to two days to complete, and there are circuits available for full or half days. There are easier walks that take you up smaller hills, often with better views than their bigger neighbours. For the rambler there are exciting coastal walks, river and canal towpaths, quiet country roads, and the network of long distance Waymarked Ways. All these paths have one thing in common - they are unfrequented. There are also many different and complementary themed walks available throughout Ireland. They include the following: Island Walks Coastal Walks Mountain Walks Woodland Walks Moorland Walks Waterways Walks Mythological Walks Long Distance Trails Archaelogical/Historical Walks Alternatively, you can opt for a guided walk Equestrian Tours of Ireland Ireland has long been known as The Land of the Horse. You can experience this tradition, as well as enjoying a variety of beautiful scenery, good food, hospitality and fun, if you choose to take an equestrian holiday in Ireland. There are programmes for all ages and abilities from showjumping, cross-country riding and dressage, to hacking and trail riding through magnificent mountain, coastal and forest scenery. All riding centres promoted by this site are approved by AIRE, the Association of Irish Riding Establishments. Or try a horse drawn caravan holiday in Ireland for a unique adventure. Historic or Heritage tours of Ireland Ireland is famed for its natural beauty and green landscapes but it is also a land which is full of places of great historic significance and interest. Ireland’s historic houses, castles & gardens, monuments, museums and galleries, national parks, visitor centres and theme parks all play a role in bringing alive our Celtic and Christian heritage for the visitor. The only difficulty for today’s visitor lies in the embarrassment of riches and in the wealth of locations and artefacts of archaeological, cultural, spiritual, social and industrial heritage to be discovered and enjoyed. There are well over 342 visitor attractions in Ireland.