Dublin
This modern square was designed by American landscape artist Martha Schwartz and opened in 2008. Its most distinctive feature is the red 'carpet' made of…
Must-see attractions in Ireland
County Clare
The ruined 16th-century tower next to the graceful stone bridge over the River Doonbeg is all that remains of Doonbeg Castle – its entire garrison was…
The West Cork Coast
The Clonakilty Museum has some memorabilia, including Michael Collins’ weapons and uniform. The museum is run on a voluntary basis; contact the tourist…
County Mayo
Modelled on Sean Thornton's White O' Morn' Cottage from The Quiet Man film, the museum offers a location tour – good for film fanatics and those with a…
Dublin
A bronze sculpture of Patrick Kavanagh (1904–67), erected in 1968, shows the poet with arms and legs crossed in one of his favourite spots. It is inspired…
County Cork
A 15th-century tower houses Tynte’s Castle, which originally had a defensive riverfront position. When the Blackwater River silted up and changed course…
Dublin
This tiny cemetery was established in 1693 by French Protestant refugees. The cemetery is closed but you can see graves through the railings; of the 239…
County Limerick
This magnificent Franciscan friary ruin dates to 1389 and includes a fine cloister. Contact the tourist office for tours by resourceful local historian…
North of the Liffey
In the Garden of Remembrance is a bronze statue of the Children of Lir by Oisín Kelly; according to Irish legend the children were turned into swans by…
The Midlands
Look out for the unexpected 10m-high stone pyramid in the village graveyard behind St Finian's Church. In the 1830s Richard Bernard commissioned this…
Counties Meath, Louth, Cavan & Monaghan
Dundalk's courthouse is a photogenic neo-Gothic building with large Doric pillars. The interior is closed to the public. In the front square is the stone…
North of the Liffey
Father Theobald Mathew (1790–1856) was the 'Apostle of Temperance' – a hopeless role in Ireland. Still, Mary Redmond's 1893 statue isn't the only tribute…
County Donegal
Letterkenny's 19th-century workhouse, built to provide Famine relief, now houses the local museum. The permanent collection offers 8000-plus artefacts…
Glendalough
Climb the steps at the back of the Reefert Churchyard and follow the path to the west and you'll find, at the top of a rise overlooking the Upper Lake,…
The West Cork Coast
This craft distillery produces vodka, (Two Trees), gin (Garnish Island) and a range of whiskies (blended, pot still and single malt) under its own name…
Cobh
Model ships, paintings, photographs and curious artefacts tracing Cobh's history fill this small but engaging museum. It's housed in the 19th-century…
Counties Wicklow & Kildare
Located 4km west of Ballitore village is the Rath of Mullaghmast, an Iron Age hill fort and standing stone where Daniel O'Connell, champion of Catholic…
Cork City
Built in Georgian style in the 1930s to replace the original city offices, which were burnt down by renegade British forces in 1920, Cork's impressive…
County Mayo
This 1947, art deco–style landmark stands in the centre of Westport, and is a popular meeting point for locals. It's notoriously inaccurate, and sometimes…
Counties Meath, Louth, Cavan & Monaghan
Astride the eastwards extension of the town's main street is the 13th-century St Laurence's Gate, the finest surviving portion of the city walls (which…
County Wexford
Restored to its original glory (check out the star-spangled roof), this dazzling Roman Catholic cathedral (1846) was designed by Augustus Pugin, the…
County Waterford
This small, well-presented museum covers maritime heritage (with relics from shipwrecks), Famine history, local personalities and various other titbits,…
County Meath
A former Protestant church (with a window by acclaimed stained-glass artist the late Evie Hone) is home to Tara's visitor centre, which screens a 20…
County Waterford
On the eastern side of Ardmore village by the cliff walk are the ruins of St Declan's Church and St Declan's Well, a sacred spring believed to cure…
Grafton Street & St Stephen's Green
A bronze figure of legendary Dublin folk singer Luke Kelly (1940–84). It was a gift to the city by Irish cartoonist Gerry Hunt (1936–2018), who had…
County Wexford
Pretty Ballyhack village is 5.5km northwest of Duncannon. It’s dominated by the 15th-century Ballyhack Castle, a Knights Hospitallers tower house…
Adare
In the middle of Adare, exhibits here explain the history and medieval context of the village's buildings in entertaining fashion. Quality Irish crafts…
Counties Meath, Louth, Cavan & Monaghan
All that remains of the 13th-century Franciscan friary the town grew up around is an ancient bell tower, next to the grave of 17th-century rebel leader…
Beara Peninsula
Glengarriff's mild, frost-free climate allows this small 12-hectare park to flourish. It has a variety of exotic plants, including palm trees and tree…
Skellig Ring
Directly opposite the Ballinskelligs Beach car park are the last crumbling remnants of the 16th-century castle stronghold of the McCarthys, built on the…
County Tipperary
Located in the town hall alongside the tourist office, the displays here include a scale model of Cashel in the 1640s with an audio commentary.
Grafton Street & St Stephen's Green
This five-bay, two-storey Palladian house was built in 1759 for the then-provost (president) of Trinity College, Francis Andrews. It has served as the…
County Mayo
If you see artists out capturing their impressions of the sensational scenery around here, they may well be under the patronage of this foundation. Check…
The Burren
In a field accessed via a stile, 130m west of Kilfenora's cathedral ruins, is the 4.6m-high West Cross, which depicts Christ's crucifixion.
County Tipperary
On the eastern edge of the village stands a 14th-century Augustinian friary, now a Catholic church, with medieval stained-glass and an in-your-face sheila…
The Midlands
At the far south end of Main St, 1829-built St Paul's Church contains resplendent stained-glass windows by Reverend AL Moore, which were originally…
Wexford Town
Participants in the 1798 Rising used the Bull Ring as an open-air armaments factory; they're commemorated here by the Lone Pikeman statue.
Dublin
Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava's second Dublin bridge (his first is the James Joyce Bridge; 2003) is this wishbone-design structure (2007) in the…
County Clare
Consecrated in 1843, this impressive structure had its tower and spire added in 1874, and was elevated to the status of a cathedral in 1990. A highlight…
County Tipperary
Informative displays on the history of County Tipperary from Neolithic times to the present are covered at this well-put-together museum, which also hosts…
