Sacred Spaces in Ireland

These Neolithic burial mounds and a still-intact passage tomb may have solar calendar significance on the spring and autumn equinoxes.

This rare and ancient Christian relic is one of Ireland’s oldest freestanding stone crosses.

Wander among the abandoned ruins of this once-powerful medieval town.

The severed head of a 17th-century Irish martyr lies within an intricate golden shrine.

Ruins battered by centuries of war and disaster offer a wondrous glimpse of medieval Ireland.

Local legend says the remains of Father Christmas lie within the medieval grounds.

The ruins of an 800-year-old monastery boasts the tallest round tower in Ireland.

There might not be much left of these Irish ruins, but their linguistic legacy is still going strong.

While only two of the ancient buildings at this site are actually churches this was one of the earliest Irish pilgrimage sites ever.

This ancient Irish religious site is covered in ancient carvings, many of which have barely aged.

One of the most popular megalithic sites in Ireland stands as a humbler version of Stonehenge.

A collection of housewares from recent Irish history adjoined by a tower from ancient Irish history.

A standing relief of a Norman knight whose posture marks him as a Crusader.

This single room has survived the centuries with almost no deterioration.

The world's toughest modern Christian pilgrimage leads directly to the gates of Hell.

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