Ireland in September

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom, so technically it is not a part of Ireland, but it should definitely be considered in your Ireland trip. If you are flying into Dublin, I would start your trip with a day or two in Belfast. Belfast is about a three-hour drive from Dublin and just up the M1/A1. Belfast in September, like Ireland in September, has great weather and still plenty of opportunities for festivals and events, like walking tours, free Irish and bodhran (Irish frame drum) lessons and Comic Con (September 7-8).

Giant’s Causeway
Giant’s Causeway is one of the most famous natural wonders in Northern Ireland. It’s not only the black basalt columns that you see in pictures and in "Game of Thrones" — there are also multiple walking trails, guided or self-guided, that ascend and descend the cliff face. If you are going to walk the trails yourself (which is free), I would strongly recommend going down one of the easier trails, especially if it’s raining, as there are some tight turns and steep steps. Before or after taking in Giant’s Causeway, you can stop in at the Visitors Centre to get more information. Like most things, you should buy your tickets in advance because you do have to pay to park even if you walk the trails without a guide.

Crumlin Road Gaol
This one is for the history buffs: Crumlin Road Gaol (jail) was closed down and converted into an Irish historical museum that covers the course of its 150-year operating history. You will be able to explore different areas of the gaol, aimed at walking you through a prisoner’s experience from being sentenced to execution. Crumlin Road Gaol does offer self-guided and guided tours, as well as having semi-interactive exhibits and videos, including a video about The Troubles.

Game of Thrones Studio Tour
My husband’s one requirement for our two-week Irish honeymoon was to go on the Game of Thrones Studio Tour. To be candid, I hadn’t watched all of GoT when we went and I was amazed by the world that was created for Game of Thrones. The studio tour is housed in the sound stage that Game of Thrones that was filmed on, has multiple sets still intact that you can walk through and uses costumes, props and interactive exhibits to help you understand how Game of Thrones became Game of Thrones. To get to the studio, you will have to go to a mall (The Outlet Bridgewater Park) and wait at the ticketing office for a shuttle that will take you there and back. If you are really interested and spend all day in the museum, there is no time cap and it has quick/warm food and drink options.

Titanic Belfast
If one of the reasons that you’re going to Ireland is to learn more about the Titanic, there are two Titanic museums, one in Northern Ireland (Belfast) and one in Ireland (Cobh). The Belfast location was the second-to-last stop before the Titanic's Atlantic crossing — with Cobh being the final stop before the Atlantic crossing — but Belfast is where the Titanic and its sister ships were built. The Belfast Titanic museum does include a self-guided tour of the SS Nomadic.

Ireland

Now, for the part you have been waiting for (or skipped to). First, Ireland is massive and I don’t think there is any way that you can do a deep dive into culture, nature and food in all of the big cities in less than two weeks — trust me I tried. Pro tip: pick hub cities and do day trips to different cities, because Ireland is very accessible by train or car. My recommendations would be Dublin, Cork and Galway. Somehow on my September Ireland trip, my husband and I seemingly won the travel weather lottery. It was warm (about 65-80ºF) and sunny for about 12 of our 14 days.

Trinity College and the Book of Kells (Co. Dublin)
I thought this was going to be the most overrated tour that we did, but it is worth the hype. My husband and I went on the Old Library and Trinity Trails tour, where we were guided around Trinity College and told some of the history of the college. Then, we went on a self-guided tour of the Old Library and the Book of Kells, where a page is turned once every eight to 12 weeks, so you can only see the same page probably once in a lifetime.

Guinness Storehouse and Jameson Distillery (Co. Dublin)
The expectation from all of my wedding guests was that my husband and I were only going to Ireland for authentic Guinness and Jameson, which was not the case. We did not go to the Guinness Storehouse, but absolutely loved the Jameson Distillery, enough to visit both the Bow St. and the Middleton locations. The storehouse and Bow St. distillery are about a mile apart, so you could always do breakfast somewhere, go to one, get lunch or a snack and then walk to the other.

Irish National Stud & Gardens (Co. Kildare)
I learned while we were in Ireland last September that Ireland is known for horse racing. The Irish National Stud & Gardens gives you the opportunity to learn the history of thoroughbred horse racing in Ireland. There is a very interactive experience that leads you through the process of buying, training and racing your very own (virtual) horse. Also on site, there is a Japanese garden that has been designed to symbolize the course of life.

Blarney Castle & Gardens (Co. Cork)
My husband and I were pretty excited to see our very first Irish castle and arguably one of the most well-known Irish castles. It is worth the hype. Pro tip: Irish castles were built before the average male was taller than 5’10”, so if you’re tall, be prepared to duck, twist and turn to get up the stairs. For the claustrophobic and height-adverse, note that there are some tight stairwells with windows that look straight out, and once you get to the top to kiss the Blarney stone to get the gift of gab, you will be looking straight out (and down) onto the lands.

