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THE GUINNESS STOREHOUSE has topped the list once again as Ireland’s top tourist attraction, after more than 1.7 million people passed through St James’s Gate in 2018.
It drew in an extra 25,000 more visitors than in 2017 and remains in the top spot of fee-charging attractions.
Behind the storehouse on the list is the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience which attracted 1.5 million visitors, followed by Dublin Zoo, which attracted over 1.2 million visitors.
A separate list of free-to-enter attractions, saw Kilkenny Castle Parklands make the cut for the first time – it jumped straight to the top with 799,032 visitors last year and knocked the National Gallery of Ireland into second place.
In 2017, the gallery drew in over one million visitors, but that plummeted by more than 300,00 to 775, 3824 in 2018.
Two major exhibits -Beyond Caravaggio and Vermeer and the mmasters of genre Painting – launched in 2017 in a newly refurbished wing, however, which lent to the appeal for tourists in Dublin that year.
In third place on the free-to-enter list was Glendalough, followed by the National Botanic Gardens.
A spokesperson for Fáilte Ireland, which carried out the survey, said challenges remain in developing and promoting a world-class tourism industry in Ireland.
Director of product development, Orla Carroll said: “While 2018 was a positive year for most of Ireland’s top attractions, there are many challenges ahead for the tourism industry.
“Our work with attractions in helping them grow their visitor numbers through training and funding is a significant part of what we do across the country.”
Overall, the top 10 fee-paying attractions are:
The full list of Ireland’s top 10 free-to-enter attractions are:
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I thought Kilmainham Gaol would make most lists in Ireland. A very popular and busy destination for all tourists visiting Dublin.
@VIncent McGloughlin: Can’t believe the Zoo is no 3 in this day & age animals behind bars
@Mary Oliver: I’m not very fond of this idea either, but there are several species there that would be at even greater risk of extinction, except for the captive populations. This is probably necessary until humanity as a whole gets its act together, which doesn’t look hugely likely in the near future, tbh.
@George Salter: Wild animals should not be put on display for financial gain
@Mary Oliver: Of course. What’s your better, instant solution? A lot of zoos aren’t actually profit-making; they pay costs and re-invest into pro-animal projects. This is Dublin Zoo, not the Donald Trump Memorial Trophyhunting Paek
@George Salter: They should be maybe phased out
@George Salter: Dublin Zoo is most definitely profit making.
I’ve not been to any of these places. I prefer to spend my spare time in a pit of despair brought about my own depression …
@Colin Buckley: don’t know how that didn’t make the list, tell me more about this pit?
@Colin Buckley: Me neither. I prefer to stay at home and post negative comments on news websites about what a horrible country I live in. I’m sure all of my issues are a result of this island rather than my own failings.
@Tweety McTweeter: you can join perpetualmoaners.com it might help!
@Colin Buckley: Is that free to enter, or is there a charge?
@Colin Buckley: I’m sorry to hear that and hope you’re okay. It sounds like you could benefit from talking to someone.
I recommend https://www.aware.ie
Or call the Samaritans on tel: 116123
@GerryCummins: Is that a pornhub subdivision?
@GerryCummins: tried that, they found me to positive …
@Fachtna Roe: The price is the eternal damnation of your soul …
@Tweety McTweeter:
That’s just weird man, my problems are personal at least. I don’t mind this country, in fact it’s quite nice most of the time, except for that one time when that thing happened to those people in that place … You remember that right?!?
@George Salter:
It was but I had to shut it down due to copyright infringement!!!
@Colin Buckley: maybe if we can get a few tourists to visit you just might lift the gloom.. Especially if we put you in the fee paying section
Any reason why the journal is not covering the farmer protests all round the country?????
@John Jordan: maybe because the farmers protest so often, it’s not newsworthy anymore.
@John Jordan: brown enveloped!
How are figures worked.out for free places?
@Frainc Ó Broin: lots of free places are still ticketed. Those that aren’t are probably surveyed at some point.
@Sean Ryan: St Catherine’s Park should be included as free amenity/attraction. Excellent parkland
@Frainc Ó Broin: cliff of moher isnt free u have to park in a park and they charge each persob in car .its a rip off free is a lie.
@Tadhg O’shaughnessy: It’s not listed on the free attraction list.
@Tadhg O’shaughnessy: bit early to be on the sauce
It’s a shame Newgrange Is not on the list but it needs an investment to upgrade the experience. And maybe a name change “Brú na Bóinne “ is not very media friendly.
@Martin Sinnott: Nothing wrong with the name. You’re moaning for the sake of a moan.
@Leadóg: I’m disappointed newgrange is not on the list
@Martin Sinnott: I’m not disappointed. Too many tourists will destroy the place.
@Martin Sinnott: That may be because the numbers are strictly controlled with timed visits via minibus to the chambers. This is a survey of headcount rather than a ranking of quality.
