Virtual Tours of Ireland Middle Schoolers Can Take From Home

Teens will love these virtual tours of Ireland. They’re full of fun online field trips you can add to your homeschool lesson plans.

This European island is full of natural beauty and history that tweens will love exploring. And you can do it all from the comfort of home!

Collage of 4 images showing locations in Ireland. A Castle, cliff, green flat land, suspension bridge.

Whether you’re studying Ireland as a part of world geography, want to add some online resources to your St. Patrick’s Day celebration, or just want to explore this gorgeous country, grab your computer, tablet or phone and use the links below to take off on some exciting adventures.

Virtual tours of Ireland

If Ireland is on your must-see list, there’s no reason you can’t visit, even if you have to do it virtually.

In fact, there are a ton of stunning sites you can check out with the click of a mouse that will make you feel like you’re actually there.

Instead of just learning about this location from a textbook, use online resources to give your kids the opportunity to explore famous attractions, learn more about the culture, and see important landmarks for themselves.

They’re an excellent way to make your geography lesson plans exciting. Plus, it’s a fun, educational activity you can do on St. Patrick’s Day.

Here are some of the best virtual field trips middle schoolers can take to the Emerald Isle.

Famous Locations on the Island

These tours will take you to some unique places in the Emerald Isle.

Waterford, Ireland

Have you ever watched the ball drop in Times Square on New Year’s Eve? Well, it’s made up of crystals from The House of Waterford Crystal.

This company has been around for over 200 years produces over 45,000 beautiful pieces a year. Through their virtual tour, you can walk around their store and see some of their incredible creations. 

Derry, Ireland

In early times, cities often defended themselves by building walls around the entire city, and this is one of those towns.

Built between 1613-1618, Derry is located along the River Foyle and is officially the only completely walled city in Ireland. It’s also called Londonderry and is the second largest city in Ireland.

Trinity College 

When you think about historical libraries, Trinity College Library in Dublin, is the picture that pops into your mind with walls of books from floor to ceiling. It’s an extraordinary place and the perfect location to check out a new or old book.

Trinity College of Dublin Library

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Ireland Landmarks

No trip would be complete without visiting Ireland’s most famous landmarks, so add some of these locations to your list.

Aras an Uachtarain

Just like we can visit the White House, in Ireland, you can take a guided tour of Aras an Uachtarain, the residence for the Irish president.

Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge

Nestled between Balintoy and Ballycastle off the North Antrim Coast road, is Northern Ireland’s widely recognized Carrick-A-Rede Rope bridge.

Game of Thrones fans may remember this famous landmark from one of their favorite episodes.

Giant’s Causeway

Known to the Irish as the Eighth Wonder of the World, the Giant’s Causeway is approximately 40,000 interlocking columns of hexagonal basalt rocks believed to have been created over 6 million years ago by a flow of lava.

It’s found on the scenic north Antrim coastline and has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1986.

Gobbins Cliff Walk

The Gobbins is a dramatic coastal walk for thrill-seekers who want to see Ireland’s coastline up close. Thanks to virtual reality, tweens can walk along a path with crashing waves below your steps.

Three famous landmarks in Ireland. St. Patrick's Cathedral, Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge, Cliffs of Moher

Hook Lighthouse

Over 800 years ago, Knight William Marshal built the Hook Lighthouse, the oldest operating lighthouse in the world.

Take a view from the balcony to see the beautiful surrounding seas.

Marble Arch Caves

The Marble Arch Caves are natural limestone caves near Florencecourt in Fermanagh.

They were formed over many years from an underground river flowing through limestone rock to create caverns and passages that can be explored.

Saint Patrick’s Cathedral

In many European cities, churches play a central role and in Dublin, you can tour the spectacular Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, which was founded in 1191 and is the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland.

Skellig Michael

Star Wars fans may recognize Skellig Michael from a scene in The Force Awakens.

The island is home to a Gaelic monastery built between the 6th and 8th centuries. They designated it a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

The Cliffs of Moher

One of the most iconic visitor attractions in Ireland is The Cliffs of Moher. They are found at the southwestern edge of the Burren region and run for around 8.5 miles.