Aran Islands & Cliffs of Moher (Co. Galway)
As a city girl, I was so excited to see the sea. If you’re going to see the Cliffs of Moher, like you should, you should see it by land and sea. To see it by sea, you will need to book a cruise with The Doolin Ferry Company, who were the first to offer ferry services to see the Cliffs of Moher and the Aran Islands. My husband and I did a combo ticket package to visit Inis Oirr, the smallest of the Aran islands, and the Cliffs of Moher cruise. Pro tip: try to sit by the gang plank as close to the outside of the boat as possible so there are no heads in your pictures.

Galway (Co. Galway)
A week or so into our Irish September honeymoon, my husband and I were thoroughly convinced that we were going to retire in Ireland because of how amazing everything was. It wasn’t until Galway that we started, not so subtly, looking at the cost of living in Ireland compared to the States. We didn’t know where to start so we did the hop-on, hop-off Big Bus tour. We learned some history of the city, used it as public transportation, found free public parking down by the beach and learned that Trad on the Prom (Irish dance and music show) only runs through September, so we had to make it a late night in our newest favorite city. If you only have time to do one hotel hub city, make it Galway. Dublin is fine, but there is so much vibrance and beauty in Galway.

Day trips

A day on the Isle of Man from Belfast or Dublin
As a small independent, self-governing dependency, the Isle of Man is a small island between Ireland and the United Kingdom. Accessible by ferry from Belfast and Dublin, you could take a day trip to the Isle of Man on your way to Belfast or Dublin from the other. There are handful of September-only events on the island: the World Tin Bath Championships (Sep 7), Pickleball Festival (Sep 7-8), Triathlon Championships (Sep 8), Traditional Music Weekend (Sep 20-23) and more.

A Day in Glasgow from Belfast
Knowing that Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Glasgow, Scotland, are both a part of the United Kingdom, it makes perfect sense to take a day go to Glasgow via ferry from Belfast. If you’re in the mood for some lunchtime theater (A Play, A Pie and a Pint at Oran Mor), a candlelit concert (The Best of Hans Zimmer, Sep 9), ziplining for charity (River Clyde on Sep, 2, 3 and 8), a rooftop bar (there are 50!), learning about Scottish heritage (Glasgow Doors Open Days, Sep 11 & 17) or a music, street food and entertainment festival (Big Feed in the Park, Sep 22-24), there’s plenty to see, taste and do if you only have a day to visit Glasgow.

The Crown Liquor Saloon (Belfast)
The Crown Bar is decorated to transport patrons back to the Victorian period with stained glass windows, a tile mosaic of the crown in the entrance and so much more. Located about two miles away from the Titanic Experience in Belfast, this would be a great, unique place to grab a bite or a pint.

Deanes at Queens (Belfast)
Deanes at Queens is a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant by Michael Deane near Queen’s University Belfast, the Botanic Gardens in Belfast and the Ulster Museum. Deanes offers a restaurant, extensive bar and grill, and terrace so you can find a meal for any mood you’re in.

The Saucy Cow (Dublin, Temple Bar)
A vegan restaurant in the Temple Bar area of Dublin with dine-in and takeaway available. I’ve slowly been trying to convince my husband that all vegan substitutes don’t taste like cardboard and The Saucy Cow went above and beyond. Burgers, delicious and messy; sides, to die for; and sides that explain the name so quickly. 27/5 would recommend, vegan or not.

Ananda (Dublin)
A Michelin-selected restaurant specializing in Indian fine dining, Ananda is the first place my husband and I are going to eat the next time we are in Dublin. From a tasting food and wine menu to an a la carte menu, Indian cuisine is always a win in our house because it easily allows for the veg and non-veg to enjoy a meal without having to compromise on taste and quality.

Saint Francis Provisions (Kinsale)
Another Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant with only 13 seats inside and a heated terrace out front, Saint Francis Provisions delivers dishes with bold Mediterranean flavors from their open kitchen and an all-natural wine list if you so choose.

Murphy’s Ice Cream (Dingle, Killarney, Galway, Cork and Dublin)
My problem with vacation is that calories don’t count, so getting authentically Irish ice cream was on my short list then and it still is now. Murphy’s Ice Cream, produced in Dingle, has beautifully smooth and delicious flavors sourced from Ireland or the best ingredients possible. Make sure you try the flavors, or in my case order with confidence a scoop of the chocolate whiskey and Dingle sea salt.