The best of Ireland: amazing things to do this summer

While the Cliffs of Moher may be one of the country's most visited spots, it's for good reason. It's worth elbowing the crowds aside and getting a good snap (especially in the rare sunny weather) before taking some time to admire the views out towards Galway and Loop Head.

If engaging in an elbow match with your fellow man isn't exactly how you planned to spend your summer, skip the Cliffs of Moher and head instead to Slieve League Cliffs for a good oggle. At more than 600 metres high, these are some of the tallest cliffs in Europe.

Killarney National Park has to be one of the nation's finest and you can spend days exploring its wonders. It's particularly well known for its walking and hiking trails which are lined with some of the finest wildflowers in Europe. Walks range from multi-access, which are suitable for those with reduced mobility, all the way up to very difficult. See the website

The Unesco World Heritage Site of Brú na Bóinne (meaning palace or mansion of the Boyne) is certainly worth a visit if you enjoy a bit of ancient history. There are three large well-known tombs to be seen here – Knowth, Newgrange and Dowth – built some 5,000 years ago and dating back to the Neolithic or Late Stone Age. Additional remains were also revealed by the recent heatwave.

Perched high on the Burren limestone plateau, Poulnabrone Dolmen is one of the nation's most ancient archaeological sites. An iconic portal tomb with a vast capstone, Poulnabrone is the oldest dated megalithic monument in Ireland and is the county's most visited spot – after the Cliffs of Moher.

 fan, a trip to the uninhabited island of Skelling Michael is a must. Used as the setting of Luke Skywalker's hideout in

 fan, the series will not be returning to our screens until next year. If you're in need of a fix while you await the next instalment, visit the Dark Hedges, a spectacular collection of beech trees that line a road near Stranocum, County Antrim.

Bunratty castle dates back to the 15th century and while it's a nice attraction in itself, the attached folk park is what really makes a trip here worthwhile. Recreated to give an idea of what a traditional Irish village would have been like in the early 19th century, actors play roles such as the local doctor and schoolmaster in performances that

Although the Wild Atlantic Way may appear on every list about Ireland ever made, it's for a very good reason. There's nothing quite like winding along it's rugged roads in a car. Stretching along 1,500 spectacular miles of coastline from Donegal to Cork, the route comes complete with stunning sea views, towering cliffs and ancient historical sites – all beneath a wheel of seabirds.

The Rock of Cashel is a huge, iconic complex in the heart of Tipperary and is one of the most majestic historical sites in Ireland. The site has a long tradition as the seat of the the High Kings of Munster and they say that St Patrick converted King Aenghus on this very spot back in the fifth century. What stands today is the remains of the mostly 12th and 13th century buidlings.

 aims to find you someone to snuggle with through the winter nights. Running for almost a month, the festival for singles is packed with country music events which draw to a climax on its last night on September 30. The bar is open from 11am each morning to help lower your inhibitions as you seek out 'the one'. Legend has it that if you touch Willie Daly's ‘lucky book’ (found at the Matchmaker Bar) with both hands, you’ll be married in six months.

Growing in popularity, Spike Island is found on a small island in the middle of Cork Harbour. Throughout its 1,300 year history, the site has been everything form a sixth-century monastery to a 24-acre fortress and the largest criminal depot in the world. Catch the ferry over from Cobh and learn all about its dark past.

 has become a popular spot for those with a sense of adventure. First erected by salmon fishermen in 1755, while the rope bridge is plenty of fun, it's best enjoyed as part of the Carrick-a-Rede coastal walk which forms a section of the longer Ulster Way.

You can't visit Ireland without spending the night in a castle, and Ashford is one of the finest. This 800-year-old property in County Mayo is the erstwhile home of the Guinness family. It has markedly glamorous interiors, remarkable grounds and its 82 rooms range from elegantly refined to eye-poppingly lavish.