9 of the Friendliest Towns To Retire In Ireland
Just as important as the attractions in a retirement destination are the people. A friendly community can make retirement more social, active, and rewarding. Luckily for retirees, the people of Ireland are some of the friendliest in the world and create a welcoming environment for all. Take Malahide, for instance. The town has a jam-packed community calendar celebrating traditional Irish music and local history. On the other side of the country is Ballina, which brings the entire town together to celebrate its salmon fishing at the annual Salmon Festival. The foodie haven of Kinsale and the seaside town of Westport round out these friendliest towns to retire to in Ireland.
Kinsale, County Cork
Kinsale rewards anyone who enjoys history and food, and the history is most vivid at Charles Fort. The fort was completed in 1682 above Summer Cove and offers tours, with a reduced rate for seniors. The tour provides context for the fort's purpose, and the ramparts look out along the length of Kinsale Harbour.
The food scene really sets Kinsale apart from many other retirement towns. Bastion sits at the junction of Market Street and Main Street and has held the town's first Michelin star since 2019. Chef-owner Paul McDonald builds his tasting menus around local seafood and Irish produce. For a more casual but still delicious meal, head out to the Bulman Bar at Summer Cove. They serve Irish pub favorites like fish and chips and seafood chowder, which pair perfectly with a pint of Guinness and friendly conversation with the neighbors.
Cobh, County Cork
Anyone who loves the sea will want to consider Cobh for a retirement destination. The town spent generations working as a naval, passenger, and emigration port. Between 1848 and 1950, more than 2.5 million people left Ireland through it, making Cobh the country's single most important port of emigration. You can learn more about that maritime spirit at the Cobh Heritage Centre, set in the restored Victorian railway station on Deepwater Quay. It also tells the story of two tragic ships in Cobh's history: the RMS Titanic and Lusitania. Cobh was the last port of call for the Titanic in April 1912, and the Titanic Experience in town occupies the old White Star Line ticket office where those passengers boarded.
Aside from the spirit of the sea, Cobh also has an active arts scene. The Sirius Arts Centre works out of the 1854 Old Yacht Club building on the waterfront. Its programme runs across visual art, music, and literature by Irish and international artists. The community gathers each summer for Cobh Trad Fest. The festival celebrates the best of traditional Irish culture with folk music, workshops, and set dancing. Its July weekend has quickly become one of the best in the town's year.
Rosslare, County Wexford
Rosslare represents a quiet retirement destination for anyone who wants to spend their golden years enjoying some peaceful time on the beach. Rosslare Strand runs for about 6.5 kilometers (4 miles) of Blue Flag sand and shingle along the southern edge of Wexford Harbour, where it opens into the Irish Sea. That gives you plenty of space to set up a blanket and read. The village also claims the sunniest weather in the country, taking in roughly 300 more hours of sunshine a year than the national average. For a more active day, head to Rosslare Golf Club right beside the beach, where a championship links course sits alongside a shorter twelve-hole option. Apply for a membership for frequent games and to have a chance to spend time with other passionate golfers.
Meet fellow residents at Redmond's, the Bay Bar on Cliff Road. It is a traditional pub with regular music sessions at weekends, and it makes a great place to gather to watch a football match with friends and family. The village station sits a few hundred meters back from the strand on the Dublin line, which matters if you would rather not drive everywhere.
Malahide, County Dublin
Head north to find Malahide, about nine miles north of Dublin, and one of the most affluent towns in the county. The town has several historical attractions to enjoy, ample beach access, and a busy community calendar. The DART also runs straight into the city if you would rather leave the car at home. The most impressive historical site is Malahide Castle and Gardens. The Talbot family held the castle for roughly 800 years, and it is open for tours. Combine that with a day in the walled botanic garden and the Butterfly House, the only one in the Republic of Ireland, and it makes for a great day out by yourself or with the grandchildren. For an even more relaxing day, head to Malahide Beach to soak up the sun and watch the boats come and go from the marina.
The town truly comes alive during its many seasonal festivals throughout the year. Dublin's traditional and folk music festival, TradFest, brings a run of concerts to Malahide Castle every January. The line-up highlights the modern artists who keep Irish folk music alive. In summer, the Malahide Chamber of Commerce puts on the Malahide Has It festival in late July. Expect a funfair on the beach, a barbecue on the Green, and live music on New Street through the afternoon and into the evening. A guided historical walk of the village runs alongside it.
