Are you looking for the best things to do in Ireland for the New Year? 

Ireland, particularly its capital city of Dublin, is so big on New Year celebrations that there’s even an annual festival dedicated to ringing in the new year. However, various parts of the Emerald Isle are not to be outdone. From stunning sunsets to traditional pub crawls to a spectacular fireworks show by the sea, you’ll have great choices to usher in the New Year.

Here’s your quick guide to the best things to do in Ireland for the New Year, as well as places to celebrate other than Dublin.

READ ALSO: Things To Do In Ireland for Christmas.

7 Things To Do In Ireland for New Year

1. Join the Procession of Light in Dublin

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Immediately before the start of the Countdown Concert, the city of Dublin comes to life with a procession of lights. Experience and take part in one of the most enchanting processions when you are in Dublin.

Simply said, the Dublin Procession of Light is a chance to explore Dublin’s architecture from a more modern point of view. The presentation has a variety of animations, including projections of various messages, and the colors are vibrant throughout.

The animation is completely free; all you have to do is stroll about the city to find these hidden gems. Trinity College, the Four Courts, and the General Post Office on O’Connell Street are three of the places where you’ll find the best illuminations.

The lights will be changing throughout the night, and they will even continue to countdown till the New Year! A pleasant time to discover Dublin, this unique event is a must when you want to take part in the city’s new year festivities  

Note that there are many lanterns available for the public to participate in this procession for a fee. All donations will be given to Focus Ireland, an organization that works to prevent people from becoming homeless in Ireland.

2. See the last sunset of the year in Achill Island, Co Mayo

For a truly unique New Year’s Eve celebration in Ireland, consider spending time on Achill Island, known for its breathtaking sunsets. Sunset in Ireland is best observed from the island off the coast of Mayo.

Achill Island, one of Ireland’s most westerly points, provides the best setting to witness a sunset over the Atlantic before the new year begins.

As night falls, watch the sun sink below the horizon from this beautiful vantage point with views out over Keel and Achill Head. Large numbers of people are expected to gather to watch the sunset at 4:30 p.m. Afterwards, there will be plenty of time for parties to celebrate the new year.

Achill Island is always considered one of Ireland’s top tourist destinations. This means that both locals and tourists can choose from a wide variety of accommodations, dining options, and traditional Irish pubs.

Several of Achill’s pubs will host all-night musical performances As the clock strikes midnight, pipe bands from the island’s various small settlements will play to ring in the new year.

On New Year’s Day, you may jump-start the new year with a swim in the Atlantic Ocean. Dugort Beach is ideal for this, while a stroll down Keel’s extensive beach is a popular way to welcome the new year in.

3. Attend the New Year’s Festival in Dublin

 

 

 

 

 

 

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On New Year’s Day, the capital city of Ireland becomes one huge venue for new year celebrations and merriment. There’s something for everyone in the annual New Year’s Festival Dublin and it is open to people of all ages.

Meeting House Square in Temple Bar, Dublin’s cultural epicenter, is hosting a party with live music this afternoon. Here, you can treat your senses to the spectacle of interactive art installations, or groove to live music and street performances. You may also affix your New Year’s resolutions to the designated Resolution Tree.

A must-visit is the NYF Dublin’s Festival Village, which will be the epicenter of the festival. Here, you can enjoy a variety of activities aimed at people of all ages. There is live music, street entertainment, and the best of Ireland’s culinary creations from morning until evening. At sundown, take in the electric atmosphere as a series of stellar Irish musicians and DJs perform on numerous stages along North Wall Quay.

These New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day festivities are hosted by Fáilte Ireland and Visit Dublin as part of NYF Dublin.

4. Indulge during Oíche na Cada Moire!

Oche na Cada Moire, which translates to “the night of the huge portion,” was formerly the name given to the final night of the year in Ireland. As part of the New Year’s Eve celebrations in Ireland, families traditionally sit down to a delicious feast. This is their way of spending quality time together throughout the final evening of the year.

The night of the big portion is a tradition in Ireland in which people consume a large meal to ensure that there will be sufficient food for the coming year. They believe that if a family celebrates the beginning of the New Year by feasting on delectable New year’s dishin large quantities, they will establish a precedent for the remainder of the year that will ensure they remain well nourished and in good health.

This age-old practice originated in Ireland during a time when the quality of the harvest might determine whether or not the population would feast or starve. To safeguard the home from potential threats, spells and incantations were cast.

5. Go on a Pub Crawl In Galway City, Co Galway

Every weekend of the year is a good time to visit Galway, but it’s an especially fun time to visit during the New Year’s Eve party. This old city in the west knows how to throw a good party, so you have a lot to look forward to in the coming New Year.

Everywhere you go, you’ll hear live music and see a diverse population of partygoers from all over Ireland and the world. All these things contribute to that special party vibe that makes Galway so well-known for celebrations. And if you’re here to celebrate the coming year, don’t settle in one place. Explore the many cool venues and party your way around Galway’s with a new year’s eve pub crawl.

Start at the top of High Street and make your way down through the Latin Quarter to the waterfront  Here, you can enjoy the lively atmosphere at some of Galway’s most famous pubs, including Taaffes, Tgh Coil, The Kings Head, and The Quays. As night falls, you can bet that they will be packed, so it’s best to get there early or choose a location in advance.

Traditional Irish music sessions, extravagant masquerade balls, and electro dance nights are just some of the New Year’s Eve celebrations you’ll encounter in Galway. If you feel like everybody’s going to be partying in Dublin and want to celebrate with a more authentic Irish vibe, this is the place to be.

6. Watch the fireworks in Dingle, Co Kerry

Dingle’s New Year’s Eve celebrations are legendary and for good reason. They feature a heady cocktail of authentic Irish merriment, grand spectacles like fireworks and parades, and a wild party vibe.

Indeed, Dingle is a town that knows how to have a good time, as seen by the abundance of bars playing traditional Irish music that line its streets. On the eve of the New Year, however, thousands of people flock to the streets of the town center to ring in the new year in typical Kerry fashion.

In general, bars will be lively all night long. The celebrations begin in earnest after a breathtaking fireworks show over the calm waters of Dingle Bay. As early as 10:00 p.m., revelers can be found gathered around the waterfront to watch the fireworks. Then, just before midnight, the Dingle Fife and Drum Band will lead a procession through town. At Main Street, where everyone has gathered to welcome the New Year together, the parade comes to an end.

7. Start the New Year With A Walking Tour

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Want to start the new year somewhere you haven’t been to? Head to Northern Ireland and party in Belfast on the 31st, then the next day, set out and discover Donaghadee’s long and eventful history. It’s only 40 minutes by car or bus from Belfast and a lovely place to spend the first day of the new year.

The breathtaking beach town of Donaghadee, which was portrayed in the BBC television series “Hope Street,” is the closest port to Scotland, and it has a long and illustrious history of seafaring. Spend some time getting lost in tales that span the years 1600 to the present. Learn about the lifeboat named Sir Samuel Kelly, which was used in 1953 to rescue people from the sinking of the MV Princess Victoria.

You will also learn about the history of the Moat, as well as the streets and churches that are located within the town. The tours come with a warm beverage, so you get to wake up and celebrate the new year by learning and experiencing a new place.