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Tourism

Want to see Ireland as a tourist? These are the official top 10 attractions...

No surprises what comes out on top again…

HAVE YOU EVER tried being a tourist in your own land?

If not, there are a number of never-missed attractions that busloads of visitors frequent every day.

Fáilte Ireland has compiled handy lists of the most popular fee-paying and free attractions in Ireland last year.

Unsurprisingly, the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin comes out on top – as it has for the past number of years.

During 2014, it added 100,000 visitors to its annual footfall keeping it well ahead of the second placed Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience.

Here’s the full list:

1. Guinness Storehouse, Dublin

1,269,371 visitors

shutterstock_145819490 Shutterstock / Brendan Howard Shutterstock / Brendan Howard / Brendan Howard

2. Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience, Clare

1,080,501 visitors 

shutterstock_251725609 Shutterstock / Patryk Kosmider Shutterstock / Patryk Kosmider / Patryk Kosmider

3. Dublin Zoo

1.076,876 visitors

PastedImage-82959 Patrick Bolger Photography Patrick Bolger Photography

4. National Aquatic Centre, Dublin

931,074 visitors

PastedImage-54941 RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

5. Book of Kells, Dublin

650,476 visitors

shutterstock_179675246 Shutterstock / VanderWolf Images Shutterstock / VanderWolf Images / VanderWolf Images

6. St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin

457,277 visitors

Travel-Trip-Ireland-Saints Associated Press Associated Press

7. Tayto Park, Meath

450,000 visitors

PastedImage-18882 Photocall Ireland Photocall Ireland

8. Fota Wildlife Park, Cork

438,000 visitors

shutterstock_282060293 Shutterstock / morrison Shutterstock / morrison / morrison

9. Blarney Castle, Cork

390,000

shutterstock_225486454 Shutterstock / Patryk Kosmider Shutterstock / Patryk Kosmider / Patryk Kosmider

10. Rock of Cashel, Tipperary

372,503 visitors

shutterstock_177203138 Shutterstock / Ivica Drusany Shutterstock / Ivica Drusany / Ivica Drusany

There’s also a lot to do without putting your hand in your pocket. These are the most popular free attractions across the country.

1. National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin – 593,183 visitors

2. National Botanic Gardens, Dublin – 541,946 visitors

3. Doneraile Wildlife Park, Cork – 460,000 visitors

4. National Museum of Ireland, Archaeology, Dublin – 447,137 visitors

5. Science Gallery at Trinity College – 406,982

6. Farmleigh, Dublin – 402,773

7. Newbridge Silverware Museum of Style Icons, Kildare – 350,000

8. Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin – 306,662

9. Chester Beatty Library, Dublin 304,000

10. National Museum of Ireland – Natural History, Dublin – 300,272

Read: No fall off in holiday bookings to Greece but tourists told to bring lots of cash

More: Cork Airport is getting a much needed pick-me-up

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