I don’t know if any of your Irish friends told you about this, but here it goes: It rains in Ireland. A lot. & We love to complain about it.

But it makes our country very beautiful. Ireland is a sea of green fields, green trees, and mountains covered in patchwork blankets of green. And all that rain gives us a lot of wonderful rivers, lakes, and waterfalls. We have compiled a list of the best waterfalls in Ireland, so you can choose which ones you’d like to visit. 

Torc Waterfall Is My Favourite, Killarney, County Kerry

My favourite one in this list and if you had to pick one, I will recommend this one. In the Irish language the word ‘torc’ means ‘boar’. According to the locals, Legend has it that a local man was cursed by the devil to transform into a wild boar every night. He lived in a cave in the base of Torc Mountain. One night a farmer, searching for some missing livestock, discovered him, and revealed his secret to others. The man became so furious that he burst into a ball of fire, and disappeared into a nearby lake named the Devil’s Punchbowl. The waters of the lake burst from it, and created Torc Waterfall. 

The waterfall is located in Killarney National Park in County Kerry. Kerry is one of Irelands most naturally beautiful counties, with beaches, lakes, mountains and rivers galore, and the stunning National Park is not to be missed if you are visiting Killarney. The waterfall is 66 foot, or 20 meters, high and is easily accessed, with plenty of lovely walking trails nearby if you fancy a hike. 

Torc Waterfall is a far throw from Dublin City, but if you want to stay in Killarney for a while it’s definitely worth making the trip. Take the Intercity train to Cork from Dublin Heuston, riding six stops to Mallow. Then change to the Tralee Service, riding four stops to Killarney. From there you can hire a bicycle, take a 10-minute taxi ride, or stretch your legs with a good long walk! A drive from Dublin City to Torc Waterfall will take around four hours.

But now , I took loads of video and pictures but my phone fecked up. Although I didn’t want to do this, I’m glad I did.

Poulanass Waterfall, Glendalough, County Wicklow

Glendalough’s Poulanass Waterfall Walk has well-maintained paths and excellent signage, making it easy to find your way along the scenic forest trails to the waterfall.  So it is not wrong to recognize the path.

Glendalough has lots to see and makes for a fantastic day out with its beautiful lakes and mountains, forest walks, and historic monastic sites. Poulanass is like something straight from a fairytale, a picturesque waterfall surrounded by idyllic woodland scenery.

Glendalough is about a one-hour drive from Dublin City, or you can take St. Kevin’s Bus, a family-run Wicklow-based bus service that runs from Dublin to Glendalough every day, and back again in the evening so you can enjoy a fantastic day out in Glendalough. The bus leaves from Stephen’s Green every morning, you can check the timetable here.

Glencar Waterfall Is My Favourite , County Leitrim

 Glencar Waterfall can be found by  Glencar Lough, in County Leitrim. The drive to the car park here will provide views to some other waterfalls, less impressive but pretty nonetheless, so take your time and look around! The lake is a 3km-long body of water in the Glencar Valley, surrounded by spectacular mountains and cliffs.

William Butler Yeats, a famous Irish poet, was inspired by the beauty of Glencar Waterfall and the surrounding area to write his poem ‘The Stolen Child’. From these viewing platforms it is easy to see why. The waterfall is 50 foot, or 15 meters, high and cascades into pools of clear water surrounded by sloping mossy stone and lush green plantlife. It is definitely one to visit for a sense of the true magic of Ireland. 

Provided in the area are toilets, a playground, a cafe, a washroom and a picnic area. There are plenty of walking trails around, and from the car park at Glencar you will have access to Glencar Waterfall by three different routes. The direct route to the waterfall is just a 1km walk on a paved path, accessible to everyone. This will lead you to some viewing platforms just perfect for soaking up the idyllic scenery and sense of tranquility. 

Glencar Waterfall can be reached from Dublin by public transport, but it’s at least a four-hour trip. A train will take you from Connolly Station to Sligo, where you can walk a couple of minutes to Knappagh Road and catch a bus (the S2 to Rosses Point). Sligo IT is just four stops away and from there Glencar is just a 15-minute drive by taxi. Dublin to Glencar is around three hours by car.

