Best Nightlife in Doolin

"The best of all worlds at the Connemara Coast: a beautiful seaside location overlooking Galway Bay; a cheerfully family-friendly atmosphere; the rugged and splendid hinterland of western Ireland on the doorstep; and the cultural delights of Galway City just a few miles away. It’s a lovely combination."

"The hotel/gastropub is situated in Barna Village - a 10-minute drive from Galway. On the top floor, you'll find the fine dining restaurant with a wine list that has won multiple international awards. Our favourite spot is downstairs in The Pins Gastro Bar - the pizzas, stacked with local ingredients, are super."

"The Twelve Hotel is located in the idyllic seaside village of Barna, a short distance outside Galway city. Named after the twelve rolling peaks nearby, this hotel offers relaxation, luxury and escapism. After a busy day exploring the Irish thrills, you can indulge in this hotel’s unique charms."

"Balancing opulent and snug, The Twelve offers a delightful and well-appointed seaside experience just outside Galway city. Come here for top-class cooking and accommodation amid the great outdoors in the West of Ireland."

"The heart of Galway is brimming with restaurants and pubs, but it is worth the trip out to the Salthill area to experience more of the city, as well as to stop for a pint at O’Connor’s. The pub considers itself famous for its singsongs and it is certainly famous among the visitors who fill the bar in the summer. The cheery yellow pub has adopted a “more is more” approach to decorations so it can be hard to know where to look when you first step inside."

"OK, so it's not in Galway City, but this Salthill pub's only a short taxi trip or bus ride from the centre and 100% worth the trip. You may recognise it from Ed Sheeran's Galway Girl video or seen pictures of its crazily-Instagrammable interior, and it's the kind of place where Hollywood actors end up doing this. More about O’Connor’s"

"Donnelly's Bar & Restaurant is an old local favourite that has been renovated to a beautifully modern finish. Located on the picturesque Barna Pier, it's the perfect location to appreciate the sea and its plentiful bounty!. Their menu packs a secret weapon that you won't find anywhere else; Neptune's Seafood Treasure is a crepe filled with fresh salmon, cod and prawns in a white wine sauce, gratinated and topped with Hollandaise and breadcrumbs, and it's delicious!"

"One of Ireland’s most renowned seafood restaurants, Donnelly's also caters to carnivores with its game and meat dishes. Wash it all down with a few drinks at the on-site bar."

"The longest stalactite in the northern hemisphere, measuring 7.3m, is the draw of the Doolin Cave, 3.5km north of Roadford. Tour times vary seasonally, but are usually on the hour. Glacial clay from deep within the cave is used by on-site potter Caireann Browne, who sells her works here. The property also has a 1km-long farmland trail featuring rare animal breeds, and a cafe."

"These two reserves, through their combination of deciduous woods, limestone reefs, lakes and turloughs, constitute one of the most interesting Irish vegetation and faunal complexes still in existence. The Coole-Garryland reserve contains a variety of floral habitats including well-formed high forest on deep pockets of soil, dwarf woodland on limestone pavement and a turlough complex in the Callows and Coole Lake. A large portion of this reserve was formerly owned by Lady Gregory, co-founder with W.B."

"One hour south of Galway City is a great place to take the kids for a day out in nature. Covering an area of approximately 400 hectares is the wetland and woodland nature reserve of Coole Park. The two reserves constitute woods, limestone reefs, lakes, and turloughs where you can see interesting Irish vegetation and fauna."

"North of the Square, Ennis Friary was founded by Donnchadh Cairbreach O'Brien, a king of Thomond, between 1240 and 1249. A mix of structures dating between the 13th and 19th centuries, the friary has a graceful five-section window dating from the late 13th century, a McMahon tomb (1460) with alabaster panels depicting scenes from the Passion, and a particularly fine Ecce Homo panel portraying a stripped and bound Christ."

"Newtown Castle – Newtown Castle is a stunning and unique 16th-century tower house that is located in the scenic County Clare village of Ballyvaughan; it is most striking and notable for its cylindrical shape and square, pyramid-shaped base. The history of the castle dates back to the 16th century, in around the year 1550, as a residence for the O’Brien clan; however, the castle was then later passed over to the O’Lochlainn family. In recent times, the castle has been restored to its former glory, as it fell into disrepair during the 18th century, and it is today open to the public on weekdays only."

"Standing guard over Inishmore, Dun Aengus, 8km west of Kilronan, has three massive drystone walls that run right up to sheer drops to the ocean below. Believed to be up to 2000 years old, the fort is protected by remarkable chevaux de frise, fearsome and densely packed defensive limestone spikes. Displays at its small visitor centre provide context and a 900m walkway wanders uphill to the fort itself."

"Dún Aonghasa on Inis MorInis Mor The easiest way to get to Inis Mor is by taking a ferry from Ros a' Mhíl/Rossaveal, which is located about 50 minutes from Galway. You can either drive yourself to Rossaveal, or take advantage of the shuttle bus that leaves from central Galway about 1.5 hours before sailing in the morning."

"Almost hanging over a 100-metre cliff edge on Inishmore, one of the Aran Islands, Dún Aonghasa is thought to be at least 2000 years old. It consists of four concentric circles, their walls sometimes as much as 4 metres thick. Yet for all its obvious defensive might, the fort is thought to have been largely ceremonial."

"Overlooking the stunning Cashla Bay lies the incredibly well-preserved and historic Martello Tower. The history of such towers follows that of the British Ordnance, whereby towers were constructed at key coastal sites, to prevent invasions of Ireland from the French Napoleon army. This particular Martello Tower was incredibly modern for its time, with features such as a 24-pound cannon."