9 Stunning Sights to Seek out on Your Trip to Ireland
Kilkenny
Many consider Kilkenny to be Ireland’s most attractive historic city, housing numerous historic sites that are concentrated in a small area in the city center. It’s a mix of medieval and modern, with narrow, winding streets lined with ancient buildings combined with the progressiveness of a lively city and a hub for Ireland’s arts and culture.
Kilkenny Castle is a highlight. This magnificent Norman Castle dominates the skyline overlooking the River Nore and dates all the way back to the 12th century.
Rock of Cashel and Hore Abbey
The Rock of Cashel was the traditional seat of Munster kings for a number of centuries just before the Norman invasion. It can be seen for miles, located high on an outcrop of limestone in the town of Cashel.
The group of medieval buildings includes a 15th-century castle, a 12th-century round tower, a Romanesque Chapel, a 13th-century Gothic cathedral and the restored Hall of the Vicars Choral. The complex is considered to be among the most exceptional collections of Celtic art and medieval architecture in all of Europe.
Hore Abbey, just down the road from the Rock of Cashel, is a stunning deserted ruin where there are no organized tours, entrance fees or crowds. Most of the time, it’ll be just you and maybe a lingering spirit or two.
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The Cliffs of Moher
One of the most iconic and most visited natural attractions in Ireland, the Cliffs of Moher rise more than 700 feet over the Atlantic. They stretch for five miles from just outside the village of Doolin to Hags Head at the southwestern edge of the Burren region.
Visiting the spectacular imposing cliffs offers the chance to take in some of the most jaw-dropping views in the country on a clear day, including the Twelve Bens Mountain Range and all three Aran Islands.
