How to Plan an Irish Island Holiday

Although it’s technically an island itself, Ireland is home to over 50 smaller islands dotted around its coasts. Each of these islands offers the visitor something different, from outstanding landscapes of craggy stone cliffs and stunning beaches, to traditional Irish communities and arts, to abundant sporting and exploring opportunities.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Decide whether you are going to holiday in Northern Ireland’s islands (which are a part of the United Kingdom) or in those off the coast of the Republic of Ireland in the south. Unless you have vast amounts of time for a holiday, it won’t be possible to visit them all during just a short break.

2. Book your transport to Ireland. Flights are available from London, Manchester and all other major airports in the rest of Britain and Europe to Belfast, Dublin, Shannon and Cork. Budget flight operators Ryanair and Easyjet offer cut price flights to these airports, sometimes for as little as 1 pence.

3. Book your accommodation. Ireland’s tourist board (see Resources below) offers a comprehensive list of hotels, bed & breakfasts and self catering options available throughout the country. If your plan is to visit a many islands during your stay, choose accommodation that is vaguely central to them all.

4. Pack appropriate clothes for your trip, particularly wet weather clothing and sensible shoes. Some of Ireland’s islands are completely uninhabited, so if you plan to visit one of these, pack some food and any essential supplies and medication you may need.

5. Take the ferry across from the mainland UK as an alternative to flying. Ferry crossings travel regularly from Holyhead or Birkenhead near Liverpool throughout the day towards Dublin or Belfast. You will be allowed to take your car with you on board and fares are usually just under £100 each way per person with car.

6. Drive from your ferry point to the other side of Ireland when you arrive. Some of the most beautiful groups of islands lie off the West and South West coast. You can drive in about 3 hours from Dublin to Galway Bay, off which lie arguably Ireland’s most famous islands, The Arran Islands. Investing in a good Sat-Nav system to guide you on your journey is a good idea, or you can print off your route from the AA Route Planner.

7. Book individual ferries to each of the islands. Boats usually go from the mainland to the islands a couple of times a day, but you should try and make inquiries well in advance as some are only chartered on demand. Alternatively, a number of tour operators offer package holidays including accommodation and ferry crossings.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid travelling to the Irish islands during high season in July and August, as they will be busy and over crowded. June and September offer less busy periods for a holiday, and the weather will still be relatively fine.
• Respect the islands you visit by not leaving litter after your visit and not disturbing wildlife and plants.
• Don’t forget your passport! You won’t be allowed into Ireland without it.
• Always remember to take great care when exploring the islands. Many of them have rough terrain and very dangerous sea fronts, so don’t take any risks whilst you’re there.

Resources

• Ireland Tourist Board