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With a new year just around the corner, the talk of "resolutions" beckon.
If you're looking to broaden your horizons (literally) in 2025, content creator Éadaoin Fitzmaurice has compiled a list of unique and exciting activities to get you outdoors.
From Irish language GAA teams to beach yoga sessions, something in this list is sure to inspire you to take up a new hobby in January.
1. Surfing lesson in Strandhill with Rebel Surf
Sligo is recognised worldwide for its incredible surfing in places like Strandhill and Mullaghmore. If you’re trying it for the first time, I can’t recommend Rebel Surf classes enough. Located in Strandhill and operating through the newly built National Surf Centre, instructor Mel is determined to help you stand up on the board before your lesson is up, and gives effective coaching and tips along the way.
If you really want to perfect your craft, Rebel Surf hosts retreats during the year. You’ll leave feeling like an accomplished surfer, but more importantly, you’ll have a new group of outdoorsy friends for life.
Surf lessons start at €40.
2. Stand Up Paddle Boarding with Big Style
If you want a calmer introduction to water sports, Stand Up Paddle Boarding could do just the trick. Operating from Dun Laoghaire Harbour, Big Style offer private and group SUPing lessons.
The classes are around two hours in total, and you'll be given all the equipment you need. It’s an incredibly fun experience with great views of the harbour.
Sessions cost €50 per person. Head to their website now.
3. Cahore Point Cliff Walk, Co Wexford
The Cahore Point Trail is a new 2.4km cliff walk route developed by Wexford County Council and the Ballygarrett Tidy Towns group. Starting at Cahore Pier, you'll be spoiled with several gorgeous beaches along the way, including Old Bawn Beach, Morriscastle Strand and Ballinoulart Beach.
The trail itself is wide and level, so it’s accessible for buggy’s and wheelchair users. North Wexford is often overlooked but it has so much to offer, so make sure to add it to your 2025 bucket list.
4. Kite surfing in Achill
One of the funnest activities I've ever tried in Ireland has to be kitesurfing with Pure Magic at Keel Lake on Achill Island. Best of all, the windier and wetter, the better - so it’s perfect for that gloomy January weather.
Owner of Pure Magic, Francois, is an absolute hoot and will keep you laughing throughout the lesson. It takes a bit of getting used to, but by the end of your first class you’ll know the basics of steering and moving with the wind. I also highly recommend Wingsurfing while there. A mix between surfing, sailing and kiting, it’s an amazing new sport that I think will become very popular over the coming years.
Lessons cost €135 for three hours, book yours here.
5. Mountain biking in Sligo
If you're a thrill seeker, mountain biking in Coolaney, Co Sligo is one to test out in the new year. Coolaney Mountain Bike Trails has more than 40km of single track which includes five blue, 11 red and four black trails.
Cycle through the forest with epic views of the Atlantic Ocean from afar and test your bravery with sharp turns, unpredictable terrains and heart-racing descents.
6. Stargazing at Mayo Dark Sky Park
If you want to learn more about the constellations next year, take a trip to the Mayo Dark Sky Park, just outside of Mulranny. Terra Firma provide "after dark" tours which take you to historical sites for some local lore, before making your way up to the Dark Sky Park for stargazing. I promise you've never seen a sky quite like it, you may even spot a shooting star if you’re lucky.
The evening wraps up with magic and storytelling over a toasty mug of hot chocolate. This is hands-down one of the coolest activities I tried in all of Ireland last year, so make sure to add it to your list for 2025.
Tickets cost €35pp, book yours here.
7. Brush up on your botany at Kilmacurragh
If you're hoping for a tranquil new year, the Botanic Gardens of Kilmacurragh in County Wicklow could be the ideal place for you. Once a monastery, then an estate, now free public gardens.
If you’re looking to brush up on your botany, they provide free guided tours daily at 12pm and 3pm from March to October. It’s particularly beautiful in spring, when hundreds of rhododendrons bloom and their petals create a magical magenta carpet.
8. Pastry Pace Run Club, Dublin
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Run clubs have become extremely popular in 2024, and I predict they will only continue to grow in 2025. If you're seeking out a new hobby that delivers on good energy, community spirit and achieving your fitness goals, Pastry Pace should be on your radar.
Now with over 800 members, Stoneybatter streets have an electric energy on Sunday mornings as runners gather in crowds with an oat flat white and pastry in hand. Get out, meet like-minded people and soak up the smugness of getting a run under your belt first thing on a weekend morning.
To get involved, check out their instagram.
9. Yoga with Maura, Dublin
Why not start one of your January mornings with an sunrise yoga class? Yoga With Maura hosts monthly classes that have gained large crowds at Sandycove. The classes run through a 40-minute vinyasa yoga flow, and afterwards most people run into the sea for a dip.