@Martin Sinnott: change the name? You do know Newgrange and Brú na Bóinne are not synonymous, right? Newgrange is one part of Brú na Bóinne. And here you are suggesting removing part of its heritage. Maybe we can scrap the name Dún Aonghasa? Maybe make it illegal to speak Irish in Indreabhán?
@Terry McClatchey: exactly. There can be quite a long wait for the trip out to the monument from the museum and the only a small number can visit the site at any one time. It is our most awesome tourist attraction in my opinion
@Martin Sinnott: how about the Trump International Passage Tomb?
I also thought both Kilmainham gaol and Newgrange would have made the list. Both are worth a visit.
@3isamagicnumber: Both suffer from being tiny spaces, it is not physically possible to get 500,000 through the passageway in Newgrange every year. Kilmainham Gaol similar, they can only manage a few hundred a day, hence the waiting lists for tickets
I thought Fota in Cork would have made it.
Spike Island is brilliant surprised it didn’t make the list but it will soon enough I am sure.
I notice Spring Garden Lane between Pearse and Townsend St didn’t make the list. There’s nowhere else on Earth you can spot an obese heroin addict in its natural environment with such intimacy. Sometimes pushing a pram in leggings. Beautiful in its way
@Roy O’Rourke: the red line tour of junkieville is amazing. I never knew how it was possible to move such short distances to pick up gear talk on the phone and drool on the floor at the same time.
You pay for Glendalough now. Such a pity and it’s cash only.
@Sandra Fogarty Tormey: it’s free in, but you pay for parking, €4 a car for the official car park. The hotel used to have free parking, but it’s €5 a car now, I used to park there and get food afterwards but not anymore. Once inside the hotel, it is absolute extortion, no surprises that it is owned by a FF TD.
@Mick paisley: when did that happen? Was only there a couple of months ago and parked for free. not sure what car park it was but didn’t see any signs for a parking charge.
@Ben Dunne: think it’s free Monday to Thursday but pay at the weekends.
@Sandra Fogarty Tormey: last time I was there the car park was free, but further up the road from the free one, there is and has been for a long time, a paid car park.
@Mick paisley: the hotel has become a rip off, I agree. But the car park was always signed as residents only.
Always enjoy seeing where people like to visit around this beautiful country. We have hit most of them over the past 12 years but there are a few on the list we must see, including the Botanical Gardens!
@Seeking Truth: I thought Portrush and surrounds, ie Rope Bridge, Causeway etc would have made the list too
@Skybloo: ahh but it’s not the republic so it doesn’t count
@Marcia Craine: I’m missing the bit where it says republic – I only see them say Ireland
@Seeking Truth: Brilliant experience and a great restaurant.
Surprised not to see Bunratty in there. Many beautiful places to visit.
Is the Guinness Storehouse any good? I’ve heard it’s over-rated but I have in-laws and friends coming over from the UK and they want to go there.
@Skybloo: visited there years ago when you went on an actual tour of the place and saw the good bad and ugly of how guinness was actually made from the size of the rats to the workers getting their free 2 pints a day not a sanatised version that you get now a days but I imagine still good pity you have to pay in now though
@Skybloo: Storehouse a bit overrated to be honest. It is a good place to visit but more a case of good marketing by an absolutely huge conglomerate. I found the Jameson distillery a better place to visit. A more personalized tour with great info and humour from the tour guide.
Thanks lads – Jameson’s sounds like a good shout
@Skybloo: I’d really recommend it. I only found it by accident as when I arrived at the storehouse with overseas visitors, three coaches had just turned up and the queue to get in was around the corner so decided to look for somewhere else to bring them. Don’t get me wrong, the storehouse is still a good visit but can get overcrowded, especially at this time of year.
@Skybloo: Treat yourselves to a cocktail in bar downstairs after the tour. €10 each I think but worth it as a treat.
@Cian Nolan: that sounds like a very good plan – they’d love that, thanks
Ariana mines are well worth a visit
Try Sliabh Liag, Co Donegal – every bit as good as “the Cliffs” with free entry!
I had some American friends visit recently and afterwards sent a photo of the queue for the Book of Kells with the caption “Boy, are they in for a disappointment!”.
@Squiddley Diddley: probably not seeing it in any historical or religious context. In that case they qd to see an unreadable book in a dark room
@Squiddley Diddley: The book of kells is a treasure. Yes, the entry is exorbitant, but given how many people still go in, any less of a fee and it would be a safety hazard. Trinity could do with far fewer American tourists to be honest…pain for anyone to walk through it when all available space is filled by yank.
Good God I thought it said Darndale Park for a second
Cant understand what’s the fascination with the Cliffs of Moher I suppose it’s ok if your going their for the first time and you can actually see them instead of fog down to the ground
Surprised fota didn’t make top ten
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