The Irish Magic

Ireland’s drink culture is having a real moment. Long known for its smooth, triple-distilled whiskey, the island is now also home to a lively craft beer scene that can hold its own with the best in Europe. Together, they show how tradition and fresh ideas can blend beautifully.

Irish whiskey is still at the heart of the country’s drinking heritage. Well-loved distilleries like Jameson and Bushmills continue to honour age-old methods, while newer makers such as Teeling, Dingle, Slane, and others are shaking things up with adventurous cask finishes and limited-edition batches. What really sets Irish whiskey apart is its easy-drinking smoothness from triple distillation and its flexibility. Whether you enjoy it neat, in a cocktail, or with great food, each glass carries a sense of history while appealing to today’s thirst for creativity.

At the same time, craft beer has taken off across Ireland, changing pub menus and festival vibes alike. Breweries from Galway Bay to White Hag are turning out bold IPAs, rich stouts, tangy sours, and all kinds of seasonal experiments. We’re talking seaweed ales, barrel-aged porters, and bright, citrusy pale ales. This variety has transformed the Irish pub, where tap lists now proudly feature local brews alongside long-time favourites.

Events like Whiskey Live Dublin and the Irish Craft Beer Festival show off the passion behind both industries, attracting thousands of fans every year. Visitors can even follow “whiskey and ale trails,” guided routes that lead through distilleries and breweries, offering a deeper connection to the landscapes and people behind every pint and pour.

From Cork to Belfast, Ireland’s museums are brimming with culture, stories, and living heritage just waiting to be explored. Whether you love art, history, science, or a glimpse into daily life from generations past, there’s something for everyone.

Here are 6 wonderful museums across the country that are well worth a visit!

The Hunt Museum (Hunt Museum, Rutland St, Prior's-Land, Limeric)

Home to over 2,000 artworks and antiques from John & Gertrude Hunt, the Hunter Museum is Ireland’s largest private art collection. You’ll find ancient treasures alongside pieces by Picasso and Jack B. Yeats.

The National Famine Museum (Park & The National Famine Museum, Cloonradoon, Strokestown, Roscommon)

Once considered the greatest tragedy of 19th-century Europe, Ireland’s Great Famine caused immense loss through hunger, disease and mass emigration. This powerful museum shares how a simple potato blight in the 1840s forever reshaped Ireland’s history.

Ulster Museum (College Park Ave, Botanic Ave, Belfast)

The Ulster Museum, located in Belfast's Botanic Gardens, has amazing collections of art, natural science, and history, all with the goal of promoting Northern Ireland's cultural treasures.

EPIC Irish Emigration Museum (The Chq Building, Custom House Quay, North Wall, Dublin)

The EPIC Irish Emigration Museum brings the story of the Irish diaspora to life through immersive, interactive exhibits. It’s a fun and engaging way to explore Ireland’s global roots. It’s no surprise it was named Europe’s Leading Tourist Attraction three years in a row!

Cork City Gaol (Convent Ave, Sunday's Well, Cork)

Cork is full of history, and one of its most fascinating spots is Cork City Gaol, a striking, castle-like building that once held prisoners in the 1800s. Step inside, wander its old wings, and get a real sense of what life was like behind bars back then.

Hosted in Ireland every November and managed by Research Ireland, Science Week is a week-long event dedicated to acknowledging and understanding the science in our daily lives.

This year, the event celebrates its 30th anniversary with the theme ‘Then. Today. Tomorrow’ and will focus on honouring how science and research have influenced our lives and considering the advancements made over the last thirty years.

Running from 9th to 16th November with multiple activities across the country on various subjects, the Science Week 2025 hopes to inspire people to investigate the issues and difficulties of the future while drawing on our history to guide our future decisions.

With so much to do in such a short time, we have put together a list of suggestions to help you decide. Here are just SOME of the many incredible events taking place across the country from 9th - 16th November.

For more information, visit the event’s website: scienceweek.ie

October is about more than just Halloween celebrations. It is also about enjoying Autumn and the transitions that come with the season: the colour-changing leaves, the shorter and colder days and the seasonal flavours. If you are looking for activities to do this Autumn, look no further, here are 5 activities for you to make the most out of the cosy season.

5. Watch the leaves change colours

Connemara National Park is a stunning park located in Co. Galway. It's a lovely site for a walk when autumn arrives, and it is a perfect place for native trees to thrive. Visit the park throughout the autumn to see the sessile oaks, sycamores, and wych elms' ageing leaves and learn how these natural pillars prepare for the next winter.

4. Taste the seasonal flavours

The Courthouse Restaurant can be found in Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan. Their inventive menu, which is centred on seasonal ingredients, includes their beloved meat and fish dishes along with fall vegetables like parsnips, cauliflower and courgette. Make your reservation well in advance to take advantage of the midweek discounts.

Dublin is one of the best cities in the world for pubs. In addition to having some of the world's greatest bars, the Irish city is also home to a number of drinking venues with interesting histories. It's the kind of history that can, nevertheless, occasionally keep you up at night. There are some things in life that just cannot be explained, regardless of your level of scepticism or belief in the paranormal.

Here is a list of the 5 scariest pubs in Dublin. Would you fancy a Guinness in any of them?

5. John Kavanagh (1 Prospect Square, Glasnevin, Dublin, D09 CF72)

Near Dublin’s Glasnevin Cemetery lies John Kavanagh’s pub, famously nicknamed “The Gravediggers” for serving cemetery workers after long days of digging. With over a million Irish people buried next door, ghostly tales are common. The most famous speaks of a mysterious elderly man in tweeds who quietly sips his pint at the bar—only to vanish moments later, leaving patrons wondering if they’ve seen a spirit.

4. The Lower Deck (3 Portobello Harbour, Portobello, Dublin)

Located near the Dublin Canal, this pub has a dark backstory. It has its roots in a case where a lock keeper was held accountable for a boat sinking and killing its crew. The issue remained unanswered when he himself passed away a few weeks later under strange circumstances. Since then, pub visitors have reported seeing him skulking in the area of the bar, lost in thought.

Jack O Lantern on display at the Museum of Country Life Co. Mayo

Did you know that carved turnips were the original scary lanterns in Ireland for Halloween?

According to the legend, a man known as Stingy Jack invited the devil out for a drink. When it came time to pay, Jack persuaded the devil to transform into a coin to cover the bill. However, instead of paying, Jack slipped the coin into his pocket next to a small silver cross, which stopped the devil from changing back into his original form.

Eventually, Jack released the devil on the condition that he would leave Jack alone for a year and would not claim his soul after death. A year later, Jack managed to outsmart the devil again by tricking him into climbing a tree to pick a piece of fruit. While the devil was in the tree, Jack carved a cross into the trunk, trapping him there until he promised not to bother Jack for another ten years.

When Jack finally died, God refused to let him into heaven, and the devil, still resentful of Jack’s tricks, barred him from hell. Instead, the devil sent Jack into the darkness of night with only a glowing coal placed inside a hollowed-out turnip to light his way. Since then, Jack has wandered the earth, and the Irish began calling him “Jack of the Lantern,” which eventually became “Jack O’Lantern.” To ward off Stingy Jack and other evil spirits, people in Ireland and Scotland began carving frightening faces into turnips, potatoes, mangelwurzels, and beets, placing them near their homes for protection. Over time, this practice evolved into a Halloween custom.