Image: Dublin's Guinness Storehouse was Ireland's most popular visitor attraction during 2011

Some of Ireland's leading tourist attractions reported an increase in visitor numbers during 2011, according to new statistics published by national tourism agency Fáilte Ireland.

Dublin attractions dominated the list of 2011's most popular sites, with the city's Guinness Storehouse welcoming 1.025 million people - an increase of 10 per cent on the previous year.

The Guinness Storehouse overtook Dublin Zoo as the country's leading attraction, although the zoo still reported a 3.8 per cent growth in visitor numbers to 1 million.

Dublin's National Aquatic Centre (825,049, +14 per cent) and the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience (809,474, +12 per cent) were third and fourth most popular respectively.

There was also growth for Cork attractions such as Fota Wildlife Park and Blarney Castle, as well as other regional destinations such as the Rock of Cashel, County Tipperary.

However, the country's fifth most popular site - Dublin's National Gallery of Ireland - saw visitor numbers drop by 15 per cent to 624,412 last year when compared with 2010.

Details: www.failteireland.ie

Image: m_p_king/flickr