170 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Ireland - Atlas Obscura

Unusual Attractions in Ireland

Dublin, Ireland

The Long Room Library at Trinity College

The gorgeous library at Trinity College is home to remarkable treasures of Irish identity.

Skellig Michael

Perfectly preserved ancient monastery in an impossibly dramatic location on a rocky island in the Atlantic.

Dublin, Ireland

St. Michan's Mummies

An Irish church where an 800-year-old mummy is reaching out of his coffin as if to shake hands.

Kilkenny, Ireland

Dunmore Cave

This Irish show cave is said to have been the site of a Viking massacre that claimed 1,000 lives.

Skibbereen, Ireland

Irish Sky Garden

This floating garden in the sky is straight out of a fairy tale, but the real thing is nothing short of magical.

The Glen

A tiny microvalley etched into the side of Knocknarea Mountain hides another world.

Wicklow, Ireland

Victor's Way Indian Sculpture Park

An eccentric garden of sculptures crafted in India decorate an Irish green space dedicated to Alan Turing.

Galway, Ireland

Brigit's Celtic Garden

The world of the ancient Celtic civilization explained through a bewitching 11 acre garden.

See All 170 Things to Do in Ireland See All 170 Places

Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Ireland

The Butter Museum

This Irish museum in a historic 19th century market pays tribute to the glory of butter.

Dublin, Ireland

John Kavanagh ('The Gravediggers')

This pub built its reputation pouring post-shift pints for employees of the cemetery with which it shares a wall.

Galway, Ireland

Áras na nGael

At this cozy bar tucked down a hidden Galway backroad, Guinness makes the Gaelic come out.

Glendalough, Ireland

Writers' Room at The Wicklow Heather

A restaurant with an extensive Irish whiskey bar also has several first editions of famous works by Irish authors.

See all 8 places to eat in Ireland See all 8 places to eat in Ireland

Atlas Obscura Trips

Literature, Lore & Libations Across Ireland’s Northwest

An exciting itinerary celebrating the legends, lore, stories, and storytellers of Ireland and their inspiration.

Explore Ireland

Launch Map

Ireland Leaderboard

Places Added

Places Edited

Places Visited

Recent Ireland Activity

elliotsihra has been to Old Red Iron Bridge

elliotsihra has been to The Irish National Famine Museum

elliotsihra has been to Kyteler's Inn

elliotsihra has been to The Round Tower of Glendalough

elliotsihra has been to Glasnevin Cemetery and Museum

Stories About Ireland

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

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

Lord Randal Plunkett, seen in the company of his Jack Russell terriers, began rewilding the estate he inherited seven years ago.

Meet the Death Metal Baron Giving His Irish Estate Back to Nature

The carnivore-turned-vegan lord has rewilded hundreds of acres, boosting biodiversity—and drawing criticism.

by Rory Carroll

August 23, 2021

Fionnan O'Connor's doctoral research is supported by the Irish government.

This Irish Academic Is Getting His PhD in Ghost Whiskey

And partnering with a distillery to resurrect one.

by Ronan O'Connell

The púca is a shapeshifter that may take the form of a domestic animal.

The Púca Is Ireland's Supernatural Pastoral Trickster

They can turn a drunken walk home into a wild ride.

by Kaleb Horton

October 26, 2020

All indications are that the coast was mapped from the sea, in secret.

How a Secret Map Brought Down a Pirate Alliance on the Irish Coast

Now archaeologists are using it to search for evidence of clandestine activity.

by Erin Mullally

September 29, 2020

Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.

Lists Featuring Ireland