Ireland is set to captivate visitors in 2025 with a range of new attractions, major anniversaries, and enhanced tourism infrastructure.
From literary celebrations to scenic trails and world-class golf, the year ahead promises to be an exciting time to explore the island’s rich culture and landscapes.
Honouring Oscar Wilde’s legacy
This year marks 125 years since the passing of literary icon Oscar Wilde and 130 years since his famous play The Importance of Being Earnest. To commemorate the occasion, a new festival, In Our Dreams, will take place from 16 to 20 October in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, where Wilde spent part of his school years. The festival will celebrate Wilde’s imagination with a mix of fairytale and fantasy events.
Dublin will also host the third annual Oscariana festival in October, bringing together Wilde enthusiasts to honour his legacy. Year-round, visitors can explore Wilde’s childhood home at the Oscar Wilde House and take literary tours around the city, including Trinity College, where he once studied.
Celebrating 10 years of Saint Patrick’s Way
The 82-mile Saint Patrick’s Way walking trail, which follows key locations linked to Ireland’s patron saint, reaches its 10th anniversary in 2025. Beginning at the Navan Centre in Armagh and finishing at Saint Patrick’s grave in Downpatrick, the trail offers pilgrims the chance to collect stamps along the route with a special Pilgrim’s Passport.
The Open Championship returns to Royal Portrush
Royal Portrush Golf Club, set against the dramatic backdrop of Northern Ireland’s Causeway Coast, will host The Open Championship for the third time from 14 to 20 July 2025. Having previously welcomed the event in 1951 and 2019, this year’s tournament is expected to attract thousands of golf fans from around the world.
New trails and tourism developments
Outdoor enthusiasts will have even more reasons to visit Ireland in 2025, with the launch of new trails and cycling routes. The Littleton Labyrinth, a 7km walking and cycling trail in County Tipperary, will take visitors through Ireland’s unique bogland landscape along an old peat rail line. Meanwhile, the 115km St Declan’s Way Pilgrim Trail, which traces a route from Ardmore in County Waterford to the iconic Rock of Cashel, offers a journey through history dating back 1,500 years.
In County Leitrim, the Slow Adventure Jackalope Cycle Tour will take cyclists along the scenic Shannon Blueway, with an opportunity to visit The Shed Distillery, home to the famous Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin.
Connecting Ireland’s scenic coastal routes
A major tourism initiative will see the linking of the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coastal Route, creating a seamless experience for travellers wanting to explore more of Ireland’s stunning coastline. Plans include new discovery points, improved signage, investment in local tourism businesses, and enhanced cross-border tourism experiences.
Additionally, Belfast Grand Central Station is set to become the island’s largest transport hub. The first phase opened in October 2024, with full completion expected in 2025. Located in the city’s new Weavers Cross precinct, the station will provide extensive rail, bus, and coach connections, making it easier than ever to explore the island by public transport.
