As a manual wheelchair user who drives, there’s plenty to be said about travelling by ferry when you have a spinal cord injury. Heated seats, hand controls and plenty of luggage space to fit in a handcycle, sailing across the Irish Sea to explore the island of Ireland makes sense.
Another perk to note is that those with disabilities, and their accompanying carers, get free entry to over 40 Heritage Ireland sites nationwide.
Most of our woodland recreation sites are owned by Ireland’s largest landowner, Coillte, where you can fine multi-access hikes. Whether you’re a disabled driver or passenger, you will find Blue Badge parking around the country without parking time limits.
The South East
If you’re sailing from Fishguard to Rosslare, we’d recommend staying in the ‘Sunny Southeast’, and take the time to explore this corner of Ireland. Between the counties of Wexford, Waterford and Wicklow, there is enough to pack in for an exciting accessible holiday. If, however, you are sailing from Holyhead to Dublin, you will have direct motorway access to the west coast.
Our home county is Wexford. It’s full of accessible gems for you to visit; from The Irish National Heritage Park to Johnstown Castle Estate, with both sites being only 15 minutes from Rosslare port, and less than 10 minutes from Wexford town. The town itself has hotels located in the heart of its busy shopping streets situated next to a working harbour, newly regenerated with accessible walkways.
Outside of Wexford town, head further south on the R733 and visit fishing villages, such as Kilmore Quay and Duncannon. Grab a takeaway hot chocolate at Hook Head Peninsula, the oldest operational lighthouse in the world, while wave and whale watching.
If you’re interested in Irish history, from the Great Famine to the Kennedys, make New Ross your base and visit the Dunbrody Famine Ship, the Kennedy Homestead (birthplace of John F. Kennedy’s Great Grandfather), or enjoy free access to the John F. Kennedy Arboretum with your Blue Badge pass to experience wheelchair-accessible trails at this beautiful botanical garden.
You can also make use of the 12km South East Greenway, in New Ross, in your adaptive bike. The roll-out of greenways, which re-purpose abandoned railway lines, has led to nationwide improvements in accessible tourism.
Where to stay: Whites of Wexford Hotel or Talbot Hotel, Wexford Town. Brandon House Hotel, New Ross. These both have parking. If you're travelling via campervan, check out Roche’s Campervan and Campsite, Clonmines.
Co. Waterford
Talking of cycling, the Waterford Greenway is one of our favourite spots. From South Wexford, we recommend taking the scenic drive onto the Passage East car ferry from Ballyhack. Within 10 minutes, you will find yourself in Co. Waterford. From here, you can either visit the seaside town of Tramore, with its old Victorian-style promenade and rows of Blue Badge parking, or head to Ireland’s longest greenway (46km) where you’ll find intermittent access points for parking. To keep up with my e-handcycle, Leona brings her foldable bike, but bike rental is available here, too.
If it’s a hike in the great outdoors you’re after, head for Mahon Falls at The Comeragh Mountains, then drop into the accessible Cooneys Yard for a bite to eat. To continue with your coastal road trip, simply head for the Waterford Copper Coast Drive from Tramore and explore viewing points along the Atlantic.
If you prefer a cityscape, Waterford city has recently undergone a regeneration of its medieval quarter with some accessible museums within arm’s reach of each other along the quay. We’d recommend the Time Museum, and the Medieval and Silver Museum.
Where to stay: The Tower Hotel, in Waterford City. The Woodlands Hotel (based outside the city) on the Tramore, Dunmore East Road.
Co. Wicklow
Drive up to Co. Wicklow aka “The Garden of Ireland”, and visit Beyond the Trees at Avondale, which features Ireland‘s only wheelchair accessible 1.3km treetop canopy walk. There’s also a Changing Places facility available.
Fancy a scenic picnic? Head for Powerscourt Waterfall, which has ample parking and stunning views. While beach wheelchairs are seen as the ‘go to’ for accommodating wheelchair users, there has been increased interest in seasonal beach mat access. Greystones Blue Flag South Beach has a 100m long mat from the promenade. But, if a beach chair is more suitable, you can find a useful nationwide list at the Disability Federation of Ireland.
Where to stay: Rochestown Hotel, Dún Laoghaire, South Co. Dublin (close to M50). Amber Springs Hotel, Co. Wexford. Car parks available.
Wild Atlantic Way
If you have the time to explore outside Ireland’s Ancient East, head west onto our most popular driving route, the Wild Atlantic Way. This original coastal tourism trail covers counties from Donegal down to Cork. We recommend heading for Co. Clare to check out Loophead Peninsula, driving north towards the stunning Kilkee Cliffs (Blue Badge parking is available near Diamond Rocks Cafe), or head for Doolin and the Burren, stopping in Liscannor along the way to visit accessible café, The Rockshop (our favourite pit stop).
It’s worth noting that the iconic Cliffs of Moher has restrictive viewing for wheelchair users. If you’d like to stay in this part of Ireland longer, head to Co. Limerick. This 40km greenway will bring you all the way into Listowel, Co. Kerry. You can book a handcycle from Like Bikes.
Where to stay: Green Acres Camping Park at Donnaha, Loophead, Co. Clare. Hotel Doolin at Doolin, Co. Clare. Rathkeale House Hotel, Co. Limerick, for proximity to the Limerick Greenway.
Co. Donegal
Donegal may be known for its mountainous terrain, but it is oddly one of the most accessible counties we’ve encountered for trails. From the Donegal Boardwalk resort to Ards Forest, you'll find adaptive surfing, with Liquid Therapy at Rossnowlagh, and a choice of accessible beach chairs at Portnoo.
Be sure to visit Glenveagh National Park and book in with inclusive bike hire company Grass Routes, who are expanding their inclusive fleet of wheels from ‘ability bikes’ to a mountain trike e-push chair. For a bit of island hopping, take a quick ferry trip to Arranmore Island or check out Ireland's most northerly point, Malin Head.
Where to stay: As a base, Radisson Hotel Letterkenny, Co Donegal. Teach Susie fully accessible holiday home (up to 10 people), Portnoo, Co. Donegal. The Great Northern Hotel, Bundoran.
Michael and Leona
Inspired by their honeymoon in Ireland and America, husband and wife Michael and Leona set up ‘The Struggle is Wheel’ to document the highs and lows of wheelchair accessibility within Ireland’s tourism industry. Here’s their Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) pages.
Events in Ireland
- Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, Wexford, 3-10 August, the largest traditional Irish music festival
- Heritage Week, 16-24 August, free events celebrating Ireland
- Motability Scheme Live, Northern Ireland, 19-20 September, taking place at Eikon Exhibition Centre
- Vitamin Sea Festival, 20-22 September, on Tramore’s accessible promenade with Blue Badge parking and beach chairs
- Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, 23-27 October, celebrating its 46th year in Cork
- Waterford Winterval, 14 November-23 December, Ireland’s largest Christmas Festival
Photos: Tirc, Getty Images, Diamond Rocks Cafe, the Irish Road Trip; Bernard van Giessen/OPW National Historic Properties JFK Arboretum; Ivan Kokoulin/Getty Images; Andrea Pistolesi/Getty Images
