There’s no better place than Ireland to spend a Valentine’s weekend with your loved one, and with GoIreland as your guide you can discover all the right places to leave you and your partner bewitched by the magical romance of the Emerald Isle!

So whisk your partner away to the enchanting streets and breathtakingly beautiful landscapes of Ireland for a weekend that’ll really set your heart racing…

Ideas for a romantic weekend in Dublin: Saint Valentines final resting place

Dublin has a long association with the trappings of love, from the romantic hue that takes the streets in the hours of twilight to the literary connections of evocative Irish writers such as Yeats and Shaw, who’ve drawn upon the poignant streets of the Fair City many a time for their odes to love and life.

It’s also the final resting place of Saint Valentine himself, the patron saint of love and the original cupid, so if you want to show your feelings to a loved one then whisk them off to Carmelite Church on Whitefriar Street. Here you’ll find a touching shrine to Saint Valentine, with an altar comprising a life size statue and wooden casket containing his ashes.

Why not follow this up with a gentle stroll round the charming streets of Dublin, and see if you can pick up a gift or two for your beloved in Grafton Street or Henry Street. As night falls head for one of the city’s many romantic restaurants, get a table for two, light some candles and watch the sparks fly!

You can then head for a pub and soak up the heartrending melodies of Irish song in one of the many bars in the area, or hit a club for a night of dancing and then spend an intimate evening together back at your Dublin hotel.

There’s no better place than the Fair City to ignite that spark of passion you’ve been looking for, and once you’ve paid homage to the patron saint of love you’ll have set your destiny together as loved ones in stone!

Explore the legend of the Claddagh Ring, the quintessential Irish symbol of love:

The Irish have long been considered a passionate and romantic people, and one of the oldest romantic traditions in Ireland is the wearing of the Claddagh Ring which symbolises your love, friendship and trust for another.

Originating from the Claddagh area of Galway, the ring depicts two hands cradling a heart with a crown on top. The two hands are a symbol of friendship, while the heart represents love and the crown denotes loyalty and trust - all the ingredients for a fruitful relationship.

There are traditions as to the way the ring is worn, those wearing the heart on the inside are lucky enough to have found true love, while the heart worn on the outside means the wearer has yet to find their soul mate.

The romantic history of Galway has made it a popular choice for couples, with the alluring ambience of the cobbled streets and the beautiful views over the Atlantic melting hearts from all over the world.

So bring your nearest and dearest to this charming Celtic city and dazzle them with a Claddagh Ring as a token of your love, then wander the promenades of Salthill and steal yourself a kiss as the waves crash against Galway Bay.

Thinking of proposing on Valentines Day? Check out Ireland’s best spots to pop that question:

Ireland is full to the brim of magical locations where you can pledge your heart to your beloved, so if you’re thinking of popping the question on Valentine’s Day then check out our guide to the most romantic spots in Ireland.

If you happen to be in Dublin then there’s no better place than the Grand Canal running along the city’s Southside, made famous in the literary works of incurable romantic and renowned Dublin poet Patrick Kavanagh. Walk hand in hand along the leafy waterfront amidst the quaint Georgian terraces, and pluck up the courage to ask for your sweetheart’s hand in marriage.

Alternatively follow the literary traces of Dublin writer James Joyce to Sandycove Tower and propose under the dramatic Dublin skyline.

Elsewhere, the beautiful village of Inistioge in County Kilkenny is also a great place to go with your nearest and dearest, set in amongst rolling green countryside and beautiful woodlands, it’s a favourite romantic haven for many Irish people and an ideal place to declare your love.

The rolling dunes and cascading Kerry mountains provide yet another beautiful backdrop to ask your partner that question you’ve been practising in the mirror, so hire a horse drawn carriage and gallivant through the beautiful lakes and landscapes of Killarney National Park. Your loved one’s heart is sure to melt in your hands at the Torc Waterfall!

And if you’re in County Cork then Blarney Castle is an ideal place to get down on one knee, just be sure to kiss the Blarney Stone first for good luck!

Retrace the scenes of the great Irish love stories this Valentines:

The folklore and stories from Ireland have long been saturated with romance, from the age old tales of Celtic mythology to the heart rending tales from the emigration era, the Emerald Isle has continued to flood the world with beautiful and poignant love stories.

The quaint village of Glenbeigh on the Ring of Kerry is one such location where the scenes of an ancient Celtic love story were said to be played out. Oisin and Niamh, age old Celtic lovers, were said to have left Ireland from beautiful Rossbeigh beach and rode across the waves to The Land of Eternal Youth (Tír na nÓg).

Oisin got homesick and decided to return to his native land, but learns that one hundred years have passed in Ireland in a period of one week in The Land of Eternal Youth. He returns, but falls from his horse and instantly turns into an old man upon touching the ground. Legend has it that you can still get a glimpse of a mystical girl on a white horse roaming the dunes in search of her lost love!

Hollywood has also brought to the screen some fine love stories from the island of Erin, and a trip to the panoramic area of Cong in County Mayo will see you following in the footsteps of John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara in ‘The Quiet Man’ amidst the lush Irish countryside. Wild and beautiful Dingle Bay in Kerry is another fine spot, made famous in Hollywood by ‘Ryan’s Daughter’ starring Robert Mitchum.

Why not head over to County Sligo, where the hills and countryside were the main inspiration behind the works of William Butler Yeats who wrote such famous poems as ‘When You Are Old’ and ‘A Poet to His Beloved’.

If you’re in Dublin then have a walk through the Southside to Raglan Road, scene of the famous poem and song where Patrick Kavanagh mourns the loss of his Black Irish princess, you never know you might even be inspired to pen a few words to your own beloved…!

 

What’s your favourite Irish love story? Where do you think are the most romantic spots in Ireland? Let us know what you think are the best places in Ireland to propose and tell us about any top Valentine tips you have!