The Atlas Obscura Guide To Ireland

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

Updated August 7, 2026

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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.

The vaults

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.

Dunmore Cave

Kilkenny, Ireland

Dunmore Cave

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

Skellig Michael.

Kerry, Ireland

Skellig Michael

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

An aerial view of the Sky Garden’s crater and central altar

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.

St. Audoen’s Gate.

Dublin, Ireland

Saint Audoen’s Gate

The enchanting archway is the only surviving portal into Dublin’s lost medieval wall.

Dublin, Ireland

National Leprechaun Museum

A museum that cashes in on its infamous little people while teaching you a thing or two about the Irish fey.

See All 231 Things To Do in Ireland

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Ireland

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.

Entrance to the Cork Butter Museum

Cork, Ireland

The Butter Museum

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

Dublin, Ireland

Ancient Bog Butter

The block of aged dairy is probably still edible after 2,300 years in a peat bog.

See all 12 Places to Eat in Ireland

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Explore Ireland

Ruins 35

Architecture 23

Museums 23

Sacred Spaces 20

History 18

Celtic 17

Medieval 17

History & Culture 17

Churches 17

Memorials 16

Monuments 14

Statues 13

Geology 13

Castles 12

Cemeteries 12

Tombs 12

Plants 11

Burial Places 11

Megalithic 9

Towers 9

Unique Restaurants & Bars 3

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Stories About Ireland

Dyeing the Chicago river green has been a St. Patrick’s Day tradition since 1962.

The Color of St. Patrick's Day Wasn't Always Green

Ireland’s patron saint was once dressed in blue—before his holiday got its signature hue.

by Bryan McGovern, Atlas Obscura

The Cù Sith, an otherworldly hound of Scottish folklore, and its Irish counterpart the Cù Sidhe are sometimes described as green, the color associated with magic—and misfortune.

Death as a Dog: The Cù Sith of Scotland

The spectral, terrifying dog of Scottish folklore has inspired many a nightmare for centuries—and likely for millennia.

by Emma Cieslik, Atlas Obscura

October 9, 2024

Rabbits Are Creatures of the Underworld According to Ancient Fears

From Ancient Egypt to 'Donnie Darko', beware the bunny.

by Charis McGowan, Atlas Obscura

Is This the World's Oldest Eclipse Art?

There's something shady about the idea that an ancient rock carving on a Neolithic tomb in Ireland depicts the Moon blotting out the Sun.

by Indi Bains, Atlas Obscura

Imbolc, Groundhog Day, and Brigantia All Celebrate the Coming Spring

Whatever you call it, early February's cross-quarter day reconnects us with ancient astronomical timekeeping traditions.

by Rebecca Boyle, Atlas Obscura

January 30, 2024

Michael Cleary claimed the human Bridget had been abducted when walking through a nearby “fairy fort,” like this one in County Roscommon.

Podcast: The "Changeling" Murder of Bridget Cleary

In March 1895, a husband murdered his wife after accusing her of being replaced by an evil fairy.

by The Podcast Team, Atlas Obscura

September 12, 2023

Wild bluebells, native to the area, are thriving once more on Eoghan Daltun’s land on Ireland’s Beara Peninsula.

Rewilding His Corner of Ireland's Beara Peninsula Is One Man's Labor of Love

Eoghan Daltun has spent 14 years creating a showcase of native biodiversity.

by Rory Carroll, Atlas Obscura

August 21, 2023

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, Atlas Obscura

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.

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

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.

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