East Coast and Midlands
Regions
Cities
Cities
Other destinations
- 🌍 Brú Na Bóinne Archaeological Park
- 🌍 Glendalough Monastery
- 🌍
Lough Boora Parklands
Understand
Get in
The main access points when it comes to getting into Leinster are by road, sea and air. Traditionally Leinster has both been the most developed area in Ireland and the most populous area in Ireland. As a result the road infrastructure in Leinster is very good as it radiates out from Dublin.
By plane
While there are other airports in Leinster which do cater for international flights, (Baldonnel Casement Aerodrome and Weston Executive Airport ), the only International airport is Dublin Airport (DUB).
By boat
Leinster is served by Dublin Port (serving Liverpool and Holyhead), Dun Laoghaire (serving Holyhead) and Rosslare Europort (serving Fishguard and Pembroke).
Get around
By train
While the rail services in Ireland are not at the level of other European countries, things are improving in terms of station upgrades, investment in rolling stock and the amount of trains run daily. In Leinster there are four main lines operated daily by Irish Rail:
By car
Travelling by car around the East Coast and Midlands of Ireland is not the arduous task that it was even five years ago. The road infrastructure is the subject of continuous improvement as many of the main arteries connecting Dublin to the rest of Ireland are upgraded to motorway standard.
The road network in Ireland radiates outwards from Dublin City and the M50 ring road from the N1 to Belfast to the N11 to Wexford.
By rental car
Car rental in the East Coast and Midlands area is mainly confined to Dublin Airport and Dublin City although some car rental companies have locations at Dun Laoghaire Port and Rosslare Europort. While all car rental companies in Ireland have rental desks in the arrivals hall of Dublin Airport, the list of car rental companies with inner city locations is far less. Some of the car rental companies will advertise city centre locations, but these locations are mostly only drop-offs for which an additional charge will added.
See
Dublin
The locations are accessible by the DART which is a regular commuter train service covering most of the coastline north and south of Dublin.
- Mulhuddart - don't miss this thrilling outpost of civil society; challenging conversation guaranteed
- Howth and Howth Harbour
- Dalkey. Dalkey village/town is listed as an Irish heritage town and as such has a rich history, with no less than three castles within the town borders, making it a great day trip from the city.
- Killiney. Climb Killiney Hill and see the stunning views out around the bay and to Dalkey Island.
- Blackrock. Walk along the strand, visit the famed Blackrock market, a flea market open on weekends and bank holidays, and have a drink at O'Rourke's, the old haunt of the Irish author Flann O'Brien. Serviced by the DART and the 4, 4A, 5, 45, 7, and 8 buses.
- Dun Laoghaire
- Bray. Climb Bray Head, or walk on its sea front esplanade.
Kildare
- The Japanese Gardens (outside Kildare Town).
- The Irish National Stud (outside Kildare Town located adjacent to The Japanese Gardens). This is a working thoroughbred horse farm.
Laois
- Slieve Bloom Mountains
- Rock of Dunamase
- Emo Court
- Castle Durrow
- Stradbally House
- Mountmellick Quaker Museum
- Ballyfin House
Louth
- The Cooley Mountains.
Meath
- Boyne Valley.
- Hill of Tara.
- High Crosses in Kells.
- King Johns Castle.
Offaly
- Charleville Castle, Tullamore. Large gothic castle, said to be haunted.
- Birr Castle, Birr. Castle with a large telescope. Long walks around the demense.
- Durrow Abbey, Durrow. Durrow Abbey remains a largely undisturbed early historic and medieval monastic site containing a complex of archaeological monuments, ecclesiastical and secular, visible and sub-surface.
- Moneygall, South Offaly. See the ancestral home of Obama.
- The Christian monastic site of Clonmacnoise in Offaly displays large round towers and beautifully decorated high crosses.
Wicklow
- Glendalough
- Turlough Hill
- The Gaps
- Loch Dan
- Avondale House
- Glenmalure
- Wicklow Gaol
- Bray Head
- The Big Sugarloaf
- Devil's Glen
- Beaches
Do
- Temple Bar, Dublin. Temple Bar is a bit of a tourist trap but it does have some nice things to see.
- The Curragh Racecourse, Kildare. Home to the five Irish Classic Horse Races.
