There are lots of great reasons to visit the island of Ireland in spring, from festivals to food experiences, outdoor adventures to heritage attractions. And you can enjoy them all before the summer crowds arrive.
1 St Patrick’s Day
Ireland’s biggest festival is, of course, a brilliant reason to book your Irish escape. St Patrick’s Day (17 March) sees cities and towns across the island stage colourful parades, musical events and all manner of shenanigans. Dublin will host a four-day festival (16–19 March) offering a packed programme of events but wherever you land on the island you’ll be sure to find a St Patrick’s Day party.
2 Glorious gardens
There are wonderful garden displays across the island of Ireland in spring. At the National Botanic Gardens in Kilmacurragh, County Wicklow, the blossoming rhododendron trees are celebrated in Rhododendron Week in early April, while at Mount Congreve, County Waterford, magnolias are the star of the show. The celebrated gardens at Mount Stewart, County Down, judged to be one of the top 10 in the world, are also a must-see.
3 Titanic Belfast reopening
Belfast’s award-winning Titanic experience will reopen in spring 2023 after a multi-million-pound refreshment programme. The visitor attraction aims to push boundaries with immersive technology to deliver a rich experience for visitors and provide a world-class narration of the Titanic story.
4 Wonderful walks
Spring is a great time for walking festivals and hikers will be spoiled for choice. The Omagh Sperrins Walking Festival (25–26 March) makes the most of the gorgeous Sperrin Mountains and in County Kerry, the Camino Guided Walking Festival (28–30 April) takes walkers along the spectacular Dingle coastline. Outside of festivals, there are lots of other walks on offer including the Cave Hill Walking Tour in Belfast, Murlough Bay Nature Trail in County Antrim, the Clare Glens Loop in counties Limerick and Tipperary, Clougherhead Cliff Walk in County Louth, as well as countless waymarked trails across the island.