If attending be sure to sign up ahead of time, bring your own yoga mat and a blanket. Event details are shared via Maura's Instagram page.
10. Dublin Dippers
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There's no feeling quite like the natural-high you get after a sea swim, but actually making yourself go to the beach and get into the water can prove to be quite the mental battle. If this is something you want to commit to in the new year, a swim club can be a great way to hold you accountable and encourage you to do a dip at least once a week.
The Dublin Dippers meet on Velvet Strand once a week, all ages are welcome. Head to their Instagram for more details.
11. Cycle Ireland's Greenways
Make 2025 the year you cycle as many of Ireland's Greenways as possible. From the Great Western Greenway, which takes you from Westport to Achill, to the Waterford Greenway, with epic views of the Copper Coast and the newly opened Limerick to Kerry Greenway, there are endless routes to discover.
You’ll be able to find bicycle rentals in most of the small towns dotted along the routes if you don’t have your own.
12. Wild Atlantic Way Seaweed Baths
The Wild Atlantic Seaweed Baths are such a treat. Based on Doolin Pier, Co Clare, you'll be able to take in the wildness of the Atlantic Ocean while soaking in a toasty barrel loaded with seaweed. My friends and I booked this a few years ago and we still talk about how much we enjoyed the experience.
In January, they will be popping up in various locations across Ireland, including Bantry Bay and Ventry Pier, before returning back to Doolin in at the end of the month.
13. Yoga and plunge with Your Well-Being Warrior
Yoga really is the perfect way to ease into more physical activity in the new year, so I've put in quite a few recommendations of places to try it across Ireland in this list. Last year, I did a brilliant yoga class at Rosses Point in Sligo with Your Well-Being Warrior.
Classes run on Thursday evenings and Sunday mornings from the boathouse. Best of all there is a Hotbox sauna and plunge pool area right beside it where class attendees head to afterwards. Each week from April through to October Your Well-being Warrior also hosts regular Beach Yoga Sessions in Strandhill. These sessions are held in Shelly Valley the perfect secret outdoor studio.
Book classes here.
14. Foraging class in Kinsale, Co Kerry
Interested in being outdoors and also learning more about the food that grows on our island? A foraging course could be a great one to sign up to in the new year. Kinsale Food Tours offer foraging and picnic tours that incorporate food tastings as well as coastal foraging. You'll venture out to the coast of Cork to forage and identify edible, wild shellfish, seaweed and plants. Using the produce you’ve picked up along the way, the tour finishes with a gourmet picnic for the group.
These tours are dog-friendly and take around two-and-a-half hours. It costs €70 per person. Booking is essential. For more information head to their website.
15. Cycle on a lake in Antrim
Have you ever heard of Water Biking? It's exactly what it says on the tin - you're on a bike on the water and you pedal to get around. As water sports go, it’s one of the easiest and most enjoyable I’ve tried.
The Eagle Divers in Antrim provide Water Biking tours of Ireland’s largest lake, Lough Neagh and the Six Mile Water river.
The area is known for its diverse wildlife, picturesque scenery, and rich history, so there’s lots to see and learn along the way. Sessions cost £25 per person, be sure to book in advance. Check out their website for more information.
16. Group hikes with The Hike Life
The Hike Life - founded by RTE 2fm presenter and content creator, Rozanna Purcell - was created to build a community, and give people and opportunity to hike in groups, if they found themselves without friends to go with.
The company has been a huge success with its own clothing line and best-selling book, but it’s really the events that have brought about a cultural shift in choosing a morning on a mountaintop over lazy (possibly hungover) lie-ins. Events are announced on The Hike Life Instagram page, so be sure to follow along and join in.
17. Cycling tour of Derry
If there is one city that I recommend spending a few days in next year, it's Derry. I’m a huge fan of a walking tour when I’m in a new city, but recommend doing a bike tour here because the key sites are pretty spread out.
Travel along the River Foyle and through the iconic Walled City and learn about its history and culture. The tour finishes up with complimentary tea and coffee, and a chance to get some extra recommendations off your guide.
Book here.
18. Zip lining in Lough Key, Co Roscommon
If your 2025 resolution is to connect more with your inner-child (something we should all consider doing more often) zip lining is the perfect way to do so. Lough Key Adventure Park in Co Roscommon has various courses for adrenaline junkies to try, each getting more difficult than the last.
You'll have guides on hand who will get you set up and help build your confidence in zip lining. Let go of life’s stress and zoom around a forest laughing your head off.
ZipIt also have facilities in Dublin and Cork. To book, click here.
