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Doolin is a small village, true, but it has so much to offer. There are many attractions worth taking hours of your time and experiences to be done like in no other village in Ireland. Here's a shortlist on what you could (you really should!) do while you're relaxing and getting spoiled at The Sleepy Leprechaun:

Visit the Cliffs of Moher walking the Cliff Walk (alone or with a guide) or get the shuttle bus to the visitor's centre.
Walk to Doonagore Castle and bathe in Doolin's beautiful landscape
Visit Doolin Cave
Visit Killilagh church's ruins
Walk to the glacial valley just behind The Sleepy Leprechaun or take a unique walk around the Doolin side of the Burren
Take a walk around Doolin pier
See a Traditional music session in one of Doolin's 4 pubs
Have a unique experience of Irish trad. and stories of the "good auld times" at Doolin Music house with Christy, James, and Sheila.
Visit the Aran Islands taking a Ferry from Doolin Pier
And much much more that we will tell you about when you visit us :)

- THE CLIFFS OF MOHER -

Our beloved Cliffs are one of Ireland's top tourist attraction.
It is hard to describe with words their beauty, majesty and the feelings that you'll prove standing on top of them and looking at the Atlantic ocean from a 214 m height, seeing puffins and seagulls flying around or in their nests, hearing the roaring of the sea.
They are part of the UNESCO Global Geopark and rise to 702 feet (214 m) at their highest point and stretch for 8 km (5 miles) over the Atlantic ocean.
It is an ever-changing landscape. You walk through the Cliff Walk and are truly amazed by the sudden changes in landscape, so much so that even if everyone will tell you that it takes a good hour and a half from the starting point to the visitors centre, you'll stop to take pictures so often that we bet it will take you double that time!
While you're walking, you'll see the tower of Doonagore Castle, old famine ruins, puffins in flight, cows grazing placidly on the Cliff edge and much much more. It really is a never-ending surprise.
Fun fact: If you are an Harry Potter fan, you surely will recognize the fields near Doonagore that were used as landing when Harry, Hermione and the Weasleys take the pass-port for the Quidditch match.
You can also see the Cliffs from the sea, on board of one of the ferry boats that do the “Cliff tour”. If you’re an Harry Potter fan, some of the tours include the tour to see the famous “horcrux” cave.
For more informations, do not

Photo copyright: Enrico Zabeo.

- DOOLIN CAVE -

Yes! Doolin is beautiful above AND underground.
Situated at just 790 meters from us, the Doolin cave offers a 360 degrees experience with the visit to the cave and nature trail that goes all around them.

What makes Doolin Cave worth a visit? The fact that the cave is home to the 2 biggest stalactite in the world (and still growing!) and is part of a series of caves that run underneath The Burren.

We could go on a lot with the cave history and about the story of how it was discovered, but we don't want to spoil the fun of the visit.

Funny fact: They have goats on the roof of the visitor center. Really.

If you want to know more and book tickets go to their website: https://doolincave.ie which we find very exhaustive.

Also, new to this year they have the Wild cafe', that we strongly recommend you visit for coffee, cakes and food after or before visiting the Cave.

- KILLILAGH CHURCH -

Situated 2 km from The Sleepy Leprechaun, Killilagh church (now in ruins) is a little "not so famous" gem.
The church was built in the 1470s over a place of worship that was used for centuries before the construction of the church as it is now and was part of the parish of Killilagh, Barony of Corcomroe.

It suffered greatly with the Cromwellian invasion in the middle years of the 1600s (an invasion that resulted in famine throughout much of Ireland, aggravated by an outbreak of bubonic plague).

With a central wing measuring just over 17 meters in length by five meters in width, the church is small but would have been spacious enough to easily accommodate the local population throughout its use.

Typical of churches of this style and era, its interior would have been very plainly decorated and furnished, with the north wall left blank as per tradition.

Although there would have been some ornate stonework, the Cromwell attack almost certainly damaged much of the original architecture.

The original door on the south wall of the nave would have an architrave in the shape of a cleric's head, that is now conserved at the sanctuary of Kilfenora. Of course this isn't all there is to it and makes Killilagh an interesting place to visit.