Powerscourt Waterfall | County Wicklow

Powerscourt waterfall will 100% be my favourite one in this list and if you had to pick one, I will recommend this one.

Just a stone’s throw from County Dublin, Powerscourt Estate is a wonderful place to go if you’re visiting the capital and don’t have time to venture too far. The Powerscourt Estate is made up of the impressive Powerscourt House and Gardens which are well worth a visit, Powerscourt Distillery, and Powerscourt Golf Club. 

Powerscourt Waterfall is also part of the huge estate. It is surrounded by greenery and accessed through a forest of huge ancient trees, most being native to Europe like beech, oak, pine, and larch. There are some giant redwood trees in there too that were planted in the estate more than a century ago. This beautiful area has been popular with filmmakers over the years and has featured in the series ‘Vikings’ and the movie ‘Cocaine Bear’, among others.

The area offers amenities such as designated BBQ areas, a sensory nature trail, and a kiosk serving hot drinks and snacks. Powerscourt Waterfall is the highest waterfall in Ireland at 398 feet, or 121 meters.

Powerscourt can be reached from Dublin City Center by car in less than an hour, typically 35-45 minutes. If taking public transport, the journey is just over an hour long. You can take the number 133 Wicklow bus from Busaras (or any of its stops in the city along the way). Ride 16 stops to Kilmacanogue, and then catch a taxi for the last part of the journey which is less than ten minutes by car. However we love to complain about it.

The Mare’s Tail Waterfall | County Cor

At 685 meters, Knockday (Cnoc Daod), or Hungry Hill, is the highest point in the Caha Mountain range on the Beara Peninsula. The Mare’s Tail waterfall is located atop this mountain. The views from the top of Hungry Hill are unsurpassed in their beauty, but getting up there is not for the faint-hearted, and should only be attempted by seasoned  hikers or climbers on a clear day. If you do go up there, the Mare’s Tail Waterfall is a must-see. 

The Mares Tail is not accessible by pubic transport, but a car ride to the Beara Peninsula will take around four and a half hours from Dublin City. 

It just takes a little longer

The Kilfane Waterfall | County Kilkenny

Kilfane Glen and Waterfall is a real hidden treasure, not too far away from the picturesque Kilkenny City in County Kilkenny. A serene romantic garden consisting of around 10 acres, developed in the 1790’s, Kilfane Glen is home to many landscaped garden areas leading to a woodland of native trees and meandering pathways. Through these a tranquil green grotto can be reached, and nestled within, across an ornate little bridge, is a beautiful cottage orné which faces a cascading waterfall. 

Kilfane Glen and Waterfall, and in particular the grotto which houses the thatched cottage orné, or summerhouse, is quite surreal in a wonderful way. Upon entering you feel like you have somehow walked into an animated Disney movie. Kilfane is an oasis of peace and definitely, an Irish waterfall that is well worth a visit.

Kilfane Glen and Waterfall can be reached by car in around an hour and a half, public transport is a little bit longer. Take the Kildare/Waterford train from Heuston Station, five stops to Kilkenny MacDonagh. From there it’s a twenty-minute taxi ride. But what I will talk about here is that you don’t lose the time you give .

Assaranca Waterfall, County Donegal

Assaranca Waterfall, like all waterfalls, is most spectacular when it is raining, and sounds amazingly dramatic just after a downpour when the water crashes from a height into the pool below. 

Assaranca Waterfall can be found in County Donegal, along the coast road between Ardara Village and  Maghera Beach. The great thing about Assaranca Waterfall is that it is situated right beside the road and car parking area, so all you need to do is pull over and open your car door, and you’re there! 

A journey by car to Assaranca Waterfall from Dublin City takes between 3 hours 35 mins – 4 hours 35 mins. You cannot, unfortunately, access public transport all the way to the waterfall but you can take public transport from Dublin City to Ardara Village. It is a very long journey, however. 

The number 30 bus to Donegal will take you as far as Donegal Abbey Hotel – that’s 11 stops and four hours. Alternatively, take the X30 bus, it’s a little faster. Then change to the 492 bus to Dungloe, only another three stops to Ardara but almost an hour-long ride. It just takes a little longer