Hi everyone. I hope I find you all well and in the mood for some romance-Irish style. With it being Valentine’s Day on Tuesday, we’re taking a tour of our favorite romantic places as voted for by The Irish Store Family. With our wealth of windswept beaches, fairy tale castles and majestic mountains, we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to destinations for courting couples. Here’s our top 10. Enjoy!
Our Top 10 Romantic Places in Ireland
1. Kinsale, West Cork

What better place to begin our romantic journey than the gateway to West Cork- Kinsale. This beautiful town is also known as “Ireland’s Riviera” and “The Gourmet Capital of Ireland” and for good reason. The food is amazing here so there’s no shortage of places for the perfect romantic meal for two. Then maybe a stroll along the waterfront or through the charming winding streets to find a cozy corner in one of its many great pubs.
2. The Wicklow Mountains

Next up we’re off for a romantic hike in Ireland’s largest National Park which covers over 50,000 acres. This stunning landscape offers a wealth of heather covered slopes, lush woodlands, deep lakes and twisting country roads. The highest peak is Lugnaquilla at 925 meters but my personal favorite is the much loved Great Sugarloaf (pictured )which is a gentler climb. Matching Aran sweaters are a must in chilly February!
3. Ashford Castle, Mayo

When it comes to romantic fairytale settings, it doesn’t get much better than this. The Anglo-Norman house of Burke were the first to build a castle on this site in 1228. The estate was bought by Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness in 1852 and remained in Guinness hands until the family gifted it to the Irish government in 1939. Today it boasts being one of The Leading Hotels of The World and has hosted a memorable roll call of guests including John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara (the grounds of the castle were a location for “The Quiet Man”) and Princess Grace to name but a few.
4. Clough Oughter Castle, Cavan

Our next stop takes us to the heart of County Cavan, Ireland’s “Lakeland County”, where it is said there is a lake for every day of the year. Clough Oughter Castle is situated on a man made island on Lake Oughter and dates back to the 13th century. The perfect place for a Valentine proposal!
5. Glencar Waterfall, Leitrim

We head west now to County Leitrim for a visit to one of Ireland’s most beautiful waterfalls. We’re in Yeats country now, arguably Ireland’s best known poet and one of the last of the Romantic Poets who immortalized Glencar in his poem “The Stolen Child”
“where the wandering water gushes from the hills above Glencar”
6. Connemara, Galway

No romantic trip around Ireland would be complete without a visit to the rugged and untamed beauty of Connemara in County Galway. The stunning scenery includes mountain ranges, fjords and lakes, and of course it’s where you’ll find Ireland’s unique and ancient gemstone, Connemara Marble.
7. Aran Islands, Galway

Next up, we’re taking a trip off the Galway coast to the iconic Aran Islands and home to our equally iconic Aran Sweater. Inishmore, the largest of the islands boasts over 50 ancient monuments of rich Celtic heritage. Inishmann, the least visited of the islands gives a true feeling of getting away from the modern world and was a favourite retreat of Irish writer J.M.Synge. Inisheer, the smallest of the islands, has an irresistible charm and offers astounding views of the Cliffs of Moher.
8. Cliffs of Moher

We leave the Aran Islands and head back to the mainland now to the equally iconic Cliffs of Moher. One of Ireland’s most popular natural wonders makes the perfect place for a romantic if bracing walk for two! The cliffs rise majestically from the southwestern edge of the Burren and rise over 8 km along the edge of the Atlantic to their highest point at 214 meters at their midpoint at O’Briens’s tower.
8. Silver Strand, Malin Beg, Donegal

Nothing says romance quite like an Irish beach walk and now we head to the north west of the country for a visit to two of its finest. This perfectly formed horseshoe bay with its sandy white strand and irresistible blue waters is such a feast for the senses. Descend the many stone steps and find yourself wrapped in majestic cliffs with stunning Atlantic views.
9. Strandhill Beach, Sligo

We head into neighboring County Sligo to stop off at yet another beach-we’re obviously big fans of the romantic beach walk at The Irish Store! This time it’s Strandhill Beach. This surfers paradise is situated just 5 miles outside Sligo town. The views of Knocknarea and Benbulben are simply stunning and I can highly recommend the local seaweed baths-the perfect way to unwind after your beach walk.
10. Powerscourt House & Gardens