Skerries, County Dublin
Just north of Malahide is Skerries, another welcoming coastal town well suited to retirees. Seniors will have two excellent beaches to choose from in town. The North Strand looks out over the harbour, while the South Strand is the long sandy one, running about 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) end to end. You can't go wrong with either, as they both provide a relaxing day sitting by the water or swimming.
Skerries is also a popular retirement destination for music lovers, with several music-related festivals on the calendar each year. The Skerries Ukulele Festival lands in late May and pulls in players from around Ireland and abroad. They come for the concerts and workshops and stay for the flash mobs around the streets. And for something unmistakably Irish, the Skerries Traditional Music Weekend has run in early June since 2001. Admission is free. The weekend turns on recitals, street music, and open sessions that any player can join.
Longford, County Longford
Longford offers a slower pace of life than many other Irish towns, with plenty of relaxing activities to enjoy year-round. Longford Megabowl out on the Athlone Road runs ten lanes alongside a pool table and an arcade, which makes it an easy place to gather with friends or take the grandkids for a fun-filled evening. For some cultural enrichment, head to the Backstage Theatre. They host theatrical productions and live concerts, so there's something for everyone no matter your taste.
The Dead of Night festival gives the town a week of events after dark in the run-up to Halloween, celebrating the folklore and mystery that make the season so beloved. The programme carries family entertainment, workshops, and street events. Take the grandkids to create lasting memories.
Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim
Carrick-on-Shannon sits on the banks of the River Shannon, the longest river in Ireland, and bills itself as the marina capital of the country. The town's River Walk heads out over the water on a floating boardwalk between the moorings and the gardens, then carries on toward People's Park for a relaxing day getting your steps in. Boaters can head out on the river from the public marina at the end of it.
Carrick-on-Shannon also hosts several local festivals that are great to attend or volunteer for. The Carrick Carnival over the June bank holiday weekend is run by the local chamber with community volunteers and always needs new ones. It opens with Taste of Carrick and runs for days of live music, street entertainment, and fireworks. The Dock, the arts centre in the town's restored nineteenth-century courthouse, keeps the calendar going the rest of the year across three galleries and a performance space.
Ballina, County Mayo
For anglers, Ballina needs no introduction. It has earned the title of "Salmon Capital of Ireland" thanks to its ample fishing opportunities on the River Moy, which holds salmon and sea trout right through the town. Anglers do need to fish authorized waters and carry both the fishery permit and the state salmon licence. That fishing spirit gives its name to the biggest community gathering in town, the Ballina Salmon Festival. Its programme runs to the River Moy Swim, the Lady of the Moy selection, and days of busking and live entertainment.
But there's still plenty to enjoy in Ballina when the weather isn't amenable to fishing. The Ballina Arts Centre is the cultural hub of town. Its displays rotate throughout the year, so there's always something new to see. The programme also covers live theatre, concerts, and dance. For some traditional Irish whiskey, pay a visit to Ballina Distillery. It was the first distillery built in County Mayo in 150 years and bottles single malts made with 100% Irish malted barley.
Westport, County Mayo
Westport is a walkable town with great community spirit, making it an ideal retirement destination. It is one of the few planned towns in Ireland, laid out in the Georgian style by James Wyatt, and the Carrowbeg River runs straight through the middle of it between the tree-lined promenades of The Mall. The town has taken Ireland's Tidy Towns title three times, and in 2012 it won the Irish Times competition for the best place to live in the country. Croagh Patrick stands about ten kilometers (six miles) west and fills the skyline behind the rooftops. When you want company, Matt Molloy's on Bridge Street has traditional music seven nights a week. The pub serves no food, so eat before you go.
The area around Westport is also beautiful and makes for a worthwhile retirement. The Great Western Greenway follows an old railway line for 42 kilometers (26 miles) out to Achill along Clew Bay, and it stays flat enough for a walk or a bike ride. Golfers will want a membership at Westport Golf Club, five minutes from town at Carrowholly, to play year-round. The course is challenging even for experienced golfers, running to 6,980 yards with five par-five holes that test your ability to hit for distance.
Retire to These Friendly Irish Towns
The people of Ireland are some of the friendliest in the world, and they make retirement all the more fulfilling. So whether the perfect retirement involves getting in plenty of rounds of golf, enjoying community festivals, or spending some time by the beach, your perfect retirement is waiting in these friendliest towns to retire in Ireland.