19. Wildlife watching in Co Kerry
Hop aboard the Blasket Island Eco Marine Tours and prepare yourself to see some of Ireland's most incredible sea life. You’ll be on the lookout for whales, dolphins, seals, and birds that live around the beautifully remote Blasket Islands and Dingle Bay.
Your guides will tell you all about these beautiful animals, as well as some folklore of the land. Be sure to book ahead of time via their website.
20. Kayak through sea caves in Co Wexford
One of my favourite beaches in Ireland is Baginbun in Co Wexford. It's said to be where a lot of Normans first entered the island of Ireland. The beach itself is hugged by rugged rock and boasts the whitest sand and crystal blue waters.
From here you can give sea kayaking a go and venture in through the caves along the South East coastline. You might even spot a dolphin along the way. Book via the website.
21. Horse riding in the Tipperary Mountains
If you prefer land to sea, but would still like to get up close and personal with some animals, horse riding is a great option. Tipperary Mountain Trekking, located just outside of Templemore, is a small family-run experience that takes you along the unspoilt Irish countryside. You'll ride over the Tipperary mountains and take in incredible views while learning a little bit about the local history of the area.
It had been years since I had been on a horse, but the guide here made me feel so comfortable. Sessions cost €55 per person. Book online here.
22. Play golf at Woodenbridge, Co Wicklow
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Woodenbridge, located just outside of Arklow, is one of Ireland's oldest clubs. The course is situated in one of Ireland’s most scenic locations at the confluence of the rivers Aughrim and Avoca. Fir, beech and pine trees clad the sides of the valley.
They offer lessons to all skill levels, book yours here.
23. Go on an adventure with Galz Gone Wild
Galz Gone Wild, founded by Mel Mc Dermott, was created to connect more women to nature and the outdoors through hikes, adventures, getaways, workshops and events all across Ireland. Their events are a place to explore creativity, practice mindfulness but most importantly, to have fun and forge life long friendships both on and off the trail.
To see their upcoming events, check out their website.
24. Snorkel at a Coral Beach, Carraroe
Dive into the breathtaking beauty of the Atlantic Ocean's diverse marine ecosystem and learn about its marine life on Carraroe's unique coral beach. The guides are committed to responsible tourism and marine conservation and Blue Oceans certified so you can know you are enjoying your adventure without harm to the local environment.
Book yours here.
25. Rent bikes and cycle the Aran Islands
There is no place on earth quite like the Aran Islands. Brush up on your Irish and spend some time surrounded by the wildness of the Atlantic Ocean. You can get to all three of the islands from Doolin Pier using Doolin Ferry Co. Inis Oirr is my personal favourite, but Inis Mór is also really popular as there are lots of sites here including Poll an bPéist (The Wormhole) and Dún Aonghasa.
The best way to get around the islands is by bike. I recommend getting electric bikes so that you can see and do more before the last ferry in the late afternoon.
You'll see various bike rentals once you arrive on any of the three islands and you can pick up your bike there and then, no booking required.
26. Take up GAA and practice Irish
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It's such a shame how many of us stop playing GAA and hurling after school. It’s never too late to go back to it. There is now a range of Irish-language GAA clubs dotted around Ireland.
Na Gaeil Óga, founded in 2011 and based in Lucan, has achieved over 15 promotions. They have a wide range of adult teams at all-levels in hurling, camogie and GAA football.
What a brilliant way to immerse yourself in the language, get active and make some new friends. You can learn more about the club and sign up here.
27. Portmarnock beach yoga
If you've ever been on Velvet Strand in Portmarnock on a Wednesday evening or a Sunday morning, chances are you’ve seen the huge crowds that gather for Seanie Smyth’s beach yoga sessions.
Seanie created yoga community, Mind Yourself 365 in 2019 to promote mental, physical and spiritual health. You’ll flow through his class and give your body the stretch it needed. Many brave attendees also run into the sea once the class is up.
There’s no need to book. Just show up with a yoga mat, a blanket and a water bottle. Seanie has a QR code on the day where you can pay him for his service.
Classes take place every Wednesday 7:30am-8:30am and Sunday 10am-11am. Suitable for all ages and skill levels.
More information here.
28. Salthill swim club
High Tide Galway, founded by Joe Kennelly, was created to provide instruction and advice around open water swimming. The organisation also hosts swim meet-ups called The High Tide Galway Olympics takes place every Friday afternoon at 4.30pm and Sunday morning at 10am, Blackrock Diving Tower and 'For the love of swimming' takes place The Big Beach Salthill, every Saturday morning throughout the year at 10am and Wednesday at 6.30pm (May to October).
Open water swimming has many proven physical and mental benefits. Anyone who has done a sea swim can attest to that - this is something Joe is very passionate about. It is his belief that interacting physically with any form of natural activity connects people, creates friendships, excitement, joy and love.
For more information, click here.
