Ireland is a haven for romantics; beautiful scenery, luxurious hotels, romantic restaurants and tonnes of fun things to do. This Valentine's Day get ready to create a memory that will last for a lifetime with a trip planned to perfection, with these ten great ways to get loved up on February 14th.
Make it a capital St Valentines!
Make it a capital St. Valentine's and make a pilgrimage to the shrine of the patron saint of love at Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church, just off Grafton Street in Dublin. The church holds 'blessing of the rings' ceremonies for engaged couples on February 14th. But if you don't have a ring, make for Johnson’s Court, the quaint lane leading from Grafton Street to the church, which is lined with gorgeous jewellery shops offering both sleek modern designs and special antiques. And then browse the design shops at the Powerscourt Centre right opposite the church, hand in hand of course. We then propose you have a coffee in one of Dublin’s most famous tea houses, Bewley's Oriental Cafe.
Plan a moonlit escapade
Make the most of the full moon scheduled for St Valentine's with a romantic moonlit escape! The big day also happens to fall on a Friday, which means all your stars are aligned for a weekend of love. Organise a romantic picnic under the stars with only your love, and thick coats, to keep you warm! Or take to the water for a magical, starstruck kayaking session. Atlantic Sea Kayaking offer moonlit sea kayaking tours in the sea in West Cork or under the bridges in Cork City. www.atlanticseakayaking.com. A quick rendition of O Sole Mio and who needs Venice? Ardmore Adventures in West Waterford will also bring you kayaking under the stars! www.ardmoreadventures.ie. Or if you want to stay on dry land Hilltop Treks in Wicklow do guided two-hour full moon walks in Glendalough. www.hilltoptreks.ie
Rev it up for a wild love tour!
Get into top gear and make Valentine’s Day a weekend affair with a driving tour along the Western seaboard. This will be a great opportunity to try some of the new Wild Atlantic Way, a 2,500 KM long distance driving route stretching from the Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal to Kinsale in County Cork, Why not do it in a classic car? You can choose from an extensive range including Porsche, Ferrari and Jaguar, from Heritage Sports Cars, (www.heritagesportscars.com). Or soup things up even more and feel the wind in your hair by hiring a motorbike from Celtic Rider, which specialises in BMW and Harley Davidsons. www.motorental.ie
Make it a sweet valentine!
Chocolate is the food of love so up the cocoa content to ensure your sweetheart stays sweet on Valentine’s Day. Why not bring him or her on the ultimate chocolate experience? Head to the Chocolate Garden of Ireland in Tullow, Co. Carlow and find out why chocolate holds such a special place in our hearts before indulging in the cafe. Or sign up for a workshop to bring skills home that are guaranteed to melt the heart of your beloved. www.chocolategarden.ie You can explore the Butlers Chocolate Experience in Dublin and gift your loved one a Chocolate cookery class www.butlerschocolate.com
Be a beacon of love!
Be a beacon of love and book a romantic night away in a lighthouse. You can get lost in each other as you snuggle up in front of a roaring fire as the waves crash against the cliffs outside. Dream of ocean views at Crookhaven Lighthouse in West Cork which has two options - the original cottage dating back to 1843 or the Long House. www.crookhavenlighthouse.ie. If you want to go all out book the luxurious and stylish Lighthouse Penthouse Apartment overlooking the golden sands of Enniscrone Beach in Co. Sligo. This is completely remodelled with breath-taking panoramic views of the beach and Killala Bay. The Irish Landmark Trust have several lighthouse properties dotted around the coast including Galley Head Lighthouse in Clonakilty, Co Cork; Loop Head Lighthouse in Kilbaha, Co. Clare; and Wicklow Lighthouse at Dunbar Head, Co. Wicklow www.irishlandmark.com
Let your love bloom!
Gardens are super romantic and the perfect place to go to let your love bloom. Latin lovers will be drawn to the Italian Gardens at the Powerscourt Estate in Enniskerry. www.powerscourt.ie. For those who are a little wilder at heart might prefer something a little more Robinsonian in a garden should head for Mount Usher Gardens in Ashford, Co. Wicklow. www.mountushergardens.ie. If you hold a special affection for walled gardens, don’t miss the meticulously restored one at Kylemore Abbey, one of the country's most romantic buildings - a gothic creation overlooking a dreamy lake created by a Victorian businessman for his wife. www.kylemoreabbey.com
Relive legendary love affairs!
Put a love story in your Valentine's weekend and follow in the footsteps of some of Ireland's legendary lovers. Explore romantic Yeats country in Co. Sligo or visit Coole Park, Lady Gregory’s former home in Co. Galway. Pay homage to JM Synge and the love of his life, actress Molly Allgood, and stroll the woods of Devil's Glen in Co. Wicklow, close to Synge's family seat, Glanmore Castle. Close by in Rathdrum is Avondale, estate home of historic political figure Charles Stuart Parnell, whose love for Kitty O’Shea caused a national scandal. Or book a night at the historic Greville Arms Hotel in Granard, Co. Longford, home of Michael Collins fiancee, Kitty Kiernan. Their love letters, over 300 of them, are on permanent display at Cork Public Museum. www.grevillearmshotel.ie
Let food be the food of love
If the quickest way to a loved one’s heart is via their stomach, then treat them to some sumptuous treats. Aphrodisiacs have been used throughout history to set alight the fires of passion so book a candle lit meal with avacado, almonds, asparagus, pomogranet, pineapple, oysters, or passion fruit on the menu! Why not make it an overnight and watch out for great Valentine’s hotel offers.
https://www.discoverireland.ie/Where-To-Stay/Accommodation-Guide
Make it an eco-friendly Valentines!
Make it an eco-friendly Valentine's Day and book some earthy, romantic, self-catering accommodation in Ireland. Be Tarzan and Jane at one of the luxury Treehouses at Grove House, in Skibbereen, West Cork. www.cottagesforcouples.ie. Nestled in the branches of spruce pines this is a quirky and magical place to stay. Or you might be Hansel and Gretel, minus the witch, and book a log cabin straight from Grimm’s Fairytales with Riverhaven self-catering right on Lough Key near Boyle in Co. Roscommon. www.riverhavenselfcatering.ie. Croan Cottages in Co. Kilkenny have green, high quality accommodation. You can even book a meal to be delivered to your house.www.croancottage.com
Experience waves of love on a romantic beach
Book a break in a seaside hotel and go for long romantic walks along magnificent beaches, drawing your names in the sand! Head for Ballymastocker Beach in Co. Donegal, voted one of the world’s best by international travel press. Or bring your treasure to Dollar Bay in Co. Wexford, under whose golden sands, Spanish gold is buried. In Kerry, follow in the footsteps of the epic movie Ryan's Daughter which was filmed on Inch Beach. And scenes from another great romantic movie, The Quiet Man, were filmed on another great Irish beach, Lettergesh in Renvyle, Co. Galway. While you’re there, make a trip to Galway City to buy matching Claddagh Rings, a traditional Irish love token!
