Off the Beaten Path in Ireland

The fabled Emerald Isle has become something of a stereotype for the perfect travel destination. Very few of us haven’t heard of the Cliffs of Moher or seen a calendar featuring Kylemore Abbey. Of course, in Ireland you should hug a sheep and kiss the Blarney Stone. But I’ve found that there’s much more than that.

I’ve traveled a good bit of the country during my many months in Ireland. For me it’s like home — a magical, thought-provoking place that will be stamped in my memory forever. I’ve explored castles, climbed waterfalls, and watched shooting stars from the top of mountains. From all those adventures, I’ve compiled a list of several non-touristy attractions one should discover on a visit to the Land of Saints and Scholars.

Rock of Cashel

This is my favorite castle in Ireland. It’s sort of a hybrid of everything. Once the seat of the ancient high kings of Munster (southern Ireland), it was given to the church during the medieval period and turned into a monastery. This interesting history has created a structure that’s part castle and part church — with scraps of the original frescos still visible. It’s a gorgeous place echoing with the voices of centuries.

The Rock of Cashel sits on top of a hill overlooking miles of gorgeous pastureland, and the ruins of a picturesque little abbey are situated in the sheep field directly behind it. It’s kind of like watching a medieval epic. Only you’re in it and it’s real.

An image of the Rock of Cashel is something that every Tipperary person, and others from further afield, will always hold in their memory. The monument’s vivid history is reflected in the magnificence of its’ buildings’ architecture, and today it hosts 250,000 visitors per year. In the past, however, it was not tourists that flocked to the Rock, but kings, archbishops, soldiers and pilgrims.

The Aran Islands

Just an hour ferry ride across Galway Bay sits the largest of these islands, Inishmore. It’s home to just 840 people, plus the sheep and roaming horses. For those who enjoy biking, bikes can be rented near the dock and ridden all the way across the length of the island to Dún Aonghasa, a prehistoric ring fort built on the edge of some of the most dramatic cliffs in existence. The bravest travelers may crawl to the edge on their stomachs and look over at the turquoise ocean hundreds of feet below. Trust me, that’s a view that will change your life. And when you’re finished roaming the islands, Galway is a fantastic, picturesque city for coffee and shopping.

This article isn’t long enough for me to truly convey to you the beauty and majesty that is Ireland. From the kindness of the people to the brilliance of the rainbows, this is a travel destination you’ll never forget. If you should ever be lucky enough to visit, make sure to find some hidden gems of your own to tell tales about for years to come!

Clonakilty

If you’re looking for a southern Irish village experience, Clonakilty is the place to go. The quaint atmosphere and adorable coffee shops are only matched by the breathtaking scenery and proximity to other locations such as Cork, Blarney Castle, and Mizen Head (the most southwesterly point in Ireland and something you definitely don’t want to miss if you have the chance).

And rest assured, if you’re looking for a bit of an Irish culinary experience, Clonakilty is also a great place to find traditional pubs, many of which feature live Irish music on certain nights of the week.

Clonakilty is a multiple award-winning town on the coast within the heartland of West Cork. The town has an historical feel to it and its streetscapes are renowned for colourful and meticulously maintained shop and pub fronts, directional signs and street names.

Extraordinary floral displays can be seen throughout the town right through the summer months. The surrounding area features some of Ireland’s most spectacular scenery and beaches, including the popular seaside resort of Inchydoney.

Glendalough

Glendalough

The name of this ancient monastic city means “the valley of the two lakes” in Irish. Nestled deep in the Wicklow Mountains, this site is one of Ireland’s hidden gems — and my personal favorite place in the entire country.

I won’t pile all the history on you right now, but Glendalough was founded by St. Kevin in the 6th century. There were no cities in early medieval Ireland, so monasteries like this one became centers of learning and life. At its peak, Glendalough was home to 1000 men, women, and children. Today only the skeleton of the monastery remains, but it’s still a vibrant reminder of its past and boasts the oldest complete round tower in Ireland.

Beyond its historical merit, Glendalough is one of the most beautiful places in Ireland and includes a variety of hiking trails spanning all difficulty levels. A glimpse of the majestic upper lake is something you’re sure to never forget!

Over at ricksteves.com he notes that Glendalough has a rich and fascinating history, from the time St. Kevin started living there as a hermit, through the construction of the monastic settlement and up to the modern day. Even though many of the buildings are falling down on the Glendalough monastic site, the visitor’s centre has a model of what the area would’ve looked like back when it was known for its seven churches. The round tower in Glendalough is iconic, and hard to miss because it is one of the only complete buildings.

Slieve League

Forget the Cliffs of Moher. These are the highest accessible sea cliffs in Europe! The hiking and climbing possibilities are endless. You could spend three hours out there and still not feel like you’ve seen it all (trust me). It’s a magical world all to itself — connected to the daily life around it and yet somehow entirely separate. The wind is fierce, though, so make sure to procure some Irish wool socks!

The cliffs at Slieve League are the highest sea cliffs in Ireland at 601m. They form part of the International Appalachian Trail, as they can be directly correlated with rocks found in Newfoundland, Canada.

Slieve League comprises spectacular coastal cliff scenery, which is generally inaccessible, except from the viewing platform in the Bunglass public car park at the southern end of the cliffs. The cliffs have developed over the past 100,000 years, during and since the last ice age. The bedrock is Dalradian in age, with the primary rock type being thinly-bedded basal Slieve Tooey Quartzite Formation. Quartzites and gneisses of the Slieve League Formation occur at the base.