Harry Potter fans will recognize the cliffs from scenes in Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince

Full image of a rock cliff face in Ireland with the ocean on one side and green flatland on the other.

Irish Culture

One of the coolest things about studying cultural geography is that it gives kids the chance to learn more about the lives of the people living in different countries.

Irish Step Dancing

Irish Step Dancing is a traditional form of dance that has been a part of the culture since the 17th and 18th centuries. It is characterized by quick, precise foot movements and still upper body.

It was popularized in the U.S. by the show Riverdance and remains a vibrant and competitive form of dance around the world.

When done with hard shoes, the dancing includes heel clicking, stamping and tapping. Let your teen try their hand at Irish Step Dancing with this video.

Girl's feet - Irish step dancing

Medieval Castles

The Irish countryside is dotted with majestic castles, and luckily it’s easier than ever to visit them from the comfort of your couch.

Carrickfergus Castle

One castle, known for its preservation as a medieval structure, is found in Northern Ireland in the town of Carrickfergus.

It was an excellent location for the military because water originally surrounded most of the castle perimeter.

Dunluce Castle

Game of Thrones fans will recognize the Dunluce Castle as the castle that represents the House of Greyjoy, the ruler of the Iron Islands.

Now you can take a virtual flyover over of the castle through drone footage.

Blarney Castle

Over 600 years ago, Cormac McCarthy, King of Munster, was responsible for building the Blarney Castle.

This has become Ireland’s most famous tourist attraction know for the location where world travelers kiss the Blarney Stone to gain the gift of eloquence.

Dunluce Castle

Museums to Visit

Visit these local museums to see some of Ireland’s historic treasures.

National Museum of Ireland

If you are looking to learn more about the history of Ireland or view archeological finds, then you’ll want to spend some time looking around the National Museum of Ireland.

Medieval Museum of Waterford

As Ireland’s oldest city, Waterford is home to The House of Waterford Crystal and the Medieval Museum of Waterford.

The Medieval Museum is part of Waterford Treasures, three museums in the Viking Triangle, that tell the story of Waterford from its foundation in 914 AD by Viking sea parties. 

Titanic Experience Cobh

Did you know that on April 11, 1912, the Titanic set sail from the port of Queenstown, Ireland (now known as Cobh) on her maiden voyage?

Take a virtual tour of the Titanic Experience Cobh which is in the original White Star Line Ticket Office, the departure point for the last passengers who boarded the ship.

The Limerick Hunt Museum

Visit one of the largest private collection of arts and antiquities at the Limerick Hunt Museum.

Irish Museum of Modern Art

With over 3,500 artworks by Irish and International artists, the Irish Museum of Modern Art is home to the National Collection of modern and contemporary art.

While not fine art, kids would enjoy making one of these St. Patrick’s Day crafts after looking at the works of art.

The National Museum of Ireland

There’s no doubt that there’s a ton to see and do in Ireland and plenty to keep your tweens busy during their virtual trip.

Between the lush green fields, the remarkable rocky cliffs, majestic castles, historical artifacts, and famous locations, there’s something on this list that will make everyone excited about vising this beautiful island.

Best Resources to Use During Your Online Tour of Ireland

Deerbird 1000 Piece Large Jigsaw Puzzle - Cliffs of Moher, Ireland - 1000 Piece Puzzles for Adults and Teens - Landscape Series 19.69 27.55 InchesThe Great Book of Ireland: Interesting Stories, Irish History & Random Facts About Ireland (History & Fun Facts)The Ireland Colouring Book: Past and PresentCeltic Mythology for Kids: Tales of Selkies, Giants, and the Sea

 

Additional Virtual Field Trips for Tweens

  • Visit New York City with your older kids and let them see why this is one of the most visited cities in the world.
  • Go on a tour of Washington D.C. as part of your American history studies or just to see this amazing city.

Are you excited to take some of these virtual tours of Ireland?

Megan Zechman
I love homeschooling! Learning is a way of life for our family. Most days you will find us exploring our Central Florida community, having fun while learning. I am constantly looking for new and interactive ways to engage my older children.
Megan Zechman
Megan Zechman
Megan Zechman

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