All Ireland

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Ireland

181 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Ireland

Updated May 23, 2023

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  1. Clare
  2. Cork
  3. County Donegal
  4. Drogheda
  5. Dublin
  6. Galway
  7. Inisheer
  8. Kerry
  9. Kilkenny
  10. Louth
  11. Mayo
  12. Meath
  13. Offaly
  14. Sligo
  15. Tullamore
  16. Westmeath
  17. Wicklow

Unusual Attractions in Ireland

See All 181 Things To Do in Ireland

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Ireland

See all 8 Places to Eat in Ireland
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Explore Ireland

Ruins 33
Sacred Spaces 19
Celtic 16
Medieval 15
Memorials 14
History 14
History & Culture 14
Monuments 13

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Stories About Ireland

Bonfires and revelry dominate modern Beltane celebrations, but the origins of the event are more mundane.

Beltane Is About More Than Fire and Fertility

The ancient “Celtic” start of summer is rooted in animal husbandry—and it’s not on May 1.
by Gemma Tarlach
Built sometime around the sixth or seventh century, this ring fort is tucked between hills and farms in a remote corner of northwestern Ireland.

What Is a Fairy Fort?

In Ireland, fears about disturbing the fair folk have saved thousands of these mysterious ancient structures.
by Sarah Durn
The cottage where Michael Cleary murdered his wife, Bridget, still stands in Ballyvadlea in County Tipperary, Ireland. It is shown here in an 1895 photograph.

The Haunting True Story of Bridget Cleary’s “Changeling” Murder

There's more to this 19th-century crime than the dark side of fairy lore.
by Sarah Durn
Without added flavors, carrageen moss pudding can be rather bland.

How Ireland Embraced Seaweed Pudding

Irish moss has a long culinary history.
by Chris Baraniuk
A five-acre pasture on the McCullen family farm, dominated by an old stone tower, has turned out to be the site of both a medieval monasterial complex and Neolithic ruins.

How a Farmer's Hunch Led to a Lost Monastery and a Neolithic Surprise

The rediscovered medieval complex of Beaubec is unique in all of Ireland—and it's just the most recent layer of history unearthed in a humble pasture.
by Matt McIntosh

The Archivists Who Rediscovered 700 Years of Irish History

The Virtual Record Treasury is recreating much of what was lost in a Dublin fire a century ago.
by Amy Crawford
All illustrations: John Mata for Atlas Obscura

Puzzle Monday: Deciphering Ireland's Ancient Standing Stones

by Alex Bellos

Podcast: St. Brigid’s Well

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.
by The Podcast Team

Lists Featuring Ireland

The "pet ham" is 119 years old.

Bog Butter, Ancient Beef, and Other Remarkably Old Foods on Display in Museums

Some of these foods are centuries past their expiration dates.

6

Including Ancient Bog Butter, Preserved Victorian Wedding Cake, and World’s Oldest Edible Ham

Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem0115 947 3171
The Star Tavern
The Eagle is among the best-known pubs in Cambridge.
The recreated apartment.

The Best British Pubs to Get Drunk on History

A 14-stop bar tour through Great Britain's past.

14

Including Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem, The Star Tavern, and The Eagle

Original letter of Abraham, the son of Maimonides found in the Cairo genizah.
A sculpture of the Tower of Babel, by Alan Baughman, from the Introductory Room of the Museum of the Alphabet
Boontling word of the week in the tap room of the Anderson Valley Brewing Company.

A Linguistics Lover's Tour of the World

12 places to marvel at the history of human language.

12

Including The Cairo Genizah , The Museum of the Alphabet , and Boontling Language of Boonville

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