Ireland is not one place — it is thirty-two. Each county on this island has its own landscape, its own accent, its own stories and its own way of welcoming the stranger who arrives at its door. From the wild Atlantic cliffs of Donegal to the sunny south-east beaches of Wexford, from the buzzing streets of Dublin to the silent boglands of Offaly, every county holds something worth discovering.
This guide is your starting point for exploring all thirty-two counties of Ireland — north and south, east and west. We have written a dedicated article for each county, packed with the best things to see, the hidden gems that only locals know, and the history and culture that make each one unique. Whether you are planning your very first trip to Ireland, tracing your family roots back to a specific townland, or simply dreaming of green fields and ancient stone, you will find your next adventure here.
The counties are organised below by their traditional provinces: Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connacht. Pick a province, pick a county, and let the journey begin.
Province of Ulster
The northern province of Ulster encompasses nine counties — six in Northern Ireland and three in the Republic. It is a land of dramatic coastlines, ancient mythology, and a resilience forged through centuries of complex history. From the Giant’s Causeway to the lakes of Fermanagh, Ulster’s beauty is matched only by the warmth of its people.
County Antrim
From the iconic Giant’s Causeway to the dramatic Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and the legendary Glens of Antrim, this northern county is where myth and geology collide in the most spectacular fashion. The Causeway Coastal Route alone is worth the journey.
Read our complete guide to County Antrim →
County Armagh
Known as the Orchard County, Armagh is the spiritual capital of Ireland, home to two cathedrals and the ancient seat of kings at Navan Fort. Its rolling apple orchards and deep-rooted connections to St Patrick make it a place where faith and mythology intertwine.
Read our complete guide to County Armagh →
County Cavan
A patchwork of drumlins, lakes and winding lanes, Cavan is Ireland’s lakeland heartland. The Shannon Pot, the mysterious source of Ireland’s longest river, lies hidden amongst its gentle hills.
Read our complete guide to County Cavan →
County Derry
Within its famous 17th-century walls, Derry City pulses with creative energy, culture and resilience. Beyond the city, the county stretches from the golden sands of Benone Beach to the Sperrins’ quiet peaks.
Read our complete guide to County Derry →
County Donegal
Ireland’s wild north-west frontier, Donegal boasts some of the most untamed coastline in all of Europe. From the towering sea cliffs at Slieve League to the Gaeltacht communities of Gweedore, this is Ireland at its most rugged and authentic.
Read our complete guide to County Donegal →
County Down
The Mourne Mountains sweep down to the sea in this stunning county where St Patrick is said to have first arrived in Ireland. Newcastle, Strangford Lough and the charming fishing villages of the Ards Peninsula await.
Read our complete guide to County Down →
County Fermanagh
Where Ireland becomes water, Fermanagh is a county of islands, loughs and underground wonders. Lough Erne’s waterways, the Marble Arch Caves and the grand estate at Florence Court make it a quietly magnificent destination.
Read our complete guide to County Fermanagh →
County Monaghan
The land of little hills and literary giants, Monaghan gave the world Patrick Kavanagh and his beloved stony grey soil. Its gentle drumlin landscape hides round towers, ancient monasteries and a warmth that only quiet places possess.
Read our complete guide to County Monaghan →
County Tyrone
Ireland’s largest county by area is a land where mountains hide gold and ancient stone circles guard forgotten secrets. The Sperrin Mountains, the Beaghmore Stone Circles and the Ulster American Folk Park tell stories spanning millennia.
Read our complete guide to County Tyrone →
Province of Munster
The south and south-west of Ireland make up Munster, a province of soaring cliffs, lush valleys and a fierce pride in local identity. Kerry, Cork and Clare are amongst Ireland’s most visited counties, yet Munster still holds countless quiet corners where the pace of life slows to the rhythm of the Atlantic tide.
County Clare
Home to the Cliffs of Moher and the otherworldly limestone landscape of the Burren, Clare is an Atlantic masterpiece. Its reputation as the traditional music capital of Ireland makes every pub session feel like a pilgrimage.
Read our complete guide to County Clare →
County Cork
Ireland’s largest county is affectionately known as the Rebel County, and its people will proudly tell you it is the ‘real capital’. From the colourful streets of Cobh to the gourmet haven of the English Market and the wild beauty of the Beara Peninsula, Cork has it all.
Read our complete guide to County Cork →
County Kerry
The Kingdom of Kerry needs no introduction: the Ring of Kerry, the Dingle Peninsula and the Skellig Islands draw visitors from every corner of the globe. It is Ireland’s most spectacular corner, where mountains tumble into the Atlantic.
Read our complete guide to County Kerry →
County Limerick
The Treaty City sits at the heart of the Shannon region, with King John’s Castle standing guard over 800 years of history. Beyond the city, Adare lays claim to being Ireland’s prettiest village, and the county is the birthplace of Irish coffee.
Read our complete guide to County Limerick →
County Tipperary
The Rock of Cashel rises above the Golden Vale like a cathedral of kings, and the Glen of Aherlow unfolds below the Galtee Mountains. Tipperary is the heart of Ireland’s rich farming heritage and golden countryside.
Read our complete guide to County Tipperary →
County Waterford
Ireland’s oldest city, founded by the Vikings, Waterford is synonymous with crystal craftsmanship and medieval heritage. The Copper Coast and Dunmore East add a hidden riviera to this underrated south-eastern gem.
