Some of the Best Ancient Sites in Ireland

There are so many ancient sites in Ireland.

In fact I would have to write about 20 posts just to cover them all — there are that many.

But there are those that stand out to me for some reason — reasons I always struggle putting into words because when it comes to these ancient spots, it’s often more of a feeling about a particular site than something concrete. It’s a sensation that draws me to a particular ancient place.

Some of these special ancient sites I’ve visited and the others are on my wish list.

Let’s take a look.

 

Newgrange

Newgrange is the star of the ancient sites in Ireland — especially when it comes to prehistoric sites.

It’s a passage tomb that dates back to about 3200BC — and it’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen.

Located in County Meath, just an hour or so from Dublin, Newgrange sits in the sacred Boyne River valley along with Knowth and Dowth. You can also visit Knowth — another passage tomb of sorts — but Dowth is closed to visitors due to being a bit unstable.

Newgrange is lined up so that the sunrise on winter solstice morning lights up the chamber. They do a fabulous re-creation of this on the tour.

And the tour itself is highly informative and very fascinating.

I’m a big fan of Newgrange and recommend it to all of my travel clients!

Here is the information on opening times, prices and directions.

 

Hill of Tara

This is one of the most sacred places of the ancient sites in Ireland — and one of the places that I’m planning to visit on this upcoming trip to Ireland.

The Hill of Tara is just that — a hill.

But it’s not just any hill as this was the seat of the High Kings of Ireland.

And they have found passage tombs here as well.

The Hill of Tara dates back to the late Stone Age which puts it at about 2500 to 2000BC. But it was probably in the early Christian times (early AD times) that it was at its most prominent as a place of political and religious importance.

While nothing stands today — no buildings or even walls — what you see are indentations in the earth as well as uplifts of the ground in spots. So you need to use you imagination.

Here is the information on opening times, prices and directions.

The Hill of Tara is also located in County Meath and only 26km from the Newgrange area so it is possible to see both sites in the same day with proper planning.

 

Loughcrew Cairns

Another ancient site in Ireland in County Meath, the Loughcrew Cairns are a collection of passage tombs dating back to 3000BC.

And it’s another of the sites I hope to see on this upcoming trip to Ireland. Meath is loaded with ancient sites!

These passage tombs are scattered over 3 hills and are often referred to as the Hills of the Witch. That name definitely intrigues me and makes me want to visit even more.

The cairns or passage tombs are denoted by letter.

Cairn T is the largest and has some amazing Neolithic art inside. It actually also aligns with the vernal and autumnal equinoxes. So we do know that many of the cairns of Loughcrew were used for the telling of the seasons.

Here is the information on opening times, prices and directions.

Tip: This is a free site!

 

Glendalough

This is the first ancient site in Ireland I visited. I was a bit jet lagged so I don’t remember a lot but I do have some images.

And I do remember thinking it was stunning — both the ruins and the location.

Glendalough is a monastic settlement dating back to the 6th century and is the home of St Kevin who founded it.

The ruins are in fabulous condition with a round tower, some stone churches and decorated crosses.

However what makes Glendalough special — at least to me — is its location in the beautiful Wicklow Mountains. There are 2 lakes right there that you can walk to and around. And a few other trails that take you above the lakes and the ruins.

It’s not far from Dublin so it makes a nice day trip or it can be a wonderful stop as you make your way to the southern part of Ireland.

Here is the information on opening times, prices and directions.

 

Clonmacnoise

This ancient site in Ireland is moving steadily up my “must see” list.

Kind of like Glendalough Clonmacanoise is a 6th century monastic site with some incredible ruins including round towers, churches, high crosses and a cathedral. St Cirián founded this religious settlement that sits along the River Shannon in County Offaly.

It’s well-preserved and has a fabulous visitor center.

While not situated in as dramatic of a landscape as Glendalough, there is a unique flora and fauna to Clonmacnoise due to the River Shannon.

I always tell folks not to neglect the interior of Ireland as there is a treasure trove of sites and beautiful scenery. Clonmacnoise is just that — a prize in the Midlands!

Here is the information on opening times, prices and directions.

 

Drombeg Stone Circle

This is the most famous stone circle in Ireland and the most visited. So my main tip is to go early in the morning to beat the crowds.

But while this ancient site in Ireland is not off the beaten path, it is worth experiencing.

Also known as the Druid’s Altar, Drombeg is in County Cork southwest of Clonakilty and just to the east of the village of Glandore.

There are about 17 stones that make up the circle and there are a couple of stone huts on the grounds as well.

It’s a free site with no specific opening hours. Just know that it is a popular spot!

 

Derreenataggart Stone Circle

There are actually a few stone circles and wedge tombs on the Beara Peninsula — which is why I would love to return to this peninsula and why it is often thought of as a haven for spiritual and new age types.

We stumbled upon Derreenataggart as we drove around the Beara Peninsula back in 2010. This was the trip I took to Ireland with my parents. And my friend, Aedín, happened to be driving at the time.

We had just come out of the town of Castletown-Bearhaven when I saw the signs for the stone circle. So we took a detour that led us down a rural road for a couple of miles.

And there was this stone circle sitting in the middle of the field — with some absolutely stunning views.

I was the only one that was fascinated by this ancient site so the others stayed in the car while I communed with the ancient spirits.

Again this is a free site. Just look for the signs as you head west out of Castletown-Bearhaven.

 

Skellig Michael

Okay. So this is one of the most famous ancient sites in Ireland — even without all the Star Wars hubaloo.

But add in the fact that Skellig Michael is one of the stars of the latest Star Wars movies and it’s even more famous.

