From the wonders of Waterford to County Mayo’s Belorail, 10 new and improved tourist attractions in Ireland

From Ireland’s best hotels to top beaches, pet-friendly cafes, airports and more, you can see the full Reader Travel Awards results here.

Here we present the winners of the Best Newcomer award, along with the nine nominees that the jury deemed worthy of special mention this year.

1. Mt Congreve, County Waterford

We know it’s nothing ‘new’, but last year Mt Congreve Gardens reopened after a €7 million investment, with a state-of-the-art visitor centre, three new garden trails and a children’s play area. it was done. . Mt Congreve House also opened to the public for the first time, and a new restaurant called Cliff’s Pantry by the Stables Cafe also opened. Here you can have a pretty dashing Sunday carvery made with local meat and home-grown vegetables.

Our jury found this work to be a brilliant reimagining of tourist attraction, breathing new life into gardens, with sustainability at its heart, and an attraction that will help grow tourism in the region. I rated it. But the work is not done yet. Restoration of the gardens will continue this year, including extensive work on the Georgian glass house and walled gardens.

And even more exciting things are on the horizon. Last year, his beautiful 18th century gate lodge on the property was restored and created a luxurious place to stay. And the public reacted with glee, occupancy was his 99%. This spring, he will also open two gate lodges and his five forest cabins, designed to blend into the property’s grounds. Inside Mt Congreve House, he is also restoring two apartments, so there is much more to come. mountcongreve.com

Best Newcomer (Jury’s Award): “A new tourism and hospitality business, person or initiative that captures the imagination and injects new energy into Irish holidays” – Reader Travel Awards 2024

2. International Rugby Experience, Limerick

Experiences like this rarely appear in the field. The International Rugby Experience is a great addition not only to Limerick City, but to Ireland as a whole, blending enough sporting elements to satisfy rugby fans, but also plenty to entertain those who don’t know anything about rugby. is. The multi-million euro initiative, developed by JP McManus and his family, is located in a custom-designed red brick building on O’Connell’s Street in the city center and will feature immersive installations and interactive skills. It is equipped with a floor. Compare your talent to that of a professional. internationalrugbyexperience.com

3. Noynin, Kilkenny

Although quite unassuming from the outside, Nóinín is one of the most exciting restaurants to open in recent years. Run by Maeve and her two sisters, Sinéad Moclair, Nóinín has the feel of a casual cafe, but with a hearty and creative menu that takes Kilkenny’s restaurant scene a few notches above. Masu. Judge Katie McGuinness judged the hotel and said she loved its “discreet and friendly service, out-of-the-box atmosphere and exceptional value”. noininkilkenny.ie

Four. The Regency, Belfast

It’s great to see creative new lodging concepts open, but even better to see them continue to evolve. The Regency will officially open in Belfast in 2022, bringing innovative new accommodation options to the city. Initially, two Georgian townhouses were converted into ultra-luxury serviced apartments, and an event space opened last October. Two more crescent-shaped townhouses will open by this summer, with food and beverage services, wellness suites, and rooms suitable for short-term stays. This staggered approach means we’re in tune with what our guests actually want. In this case, it’s a curated experience in a beautifully restored space. Read Pól Ó Conghaile’s review of The Regency. regencybelfast.com

Five. Seide Fields, Mayo

The Stone Age ruins at Seide Fields may date back 6,000 years, but the visitor center feels new after a €2.6 million renovation. Today, this stylish pyramid houses state-of-the-art audio-visual exhibits that tell the archaeological story of the fields, landscapes, and surrounding area. ceidefields.com​

6. dublin matsukawa

The first omakase sushi restaurant opened in Dublin last year and was an instant hit. The tiny spot in Dublin 7 only has eight seats for him, all arranged around the chef’s counter, so you can watch Takuma Tamaki roll his sushi and grate fresh wasabi onto his plate with exquisite precision. You can see. Our own Katie McGuinness gave Marskawa a 28/30 review and bookings have been like gold dust since then. Our tip? If you follow them on Instagram, they’ll post last-minute cancellations and those who book the earliest will secure a coveted seat. instagram.com/matsukawa.ie

7. National Surf Center, Island Sligo

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Wild Atlantic Way and the first full year trading of the National Surf Center at Strand Hill. Before it opens in June 2023, surfers were transferring from car door to car along the coast, shivering under towels and hoping they wouldn’t blow away. Now you can go to the €3 million surf center and take a hot shower and rent a board from the surf rental company that lives on site. The indoor space will also be used for surfing class demonstrations and lessons before people head out into nature. nationalsurfcenter.ie

8. cork on fork

This imaginative five-day food festival began with a tasting event as a pilot project in 2022, but took off in earnest last year, bringing together all of the city’s top restaurants and food experiences to create a truly celebratory collaboration. I felt like I was participating in an event. Cork dining scene. Street events, tastings, food tours and farmers markets were held, with many restaurants participating. This is another way the city is establishing itself as a foodie destination… The pedestrianization of Princes Street was also a pandemic-era innovation. Corkcity.ie/en/cork-on-a-fork-fest

9. mayo vero rail

Ireland’s first Vero Railway opens on Mayo

You’ve probably heard of the greenway, but there’s now another train-themed activity in town. The Mayo Vero Rail opened in Kiltimagh last year. Tourists ride through the countryside on Velo bikes, which are secured and anchored to old railway tracks and have chair-shaped seats instead of saddles. It’s a bit of a novelty, a lot of crazy, and takes people to parts of County Mayo that weren’t exactly on the tourist map beforehand. velorail.ie

Ten. Beyond the Trees Avondale

When it opens in summer 2022, Beyond the Trees will be something completely different, featuring Ireland’s longest treewalk and a 38-metre tower (complete with a 90-metre-long spiral slide at its centre). was offering. Last year, the newly renovated Avondale House opened to the public and guests took a guided tour of the historic building while hearing stories from previous residents as part of At Home with the Parnells. And this winter, he launched Treetop Night Lights, illuminating the Treetop Walk with more than 67,000 twinkling lights. beyondthetreesavondale.com