We end our top ten romantic Irish places tour back in County Wicklow at Powerscourt House & Gardens. Arguably the jewel in the crown of The Garden of Ireland, the stunning gardens here were first designed in 1731 and cover over 47 acres. They were also voted no. 3 in National Geographic’s top 10 gardens in the world. There’s also a Japanese Garden, statuary and even a pet cemetery!
Thanks so much for dropping by.
Happy Valentine’s Day from Ireland to all!
Take care of yourselves and each other.
Slán go fóill!
Lulu.
22 comments
Your products are as beautiful as your country! Thank you Lulu for sharing with us!
Thanks so much Robert. That’s very kind of you,
Take good care,
Lulu
They are all beautiful locations but I think my favorite would be Clare Island Lighthouse, Mayo. Ireland is such a beautiful country and someday I hope to visit it.
Good choice Sue! I would love a trip there right now-such a beautiful place.I hope you get the opportunity to visit us someday soon,
Kind regards,
Lulu.
Thankyou Lulu the pictures are beautiful. My wife and I enjoyed them immensely !
Hi James and Beverly,
How lovely to receive your lovely comment! I’m so glad you enjoyed the blog.
Happy Valentine’s Day to you both!
Kind regards,
Lulu.
Hi Lulu. I enjoyed your photos immensely. I just did the ancestry DNA and I’m 77% Irish. Galway. Mayo. Sligo. Both sets of grandparents are from Ireland. I love the things in your store. Just ordered a lovely cardigan. Can’t wait to wear it!!. ( my other 23% is Scottish) Best Wishes. Linda Haney
So you’re Celtic through and through! And your Irish ancestors are from such a beautiful part of the country!Thanks so much for your lovely feedback. It’s so good to hear. Enjoy your new cardigan!
Kind regards,
Lulu.
I love your choices and your products! I am chagrined I can’t seem to order the
Drumcliffe Aran Cardigan by Paul Costelloe. Shall it return to inventory any time
soon?
Hi Nora,
I’m so sorry the Drumcliffe Cardigan is sold out at the moment but we’re expecting more stock by the end of the month. I’ll let you know as soon as it’s in.
Thanks so much for choosing The Irish Store,
Kind regards,
Lulu.
I’ve enjoyed your products (sweater and cap) and will definitely visit your beautiful island in October, 2022. I’m looking forward to the tour.
Hi Richard,
Great to hear you’re enjoying your cap a sweater- a classic combination! How exciting that you’re coming to visit this year-wishing you safe travels and a wonderful trip.
Kind regards,
Lulu.
Love your products. Probably have bought too many of your sweaters. Ha! My wife and I had planned a trip from the US until Covid raised its ugly head. At our age travel is getting limited(80+). If we ever do make it we plann to visit YOU. You seem like a really delightful person.
Hi Jim,
Lovely to hear from you and so glad you’re a big fan of The Irish Store.You can never have too many Aran sweaters! I do hope you get the chance to come visit soon!
Thanks so much for your lovely feedback-it really means a lot.
Kind regards,
Lulu.
Hello Lulu,
Your pictures are beautiful just as Ireland is. All your merchandise is wonderful and I will continue buying from your website. Thank you for being so sweet, kind and professional , it is really appreciated. A Thousand Blessings to you and your family.☘️
Hi Cindy,
Thanks so much for your kind comments. It means so much to hear that you’re a fan of The Irish Store!
Kind regards to you and yours,
Lulu.
Love my sweater…highest quality ….. outstanding value……great fit. Couldn’t ask for better.
Hi Joseph,
Wonderful to hear your purchase was a great success. Thanks so much for the lovely feedback.
Kind regards,
Lulu.
Hi Lulu,
My wife and I visited Ireland in 2019 and traveled on our own from Connemara down to County Cork and ended our trip in Dublin. We loved the Cliffs of Moher and Galway City. We happened on an arts festival in Clifden that was wonderful! We also got to visit Mitchelstown, where my grandmother was born. I am awaiting notification that I have been listed in the Foreign Births Registry so I can apply for my Irish passport. We are hoping to travel there again soon!
I have two of your lovely sweaters and I gave my mom one of your blankets (she’s 95 almost 96) to keep her warm when she sits in her chair to watch tv. I also gave her one of your cardigans. She loves them both!
Thanks for all you do!
Pat
Hi Pat,
Sounds like you had a wonderful trip back in 2019!Good luck with the passport and I hope you get to visit again very soon.
I’m so glad you and your Mom are enjoying our sweaters and blankets -they certainly keep you cozy! It means so much to get this lovely feedback.
Kind regards and many thanks,
Lulu.
You published a list of Irish phrases a while ago, could you possibly re-publish it?
Hi Alaric,
Link to the blog below,
Kind regards,
Lulu.
https://www.theirishstore.com/blog/26-common-irish-sayings/