Have you been to Ireland before? Even if you have, you may think that you’ve seen it all.
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There’s no way of course that you can uncover everything on this beautiful island without coming back for seconds!
Here are 10 gem attractions in Ireland that you might not have heard about before.
Devil’s Chimney, Co. Sligo/Co. Leitrim Border
The Devil’s Chimney on the border of Counties Sligo and Leitrim is Ireland’s highest waterfall and you can get up close to its base by taking one of the moderate walking trails in the area.
The hike is about 1.2 km (approximately 0.75 miles) with an ascent of 130 meters (over 400 feet).
The walk takes about 45 minutes.
The “Chimney” is a stone’s throw from the more well-known Glencar Waterfall made famous by WB Yeats in his poem, “The Stolen Child.”
What’s particularly interesting about this waterfall is the fact that when the wind blows from the south the waterfall is blown upward and back over the cliff from which it falls.
No doubt its name, the “Devil’s Chimney” came about as a result of this strange phenomenon.
See for yourself in the video clip below.
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Kinbane Castle, Co. Antrim
While not much of the castle remains, Kinbane Castle located on the long, narrow Kinbane Head on the County Antrim coastline is a must-see if you are driving along Northern Ireland’s Coastal Causeway.
The castle is not as well-known as Dunluce but its location is equally as beautiful, situated between Ballycastle and Ballintoy, which was used as a location for the HBO series, “Game of Thrones.”
It was constructed in 1547 by Colla MacDonnell, brother of the infamous Sorley Boy MacDonnell, a descendant of the powerful Clan MacDonnell of Dunnyveg, Scotland.
It once had a large courtyard, and there are traces of other buildings there too. As with many clan castles on the island of Ireland, it was besieged by the British a couple of times and partly destroyed by cannon fire.
It was later rebuilt by Colla MacDonnell, who died there in 1558.
After his death, Sorley Boy exchanged the castle with another property in the area, giving it to Colla’s son, Gillaspick MacDonnell.
The castle was later given to the MacAllister clan as a reward for their loyalty to the MacDonnells.
The castle remained in the hands of the MacAllister's of Kinbane until the 18th century. Climb the narrow path to the top of this gem and you’ll be rewarded with fabulous views of Rathlin Island and the surrounding coastline.
Leap Castle, Co. Offaly
If you’re into haunted castles, this gem of a place should be on your list of places to visit.
Leap Castle was built in the early 1500s by the O’Carroll clan and is apparently the most haunted castle in Europe.
The O’Carrolls were a terrifying lot, to say the least!
They often used the castle grounds to stage the massacres of rivals and also to kill each other. Their dinner guests were not safe, either.
And neither were the soldiers who reported to them.
The castle is currently owned by Sean and Anne Ryan, who are happy to give self-guided tours of the upper floors of the castle.
The couple claims that ghosts actually exist and that they have seen them.
One of the most interesting parts of the castle is “The Bloody Chapel,” where the one-eyed Teigue O’Carroll murdered his brother while he was saying mass.
After the castle was destroyed in 1922 during the Irish Civil War, repair work uncovered a secret dungeon filled with corpses that were thought to have been the victims of the ghastly murders.
To visit Leap Castle, contact the owners directly at the website listed above.
Poolbeg Lighthouse, Co. Dublin
The red, 20-meter-high Poolbeg Lighthouse located in Dublin Bay is the area's most noticeable landmark.
It was first established in 1767 and at the time operated solely on candlepower. It changed to oil in 1786 and was redesigned into its present form in 1820.
It is located on the Great South Wall, which extends 4 miles (6.43 km) into the bay. It is the longest sea wall in Europe.
If you are using Dublin's public transportation system, the easiest way of getting to the Poolbeg Lighthouse is by taking the DART from the city center to the Sandymount station, then walking 20 minutes or so to the lighthouse.
Once you get to the end, you’ll have panoramic views of the bay and the city beyond it, as well as the mountains to the south and the sea cliffs of Howth to the north. If the evening is nice, this is a stunning place to view Dublin.
The Bull Rock Lighthouse
About 4 km (2.48 miles) west of Dursey Island lies the Bull Rock Lighthouse.
The Bull Rock, which is 9 km (5.59 miles) from the mainland, marks the most southwesterly point along the Beara Peninsula.
The peninsula is located on the southwest coast of Ireland between Kenmare in Co. Kerry and Bantry Bay in Co. Cork.
Like so many other attractions in Ireland, this, too, is associated with folklore and legend and is considered to be the “Gateway to the Underworld.”
A lighthouse was constructed there in 1889 to replace the cast-iron lighthouse on nearby Calf Island that had been blasted into the Atlantic Ocean by a storm.
Up to seven men lived on the island at one time or another until 1991 when the lighthouse was automated.
What is perhaps more fascinating is the incredible feat of engineering that is the old Gas Works, which was literally built into the face of the cliffs.
The island is home to a colony of Atlantic gannets that are most evident during the summer months.
The birds typically congregate at the top of the island around the lighthouse tower, but you’ll also see them around the old gasworks building.
You can get to the island courtesy of Skellig Coast Discovery boat tours and see this amazing gem for yourself, with its massive rock passage that you'll be able to go through.
