IT’S ANOTHER SOLID showing from the big beasts of Irish tourism.
There’s no change at the top in the list of Ireland’s top ten fee-charging attractions for the 2013 calendar year.
Top of the list once again was the Guinness Storehouse. The Dublin 8 attraction welcomed over 1.5 million visitors last year — a 70,000 increase on its 2012 performance.
Right behind, in the number 2 position, Dublin Zoo played host to over a million visitors, while the Cliffs of Moher visitor centre had a ten per cent boost in visitors — with 960,000 people paying in…
So. That top ten list in full, courtesy of Fáilte Ireland:
1. The Guinness Storehouse, Dublin
2. Dublin Zoo
3. The Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience, Clare
4. The National Aquatic Centre, Dublin
5. The Book of Kells, Dublin
6. Tayto Park, Meath
7. St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin
8. Fota Wildlife Park, Cork
Pic: Fota/Facbook
9. Blarney Castle, Cork
Pic: Blarney Castle/Facebook
10. Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin
Free attractions
There was also little change in the ‘free attractions’ list — with the National Gallery of Ireland topping the list once again.
The top ten in full:
1. National Gallery, Dublin
2. National Botanic Gardens, Dublin
3. Farmleigh, Dublin
4. National Museum of Ireland: Archaeology, Dublin
5. Newbridge Silverware, Kildare
6. Science Gallery, Dublin
7. National Museum of Ireland: Natural History, Dublin
8. National Library of Ireland, Dublin
9. National Museum of Ireland: Decorative Arts & History, Dublin
10. Chester Beatty Library, Dublin
Newbridge Silverware is the only new entry in the list this year — knocking Holy Cross Abbey in Tipperary out of the top ten.
Overall, the combined top ten fee-paying attractions in 2013 recorded a 5 per cent increase in visitors on the previous year’s performance.
The combined top ten free attractions experienced a 7 per cent jump in visitors.
Read: This city is selling itself as ‘the most Irish-friendly in Europe’ >
Read: Galway, the ring of Kerry and museums: What tourists like most about Ireland >
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