Top 5 Cities in Ireland

Ireland is an island located off of the west coast of the United Kingdom and in the Atlantic Ocean. It is considered one of the British Isles, however ‘Ireland’ (the Republic of Ireland) is completely separate from Great Britain while ‘Northern Ireland’ is still a part of the United Kingdom.

Here are its five top cities.

Dublin – Located in the province of Leinster, Dublin is both the most populous city in the Republic of Ireland as well as being its capital. Becoming the Kingdom of Dublin soon after the Vikings had founded it, Dublin had gone through many different sackings that it managed to overcome. Today, Dublin hosts one of the oldest colleges, Trinity College, as well as Dublin Castle, the Grand Canal, the original Guinness Storehouse, as well as O’Connell Street. As over 1.2 million people now live in Dublin, it still remains one of Ireland’s most vibrant and lively cities.

Belfast – Known as both the largest city and the capital of Northern Ireland, Belfast is known for several different key moments in history. When it became an official city in 1888, it became a major city known for its linen, tobacco, rope making, and ship building. One of its biggest signifiers is that the White Star Line located in Belfast was the company through which the infamous Titanic was built. One of the most notorious periods for Belfast was definitely during the late 20th century, aptly named ‘The Troubles.’ Although this was a period where many regarded Belfast as a dangerous city, in the present day it is regarded as a major port that is known for its industry and education.

Galway – Located in the province of Connacht on the River Corrib, Galway is the fourth most populous city in the Republic of Ireland. Galway is regarded as the ‘Ireland’s Cultural Heart’ in how it evokes the most sense of ‘Irishness’ in song, dance, language, etc. Gaelic is often spoken here – nearly as much as English is. A notable area here is that of Claddagh — known for the famous ring of the same name. The significance of the Claddagh ring is that it symbolises love, friendship, and loyalty – referring to how the King of Claddagh embodied these virtues when dealing with disputes among those in his community. Galway is also known for the many different merchant families or ‘tribes’ that resided in the city from the 12th century onwards.

Cork – Located in the province of Munster, Cork is known for being made up of many universities. Through it, the River Lee is what separates the city into two different parts. Known as the ‘Rebel County,’ Cork has the same type of rivalry with Dublin that Manchester tends to have with London. However, the different universities and theatre companies that Cork hosts give it a prestige unique to all other cities in Ireland.

Killarney – Located in the Kerry county of Ireland, Killarney is located in southwestern Ireland. One of the most famous sites in Killarney is Innisfallen on Lough Leane (‘Lake of Learning’), which is able to be visited in the summer months. Above all else, at the moment Killarney is thriving on the tourism industry, and the amount of people that visit the town each year. Lakes, waterfalls, and mountains are just a few of the amazing natural resources which keep Killarney as a traveller’s favourite.

Destination: Ireland