Things to see in Ireland

575 places worth seeing in Ireland on an illustrated map: Newgrange, Croke Park, Hill of Tara, St Patrick's Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, and more. Zoom in and watch the landmarks, museums, nature and fun appear.

Highlights

Newgrange The site in County Louth is older than the Egyptian pyramids and impresses with its winter solstice ceremony. Every year on the winter solst
Croke Park This stages Gaelic football and hurling for Dublin County GAA and national competitions, with a playing season April-Sep. The stadium has a
Hill of Tara The Hill of Tara (Cnoc na Teamhrach or Temair na Rí, "Hill of the Kings") is the focus of an extensive ritual complex dating back to 3200 BC
St Patrick's Cathedral Founded in 1191, it became Anglican at the Reformation, so the Protestants had two cathedrals in the same city while the Catholics had none.
Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin A wooden church was built by the Vikings around 1030, and the first stone church was from the 1180s. So this is the oldest building in Dubli
National Gallery of Ireland Impressive national collection of Irish and European Art. In January the gallery displays its watercolours by JMW Turner; the original donor
Saint Stephen's Green A city centre public park, where a bust of Joyce faces his former university at Newman House.
Kilmainham Gaol This prison was in use 1796-1924; thousands have passed through, including many convicts transported to Australia. It's best known as the pl
Chester Beatty Library Sir Alfred Chester Beatty (1875-1968) was an American mining magnate who amassed a fabulous collection of early books and manuscripts and or
Irish Museum of Modern Art Modern and contemporary art, housed in the Royal Hospital of 1684. See also the elegant courtyard and formal gardens.
Poulnabrone dolmen This dolmen in County Clare is an iconic symbol of Irish megalithic culture due to its shape and size. It was built around 4000 BC and conta
Glasnevin Cemetery This opened as an RC cemetery in 1832, in an era when the Catholics weren't allowed their own parish churches, and their burials were begrud
Dublin Zoo Opened in 1830 and extended in 1997, this Zoo has a dozen habitats and is the largest in Ireland.
Saint Fin Barre's Cathedral Saint Fin Barre (550-623 AD) was a preacher who spent his last 17 years hereabouts. A monastery dedicated to him was built in the 7th centur
St Mary's Cathedral Dublin's Catholic cathedral, built in 1825. Catholicism was always the majority religion in Ireland, but its practice was forbidden until th
Powerscourt Waterfall The Powerscourt lands once stretched 7 km from house to here; they no longer do so but the waterfall remains part of the estate. It's not a
James Joyce Bridge Bridge spanning the River Liffey built in 2003. "The Dead" is set in Number 15 Usher's Island which faces the bridge.
St Colman's Cathedral Towering neo-Gothic RC cathedral; the steeple is 91.4 m tall. Construction began in 1868, whereupon the bishop decided that it should be alt
Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas, Galway Roman Catholic cathedral built 1958-1965 on the site of an old prison; it's an imposing limestone building in a mixture of retro-classical s
St John's Cathedral This impressive Roman Catholic cathedral is in neo-Gothic style and has the tallest spire in Ireland at 94 m (308 ft). Built in 1861 and des
Cathedral of the Assumption, Thurles The original cathedral of the diocese was on the Rock of Cashel, but that was grabbed by the Protestants at the Reformation. As elsewhere, t
Guinness Storehouse Guinness is brewed in 49 countries and Ireland just happens to be one of them. The St James Gate brewery is still in production, now part of
Cathedral of St Mary and St Anne This is the neo-Gothic Roman Catholic cathedral, opened in 1808.
Gaiety Theatre Founded in 1871 so this is the oldest continually operating theatre in Dublin. It hosts popular musical shows, opera, ballet, dance and dram
Céide Fields Field system dating to 3500 BC, when the region was warmer and forested. Stones were cleared from the fields into walls, and the land was ti
Muckross House Grand mansion built in 1843 in Tudor style, and embellished for Queen Victoria's visit of 1861. Two sideshows have outgrown the original att
Gate Theatre This has a focus on European and American theatre ranging from classics to modern plays. It was established as a theatre company in 1928 by
Clonfert Cathedral 12th-century church on the site of a monastery founded in 563 AD, reputedly by St Brendan the Navigator. (Or as the Ulster Annals would have
Kilbeggan Distillery One of the oldest licensed distilleries in Ireland, from 1757, with its heyday under John Locke from 1843. But in the 20th century pot-disti
Russborough House Grand Palladian mansion built 1741-51 to a design by Cassells, who also designed Powerscourt. It was the Leeson family pile for almost 200 y
Ennis Cathedral The Roman Catholic Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul opened in 1843. Construction has been in phases since, most recently in 1996 after fir
Hugh Lane Gallery Sir Hugh Lane (1875-1915) was one of the first collectors of modern art. He died in the sinking of Lusitania and this public gallery reflect
St. Mary's Cathedral, Kilkenny This is the Roman Catholic cathedral for the city, built 1842-57 in limestone in English Gothic style. It's at the highest point in the city
Cathedral of the Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary Built 1828-1833 in neo-Gothic, and embellished by its 46-m spire. The interior has been renovated several times, and in 1997 a parishioner w
Dublinia Exhibition of life in the Viking settlement and medieval city, child-friendly.
Saint Canice's Cathedral This was built as a catholic cathedral, caved in and was rebuilt in the 13th century, but the 9th-century Round Tower indicates its much lon
St Macartan's Cathedral, Monaghan Neo-Gothic Roman Catholic cathedral built 1861-92 in local limestone, with an 81 m spire.
Dunmore Cave Show cave in an outcrop of Lower Carboniferous limestone, about 400 m in extent and descending 46 m. It's richly decorated with calcite form
Hunt Museum Formed from the personal collection of John and Gertrude Hunt, ranging over Classical, Irish prehistoric and early Christian, and Olmec. Plu
EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum Over the centuries more than 10 million people emigrated from Ireland; this is the story of why they left, where they went and how they shap
Hook Lighthouse There's been a beacon here since the 5th century, and the tower was completed by 1240, so it's among the world's oldest lighthouses. It's a
Church of St Anne Shandon is the neighbourhood climbing the hill along the old road to Mallow. This Church of Ireland (Anglican) church was built in 1722; the
An Taibhdhearc - Amharclann Náisiúnta na Gaeilge The national Irish language theatre. It has produced some of Ireland's most celebrated actors.
National Botanic Gardens Extensive gardens favouring alkaline-loving species. The great Palm House was where Wittgenstein often came to warm his lugubrious backside.
St. Nicholas' Collegiate Church A collegiate church doesn't have a resident priest, but members of a seminary (here, a College of Vicars) take turns. St Nicholas is the lar
Anna Livia Sculpture created in 1988, and relocated in 2001, recognising Anna Livia Plurabelle from Finnegans Wake. Bronze sculpture sitting on a small
Bord Gáis Energy Theatre The theatre offers a wide range of shows featuring ballet, musicals, family shows, drama, concerts, comedy and opera. With a 2100-seater aud
Fota Wildlife Park Large park with dozens of animal and bird species, and Arboretum with many rare trees and plants.
National Concert Hall This offers classical concerts. Frequent performances by the resident orchestra, the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra. The main auditorium se
Brú na Bóinne Archaeological site.

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