Activities in Ireland for the fearless adrenaline-pumping sorts

So simply going on holiday isn't enough for you?

If lounging around and relaxing on your break is your idea of hell, these activities to do in Ireland might give you some food for thought. We look at some of the most blood pumping activities you can get up to around Ireland and not one of them involves picking a fight with Conor McGregor. Every one of the activities featured is available to do here in Ireland and all you need is the internet and some funds. Gorge Walking  This is not slang for gorgeous walking although we would like to see a centre for gorgeous walking somewhere in Ireland. If anything, our walking is a little bit ugly and could do with some beautifying.   Pic via OutdoorAdventureIreland Gorge walking, also known as canyoning involves following a stream on foot and negotiating whatever obstacles you may encounter along the way. Whether that be swimming, hiking, abseiling or jumping, you will have to call upon some serious survival skills to complete the task. You can pretend you’re Rambo in the forest evading the local police and being a boss of the natural surroundings. Except you will be wearing a helmet and most probably a wet-suit. Hot Air Ballooning Who wouldn’t like to sit in a basket a few thousand feet in the air suspended by nothing other than a huge balloon? Ahem… I’m not one for heights myself if I’m honest, but I’m sure there are a lot of adrenaline seeking folk out there who would love nothing more. Pic via Balloons.ie Think of the breathtaking landscape we have in this country and you have yourself a living, breathing postcard. All you have to do is look over the edge. I’ll be the one sat in the corner, saying prayers to anyone who will listen. Microlighting  What? Yes, microlighting is here and it’s fantastic. If you were bored by the lack of danger in the hot air balloon, fear not because we think this might be just for you. It’s basically a hang-glider with two seats and an engine! Pic via ExtremeSports.ie Experience Ireland’s beautiful countryside or breathtaking coastlines as you soar two thousand feet into the air at speeds of up to 60mph. Obviously, you won’t be flying it yourself, but we are assured that if you are really good, now I mean, the best behaved person in the world, the instructor will allow you to take over the controls for a few minutes and let you do some manoeuvres yourself. No loop the loops please now lads. Paramotoring Fed up relying on wind to assist you as you paraglide? Fear not because with paramotoring, you combine the basics of paragliding except this time you have an engine to make you go faster, higher and cooler than any other activity of the parachute persuasion. Pic via ParamotoringIreland You will require lots of training for this one though lads, so don’t think you can rock up in the Punto and expect to be given a shot so to speak. This is dangerous to the less skilled amongst us (and probably the more skilled too), so lots of training is required before they let you go all James Bond on the Irish skies. Tank Driving Hold all my calls, tank driving?! Yes indeed lads, you can actually get to drive a real life tank and you can do it across rough terrain, obstacle courses and whatever else tanks are supposed to travel across. Pic via ExtremeSports.ie These metal monsters of war will have you climbing steep ascents, tracking through ditches and crushing anything in your way. Tip: stay well away from the car-park now lads. River-Tubing We’ve all been on sunshine holidays and gone to waterparks and hired one of those giant rubber rings, right? Of course we have! In the business they are known as tubes and now, for the high-octane adrenaline junkies amongst us, you can go river tubing here in Ireland! Pic via OutdoorDiscovery.ie Yes, you in a tube hurtling down rapids, surfing weirs or just floating leisurely down one of our many great rivers is available to do here in Ireland. Caving  This is not the art of giving in. This is caves, this is you and this is feeding you with some more adrenaline to satisfy your lust for adventure. Pic via Caving.ie Some people refer to this activity as pot-holing, but that gives off the wrong impression in our eyes. That gives visions of guided tour groups on rural roads armed with sledgehammers, smacking them off the road and whoever creates the biggest hole wins. No, caving requires lots of balls and skill. You will be abseiling, crawling, climbing and navigating the subterranean delights that our country holds. Hang-Gliding More flying! Yes, a piece of aluminium and a silk sheet is all you need to have you soaring through the air with a birds eye view of the breathtaking landscape below you. Pic via Paramotoring.ie Okay, you will need an actual hang-glider, but you get our gist. Hovercrafting The 'tanks of the water' are here now for your utter enjoyment. They are essentially part jet-ski and part airplane, but one thing is assured - maximum blood-pumping enjoyment. Pic via Odd.ie You can hover across grass and into water and back again and all you have to do it hold tight and steer the thing properly. What’s not to love?!