Irish National Parks You Don't Want To Miss

Ireland is home to many beautiful places. If you're thinking about a trip to the Emerald Isle, then the Irish national parks are a must on your itinerary.

Ireland's landscape of rolling green hills and enchanting castles is absolutely breathtaking. 

Table of Contents for Irish National Parks

6 National Parks in Ireland

National parks are a great way to fully immerse yourself in Ireland's natural beauty!

Nature lovers will have a great time hopping into a rental car, cruising along the wild Atlantic way, and taking in the Irish landscape. Though I may be a bit biased, Ireland is a beautiful country and home to some of the best national parks.

Ireland is home to six national parks! Compared to the 423 national parks in the United States! You may be familiar with parks like Zion national park, Yosemite national park, and the Grand Canyon. But you would never be able to visit all the national parks in America. But Ireland, on the other hand, is much smaller. If you want to, you could easily see all six of Ireland's national parks during your time on the island.

If you can manage, the best time to visit Ireland and explore these incredible parks is during the summer months. That's when, you'll have the best chance of good weather so you can easily enjoy being outside without feeling wet and cold. If you have time to check all six national parks off your list, consider making a road trip out of it!

Let's dive into the beautiful national parks Ireland has to offer!

Connemara National Park

Connemara is located in Letterfrack, County Galway. This national gem is one of the best places to enjoy a day in the Irish countryside. You'll find trails weaving through the mountainous landscape, bogs, and wetlands.

Connemara National Park was once private property, and visitors can tour remnants of its remains, including Kylemore Abbey and Victorian Walled Gardens. Be sure to add Connemara to your bucket list—you won't regret it!

Glenveagh National Park

Welcome to the 150-year-old garden. With spectacular views and rich history, Glenveagh National Park is one you do not want to miss.

This beauty can be found northwest of the town of Letterkenny, County Donegal. The park's goal is to preserve biodiversity, and it shows.

The stunning gardens where you can enjoy a short walk are outlined by the rest of the park consisting of mountains, walking trails, and Glenveagh National Park.

This park is a great place to take in Ireland's natural habitat and take the chance to view Glenveagh Castle.

Killarney National Park

Killarney was Ireland's first national park, coming into existence in 1932. The park features the tallest mountain in Ireland, Carrauntoohil, among the McGillycuddy's Reeks Mountain Range in County Kerry.

Killarney has everything from gorgeous lakes, mountains, wildlife, and even buildings open for tours. You'll find an incredible variety of nature among the trails and feel transported to another world as you explore everything Killarney has to offer.

The Burren National Park

Burren is the smallest national park located in the west of Ireland in County Clare. Though it's small, it is known for its diversity of habitats. You can explore the park's grasslands, woodlands, lakes, and bogs via the walking paths on your own or via a guided tour.

The park is also home to exposed limestone, giving it the name Burren, derived from the Irish word Boireann, which translates to "a rocky place."

Take a day trip to Burren and meander through the 3,700 acres of diverse landscape. It's truly a great experience every nature lover will cherish.

Wicklow Mountains National Park

Interested in more extreme activities? The Wicklow Mountains offer everything from hiking, swimming, rock climbing, scuba diving, off-road motoring, and more! The park is open for canoeing, fishing, and exploring stunning wildlife.

If you can only fit one national park on your list—this might be the one. It's the only park that isn't on Ireland's west coast. County Wicklow lies just sout of Ireland's captial city, Dublin.

Wicklow will be any adventurer's favorite park with various exciting things to do.

Plus, at the visitor center, you'll find an education center where you can learn more about Ireland's history and culture. With a plethora of main attractions, this park truly has it all! More than likely, you'll want to spend more than a day exploring and tapping into your wild side.

Ballycroy National Park

Located in County Mayo, Ireland, Ballycroy National Park is known for its blanket bog and mountainous wilderness. You will find several walking trails that offer beautiful views and an educational aspect.

Ballycroy is home to one of the last remaining blanket bog systems in western Europe, making it more than a stunning scene but a scientific one too.

What is a blanket bog?

A blanket bog is an area of peatland characterized by heavy rainfall and low evapo-transpiration. Blanket bogs are given their name due to peat or turf blanketing the ground. 

Enjoy a serene environment and learn about the blanket bog at Ballycroy. 

Thank You For Touring Ireland's National Parks With Me

I hope you found some national parks to add to your list. The best way to fully experience Ireland is to immerse yourself in the city life and outdoor attractions.

So even if you don't have time to check off every park on this list, I highly encourage you to pick just one. If you're exploring some of the best things to do in Ireland, consider checking out my blog post about planning a trip to Ireland, and the best time to visit Ireland.

Bonus: if you have time, this isn't a National Park, but it's 100% worth visiting. Stop to see the Cliffs of Moher.

Happy travels!