- Punchestown, Punchestown (near Naas). A steeplechase race track and home to the four-day Punchestown Festival in late April.
- Castletown House, Kildare. Open to the public for tours during the summer, serves food and is also a concert venue, with organic farmers market at weekends.
- Golf. There are some excellent golf courses in the East Coast and Midlands: The K Club (which hosted the 2006 Ryder Cup), Carton House, Castlewarden, and Tullamore Golf Club.
- Fairyhouse Races. Ratoath Meath - The first meeting held at Fairyhouse was in 1848 when the Ward Union hunt held their point-to-point at this venue. From these small beginnings Fairyhouse quickly established itself as one of Ireland's premier racecourses. In 1870 the Irish Grand National was run for the first time and the winner was ‘Sir Robert Peel'. The Grand National quickly became Ireland's most valuable and prestigious steeplechase and each success has its own rich tale, none more amazing than the win in 1929 of a six year old mare ‘Alike', owned and ridden by 5'4” Frank Wise who was missing three fingers and who rode with a wooden leg. Fairyhouse has always been one of the finest and fairest racecourses and continues to attract the leading horses both on the flat and over jumps. Arkle, Desert Orchid, Flying Bolt, Captain Christy, Prince Regent, Persian War, L'escargot and more recently Istabraq, Bobbyjo, Florida Pearl and Limestone Lad are just some of the legendary greats that have graced the almost 2-mile circuit.
- Lough Boora Parklands, near Kilcormac. Lake with long walks through the boglands. There are sculptures made by many different people scattered around the parkland.
- Grand Canal, through the county. Go on a boat on the canal.
Hill walking
A list of some of the more interesting and higher peaks to hike are:
- Lugnaquilla, Wicklow Mountains (3,018 ft)
- Mullaghcleevaun (2,785 ft)
- Tonelagee (2,681 ft -estimated from metre figure)
- Djouce (2,379 ft)
- Arderin, Slieve Bloom Mountains 527 m (1,729 ft)
- Table Mountain (701m)
And for those looking for a 2- or 3-day walk.
- Walk the Wicklow Way. This extends from foothills of the Wicklow mountain in south County Dublin right through the main mountainous parts of Wicklow on down to the very south of the county.
- Walk the Offaly Way and the Westmeath Way through the two counties.
- There are many trails up the Slieve Bloom Mountains in Laois and Offaly
Eat
Wicklow
- Roundwood Inn, Roundwood. Venison and Irish stew.
- The Strawberry Tree, Aughrim. Delicious & expensive.
- The Happy Pear, Greystones. Delicious smoothies & healthy, hippy, organic cafe fare.
- The Candle, Newcastle. Traditional Wicklow food.
- Ashford Oriental, Ashford. Chinese & Thai.
Kildare
- The Hanged Man Pub, Newtown (near The Curragh).
- The Bradaun Restaurant. In Leixlip House Hotel, Leixlip
Offaly
- Annie Kelly's, one of Tullamore's oldest pubs, is a must see when you visit Tullamore. Known for its "Ceoil, Craic agus Cainte" you are sure to have a good time! Pints of Guinness are legendary here!
- The Bridge House Hotel, in the centre of Tullamore and serving breakfast, carvery lunch and evening dinner.
- Fast Food. If you like fast food you can eat in Supermacs, McDonald's, Burger King. There are a few ROMA takeaways also.
- Subway, Harbour St Tullamore. For footlongs.
- Café. There are many cafés as well.
- Walnut Bistro @ Four Sons, Dublin Rd, Edenderry, ☎ +353 46 977-2959. Restaurant with a la carte menu from 17:00-21:00 M-Sa and Sunday Lunch from 14:00-18:00.
- Galileo's Italian restaurant, Edenderry. Italian food.
- The Phoenix and Lily Garden Chinese restaurants, Edenderry. The Phoenix is the tastiest in Edenderry.
Drink
Kildare
Offaly
- Four Sons, Dublin Rd, Edenderry, ☎ +353 46 977-2959. Bar food and restaurant with live music every Friday and Saturday night.
- Annie Kelly's, Tullamore. Pints of Guinness are legendary here!
- Thomas C. Dolan. Lounge and off licence.
Stay safe
Go next
- Rock of Cashel in Tipperary
- Connemara in Galway