Read our complete guide to County Waterford →
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Province of Leinster
The eastern province of Leinster is home to the capital, Dublin, and stretches from the ancient passage tombs of the Boyne Valley to the golden beaches of Wexford. It holds Ireland’s most visited attractions, its finest medieval cities and a landscape that moves gracefully from mountains to midlands to coast.
County Carlow
Ireland’s second-smallest county punches well above its weight with the stunning Altamont Gardens, the ancient Brownshill Dolmen and the scenic Blackstairs Mountains. Carlow is a hidden garden waiting to be explored.
Read our complete guide to County Carlow →
County Dublin
The capital county tells all of Ireland’s stories at once: Viking heritage, Georgian grandeur, literary legends and a pub culture that is second to none. From the Book of Kells to the Howth cliff walk, Dublin is where every Irish journey begins.
Read our complete guide to County Dublin →
County Kildare
Where horse country meets Georgian grandeur, Kildare is the home of the Curragh racecourse and the Irish National Stud. The Japanese Gardens and St Brigid’s Cathedral in the county town add heritage and tranquillity in equal measure.
Read our complete guide to County Kildare →
County Kilkenny
The Marble City is Ireland’s medieval jewel, with its imposing Norman castle, winding lanes and thriving craft scene. Kilkenny’s reputation as Ireland’s medieval jewel is matched only by its charm and character.
Read our complete guide to County Kilkenny →
County Laois
The hidden heart of Ireland, Laois is home to the Rock of Dunamase, the heritage town of Abbeyleix and the Slieve Bloom Mountains. It is a county that rewards the curious traveller who ventures off the beaten path.
Read our complete guide to County Laois →
County Longford
Ireland’s literary heartland, Longford is the county of Maria Edgeworth and Oliver Goldsmith. The restored Corlea Trackway, an Iron Age road preserved in bog, is one of Ireland’s most remarkable archaeological treasures.
Read our complete guide to County Longford →
County Louth
Ireland’s smallest county has the biggest heart, stretching from the medieval streets of Drogheda to the Cooley Peninsula, where the great saga of the Táin Bó Cúailnge played out. Carlingford is one of Ireland’s most enchanting harbour towns.
Read our complete guide to County Louth →
County Meath
The Royal County is where Ireland’s ancient kings still watch over the land from the passage tombs of Newgrange and Knowth, older than the Egyptian pyramids. The Hill of Tara, once seat of the High Kings, remains one of the most atmospheric places in Ireland.
Read our complete guide to County Meath →
County Offaly
Clonmacnoise, the great monastic city on the banks of the Shannon, is the crowning glory of Offaly. The Slieve Bloom Mountains and the vast boglands of the midlands give this quiet county a character all its own.
Read our complete guide to County Offaly →
County Westmeath
The heart of Ireland’s Ancient East, Westmeath is a county of deep lakes, stately homes and the vibrant towns of Athlone and Mullingar. Belvedere House and the shores of Lough Ennell are amongst its finest treasures.
Read our complete guide to County Westmeath →
County Wexford
Ireland’s Model County basks in the sunniest corner of the south-east, with golden beaches at Curracloe, the historic town of New Ross and the 1798 rebellion heritage that shaped modern Ireland. The Wexford Opera Festival is world-renowned.
Read our complete guide to County Wexford →
County Wicklow
The Garden of Ireland lives up to its name with Glendalough’s monastic valley, the Wicklow Mountains National Park and the grand Powerscourt Estate. Just a short drive from Dublin, Wicklow is a world apart.
Read our complete guide to County Wicklow →
Province of Connacht
The western province of Connacht is where the Atlantic shapes everything — the landscape, the culture, the language and the character of its people. From the bohemian energy of Galway city to the silent beauty of Leitrim’s waterways, Connacht is Ireland at its most untamed and soulful.
County Galway
The cultural heart of Ireland, Galway is a county of two halves: the bohemian, festival-filled city and the wild, Irish-speaking landscapes of Connemara. The Aran Islands, sitting in the mouth of Galway Bay, are amongst the most iconic places on the island.
Read our complete guide to County Galway →
County Leitrim
Ireland’s best-kept secret, Leitrim is a quiet county of waterways, woodland and genuine tranquillity. With only a few kilometres of coastline but endless character, it has become a haven for artists, writers and those seeking stillness.
Read our complete guide to County Leitrim →
County Mayo
Ireland’s wild heart on the Atlantic edge, Mayo is home to Croagh Patrick, the holy mountain, and the vast boglands of Ballycroy National Park. Achill Island and Westport are amongst the west’s most beloved destinations.
Read our complete guide to County Mayo →
County Roscommon
Ireland’s quiet kingdom, Roscommon is a county of Norman castles, ancient abbeys and the serene shores of Lough Key. Strokestown Park House and the Famine Museum offer a deeply moving insight into Ireland’s most painful chapter.
Read our complete guide to County Roscommon →
County Sligo
Yeats Country, where the poet found his muse beneath the shadow of Ben Bulben and on the shores of Lough Gill. Sligo’s world-class surf beaches, megalithic tombs and wild Atlantic beauty make it utterly irresistible.
Read our complete guide to County Sligo →
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All thirty-two counties. One extraordinary island. Your adventure starts here.