Photo copyright: Enrico Zabeo

- GLACIAL VALLEY -

Just behind The Sleepy Leprechaun there is a stunning cliff-bounded valley that stretches from here to Ballinalacken Castle.

It started forming from deep erosion in warmer periods before the last ice age and Doolin Cave, which lies in the same valley started forming in the same period. When the Glacial Sheets started receding, they left behind the debris that still covers the valley, and that covered Doolin Cave. So basically, if you decide to visit Doolin Cave, we strongly suggest you take a walk to see this valley before you go visit the cave, to have a better understanding of the landscape above and underground.

- DOOLIN PIER -

Doolin Pier is the best place to see the Cliffs of Moher from the bottom and, if you're unsatisfied, you can take the ferry cruise to the Cliffs and you'll see them from the very bottom in all their 214 m of majesty,

But Doolin Pier isn't just a place for ferries to dock ( the ferries will take you to the Aran Islands too by the way ) but the natural start of The Burren. There is a lovely path that we strongly suggest that starts on the right side of Doolin Pier and you'll have the chance to see the Atlantic ocean in all its beauty as well as the peculiar limestone that makes The Burren so fascinating. As a special treat, here's a video of Mattie Shannon for Doolin Tourism's series "Meet the Locals" showing the coast of Doolin. https://youtu.be/ziSPrltJ8Qs.

More on the website of Doolin Tourism: https://doolin.ie/

Photo copyright: Enrico Zabeo

- TRAD. MUSIC SESSIONS -

Doolin is a very special place for Irish Traditional Music (Trad. for short).

It all began in the '70s when Doolin and the neighboring Lisdoonvarna could boast both the best folk musicians and best festivals in the west of Ireland. With musicians known internationally Doolin still is the true capital of Irish Traditional music. All the four pubs in Doolin (yes, we have four pubs to be sure nobody goes thirsty) have traditional sessions nightly and they are the best way to experience Doolin's famous music tradition.

*Photo taken in McGann's pub (http://www.mcgannspubdoolin.com/)

- DOOLIN MUSIC HOUSE -

Christy Barry and his partner Sheila have entertained friends and musicians at their home for many years, sitting around the fire playing music and telling stories.

Although the pub sessions are extremely popular they realised that many of their visitors preferred to listen to traditional music in the intimate environment of their home. As a result of this they decided to open up their atmospheric home to visitors so they can experience local Irish music in the relaxed surroundings of their home.

Christy talks and discusses the history of traditional Irish music and plays great tunes. Visitors can enjoy the experience of visiting a local home, enjoying local company and listening to a good traditional music session around the fire.

Sheila is an artist and her works surround the rooms in the house creating a truly art home atmosphere.

For more infos: https://www.doolinmusichouse.com/

Pic. courtesy of Doolin music house.

- THE ARAN ISLANDS -

The Aran Islands are 3 rock islands located just off Doolin.

The smallest and nearest island, Inis Oírr ( Inisheer ), is in total 9 square km and still has the undeniable charm of a classical fishing village. It has a white sandy beach facing crystal clear turquoise waters. On top of the only hill there is a small castle and a fort and on the west of the island lies the shipwreck of the MV Plassey.

Next to it, there is the isle of Inis Meáin (Inishmaan) with a population of only 200 people, it is the less visited of the 3 islands but it has lovely views of the Cliffs of Moher and some interesting Celtic & Christian sites. With its beautiful marine life and crystal clear waters it is a paradise for diving.

Last but not least, Inis Mór (Inishmore). The name means big island and its cliffs are the "other side" of the Cliffs of Moher. The number of historical monuments and natural views is huge. There is a seal colony too!

You can travel to the Aran Islands taking a ferry directly from Doolin Pier.

To fully enjoy your visit to the Aran Islands we strongly suggest that you check out (available on YouTube) "Man of Aran", a 1934 British fictional documentary film directed by Robert J. Flaherty. It portrays characters living in premodern conditions, documenting their daily routines such as fishing off high cliffs, farming potatoes where there is little soil, and hunting for huge basking sharks to get liver oil for lamps. Some situations are fabricated, such as one scene in which the shark fishermen are almost lost at sea in a sudden gale.