I’ve known of and have been fascinated by this site for several years now. And I’d love to get to this monastic site that is also a nature reserve on my upcoming trip. But the dates may not time out — unfortunately — because there is a limited window of opportunity (typically mid-May to October 1) to visit this incredible site.

Skellig Michael is an island that sits off the coast of the Ivereagh Peninsula (also known as the Ring of Kerry).

It’s home to one of the earliest known monastic settlements in Ireland. And it’s also home to a boat load of puffins and gannetts.

Getting there is the trick as the seas around the island are rough. Most boats leave from Portmagee and make the 12km (8miles) trip about 4 or 5 out of 7 days.

But if you are lucky enough to make it to Skellig Michael you’ll be in for a real treat. The stone beehive huts are built so they are round on the outside but rectangular on the inside and are safe from the rain — which is pretty common in this part of Ireland.

The monks left this area by the 13th century but it remained a pilgrimage for many.

Here is the information on opening hours, prices and directions.

Tip: Please understand that this site is not for everyone. Between the sea crossing and the many steps you must climb I would only recommend this site to those who can handle it.

 

Lough Gur

I actually just recently stumbled on this ancient site in Ireland on a Google search.

Located in County Limerick and only about 22km (14miles) from Limerick City this is first and foremost a lake.

But it’s the treasures around the lake that make it so enticing to me.

There’s a castle and a wedge tomb but it’s the stone circle that I really want to visit — because I have an obsession with stone circles.

The stone circle here at Lough Gur — known as the Grange Stone Circle — is the largest in Ireland and is in an almost perfect circular shape.

The other thing that is unique is that the stones are not free-standing but rather adjoining.

There’s also a smaller stone circle nearby as well as other sites around the lake.

And the time to visit?

Summer solstice seems to be when the the stones line up just right. But it’s a popular time so you may want to visit at a different time of year.

It is free to see this ancient site but donations are recommended and appreciated.

 

Dún Aonghasa

You may see this ancient site in Ireland also written as Dun Aengus.

This was the second ancient site I visited in Ireland. And it is a stunner! I was definitely impressed.

Dún Aonghasa is located on the Aran Island of Inis Mór (Inishmore) in County Galway.

There are other prehistoric stone forts on this and the other 2 Aran Islands, but this is the largest.

Dún Aonghasa packs a lot of wow because of its location — right on the edge of a sea cliff.

Originally built in 1100BC it was “beefed up” around 700AD. It’s thought to have been just what it looks like — a fort to fend off attackers.

There are no barriers around this so do take care when visiting. And it’s a bit of a walk up to and out to it across uneven ground. This is not a destination for the faint of heart!

Here is the information on opening hours, pricing and directions.

 

Céide Fields

On my last trip to Ireland I had the honor to see the Céide Fields which are quite unique.

This ancient site in Ireland is actually a prehistoric agriculture site — the oldest known field system in the world. It dates back about 6000 years ago.

At the Céide Fields they have uncovered what were pens for animals, partitions for fields and places where the people who farmed this area lived.

And the location on the clifftops of northern County Mayo is spectacular.

The visitor center is world class as well and has won awards. It’s truly a magnificent ancient site in Ireland. One of the best for sure.

Here is the information on opening hours, pricing and directions.

 

Carrowmore & Carrowkeel

These 2 passage tombs are only 3km apart so are being treated as one site, despite the fact that they are really 2 separate sites.

Carrowmore is the larger, more organized spot in County Sligo just south of Sligo Town. It probably dates back to about 4600 to 3900BC. That’s pretty damn old!

There are 60 known tombs at Carrowmore but only about 30 are visible. Some of them are circular and some look more like wedge tombs.

There are guided tours here so it does cost to visit Carrowmore.

 

Carrowkeel is more like Loughcrew Cairns with passage tombs scattered over hills and a lettering system to identify them.

These passage tombs date back to about 3100BC so they aren’t quite as old as Carrowmore. But they look really amazing.

There’s a parking area nearby and you simply walk up the hill to the tombs. This is a free site.

Here is the information on opening hours, pricing and directions for Carrowmore.

 

Creevykeel

Another ancient site in Ireland located in County Sligo is Creevykeel court tomb.

I passed it twice — because it’s literally sitting by the side of the main road behind some trees and there’s just a small sign.

But I parked in the parking area which is a good size and walked up a pathway behind the trees to this fascinating site.

I loved that I could walk around it all, touch the stones and sit under the henge pictured at the top of this post.

Creevykeel dates back to 4000 to 2500BC and they did find 4 cremation burials here.

I love these smaller sites that — while there’s no guide to tell you all about it — leave a lot to the imagination and let you be a part of the ancient history.

Hint: Keep your eyes open for a small sign and fairly large parking area on the east side of the N15.

 

Beltany Stone Circle

The final ancient destination on this list is one of the most special to me — one of my favorite ancient sites in Ireland.

Beltany Stone Circle — like Creevykeel and Derreenataggart Stone Circle — is one of those sites you find sitting in the middle of a field. And it’s free which is a plus.

Located in County Donegal just outside the village of Raphoe this stone circle dates back to 1400 to 800BC.

It was thought that there were as many as 80 or more stones but now there are about 64.

Beltany sits up on a hill and has fabulous views across a pastoral landscape.

The sheep graze around it which I simply love.

I spent a bit of time here, just communing with the ancient spirits and touching every one of those stones.

It’s a memorable place.

 

There are so many more!

Ireland is loaded with ancient sites.

I focused a bit more on prehistoric sites in this post as that tends to be what I gravitate toward — especially the stone circles.

But the ancient sites in Ireland also include early Christian sites, 17th century military forts and Medieval castles.

Are you ready to travel back in time?