The Jealous Wall, Co. Westmeath
Located at Belvedere House Gardens & Park in Co. Westmeath, just south of Mullingar, The Jealous Wall is by its very name a curious attraction.
It is in fact the ruin of a large 18th-century Gothic folly (a building constructed for decoration but having another purpose based on its appearance), which is the largest of its kind in Ireland.
It was built by Robert Rochfort, the 1st Earl of Belvedere, in 1760 out of jealousy when his brother George built a grander mansion nearby.
The folly was built in such a way that it blocked Rochfort’s view of the home.
But that wasn’t all that Rochfort was jealous of.
He also suspected his wife, Lady Mary Molesworth, of having an affair with his older brother, Arthur, whom he later sued.
Rochfort subsequently locked his wife away at the family home of Gaulstown House for more than 30 years while he lived at the mansion at Belvedere.
After Rochfort’s death, Mary was finally released, spending a brief time with her daughter but eventually went to France where she lived out her life as a nun.
No visit to the folly is complete without exploring Belvedere House and its amazing grounds, including a beautiful Walled Garden, the Fairy Garden, and taking a walk through the estate’s woodlands and by the lakeshore.
The Knockmealdown Mountains, Co. Tipperary/Co. Waterford Border
This is a beautiful part of the country that deserves some attention as one of the 10 gem attractions in Ireland that you should visit.
The highest peak in the mountain range is Knockmealdown.
On the western side of the summit is a mountain pass called “The Vee,” which runs through an old mail coach road from Lismore in Co. Waterford to Clogheen in Co. Tipperary.
The area is particularly beautiful during the months of May and June when sections of the mountain are covered in pink and purple rhododendrons.
This is an ideal place for walking since there are various trails, forestry tracks, and mountain climbs to attempt.
The Wormhole, Inishmore Island, Co. Galway
Otherwise known as “The Serpent’s Lair” or “The Wormhole,” this natural pool is actually called “Poll na bPeist” in Gaelic, which refers to the mythical reptilian sea monster from Irish folklore that it is associated with.
It is located on Inishmore, the largest of the Aran Islands.
If you’re visiting the main attraction on the island, Dun Aonghasa, you’ll need to travel about 1.6 km (0.9 miles) to get to this gem of a spot.
The rectangular-shaped pool fills up as the water ebbs and flows at the bottom of the cliffs with the help of underground channels. In the past, it has been the site of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series.
Read More: 8 Overlooked Destinations in Ireland Worth Visiting
Wild Nephin Ballycroy National Park, Co. Mayo
This is one of the largest peatlands in Europe.
It is an incredibly beautiful place and if you’re in County Mayo, you shouldn’t miss it.
It is definitely one of the 10 gem attractions in Ireland that are a must-see.
This Special Area of Conservation has been turned into a haven for walkers and hikers.
The Ballycroy National Park section of this beautiful wilderness was established as a national park in 1998. In 2017, close to 10,000 acres of conifer forest and mountain was added, which is when it became known as the Wild Nephin Ballycroy National Park.
There are several trails in the park, including the Bangor Trail, which follows an old drover path used at one time to move livestock from one place to another. Some believe it may date back to the Iron Age.
If you want to get a taste of County Mayo’s rugged mountainous environment and its beautiful coastline, be sure to take the 2-km (1.24-mile) Claggan Mountain Coastal Trail.
It is the only trail in the park that offers a multi-access walkway across the bog with fabulous views of the mountains, including the Nephin and Claggan mountains, as well as Achill Island.
It is also situated within the Wild Nephin Ballycroy National Park.
If the dark sky and all its wonders fascinate you, then a visit to The Mayo Dark Sky Park, which is located with the Wild Nephin Ballycroy National Park is a must.
It is one of three international dark sky parks on the island of Ireland showcasing some of the most pollution-free dark skies in the world.
The other two include the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve, which is located in Ballinskelligs, and the OM Dark Sky Park & Observatory located in the Davagh Sperrin Mountains in County Tyrone.
Be sure to visit the Nephin Ballycroy National Park Visitor Centre, which houses an interactive exhibition and provides plenty of information on the different walks you can take.
Read More about Visiting County Mayo on a Budget
Yew Maze, Co. Wexford
The intricate Yew Hedge Maze in Dunbrody, Co. Wexford, is another one of the 10 gem attractions in Ireland worth seeing. Located next to Dunbrody Abbey, it is made up of 1,500 intricate yew hedges as well as a beautiful garden.
While you’re there, be sure to check out the abbey, which was founded at the end of the 12th-century at the request of Strongbow, otherwise known as Richard de Clare, the 2nd Earl of Pembroke.
It is believed to be one of the most impressive Cistercian ruins in Ireland.
As you wander around the abbey, you’ll see the remains of a 13th-century church, including its transepts and chapels, its nave, and a massive crossing tower that was added in the 15th century.
The castle was dissolved by King Henry VIII in 1536, as were all of the other monasteries and abbeys across Ireland at the time.
Have you visited any of the above 10 gem attractions in Ireland? If so, let me know what you thought in the comments below.
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