HappyLifestyleJournal
We all know Ireland for it’s green fields more beautiful than anywhere else in the world, Dublin Castle, Guinness Storehouse, and certainly you have heard about (and maybe visited) the Cliffs of Moher and the Ring of Kerry. But these are, though famous and beautiful, common and already explored places in Ireland.
If you would like to see something not many people have experienced, and enjoy some of the most wonderful, undiscovered, and unspoiled by tourism spots in this amazing country, read on.
1. Ballymacarbry, Waterford
This village located in County Waterford has a population of around 200 people. You can get the idea how small it really is then. It is only 17km far from Clommel, and it is not so difficult to get to it, but not many people know about it or have been there. This village might be small, but it is very lively and the people are very friendly. This is not a tourist place, but if you go there you will definitely be welcomed with some Irish beer, presented with various activities such as taking art classes, sightseeing, bike riding, or participating in one of the many ecological activities this village often organizes. It is not luxurious, but it definitely is beautiful and has a soul unspoiled by modern influences.
2. Roundstone, Connemara
Roundstone is a village placed on the western arm of Bertraghboy Bay in Connemara, and it provides one of the most wonderful costal driving experiences in entire Ireland. While driving your car through this village you can see the Atlantic Ocean and the bottom of the Errisbeg Mountain. Most tourists don’t know much about this place, but artists and naturalists are frequent visitors and always come back because of its beauty and scenery. The nature here is almost untouched, and you can witness the simple kind of life these people live. It is absolutely relaxing, and whatever your budget is you will be able to afford some accommodation and food, and considering that many of the locals are fishermen, there is a variety of seafood you can enjoy. As it is the oasis for artists, Roundstone has many artworks you can see and enjoy, and there are often exhibits at bars and hotels.
3. Rossbeigh, Kerry
Rossbeigh Strand is a place in Ireland in County Kerry which has surfers and surfing activities all year round. This long beach is only 2km far from Glenbeigh village, and it is known for being an excellent place for outdoor and water activities such as swimming, canoeing, surfing, and doing a variety of other watersports. But you don’t have to limit yourself to water – you can also enjoy a horse ride on the beach and experience the beauty of this place from a higher point. The water here is sparkly clean and the beach is fantastic, but this place is still fairly unexplored, which makes it even more interesting; there aren’t many tourists so you can experience everything without getting into crowds of people taking pictures.
4. Lough Boora Parklands
This is a place where all the artists would fall in love with nature and start a love affair. Jokes aside, Lough Boora Parklands is really a uniquely peaceful and beautiful place. The amazing nature is furnished by local and foreign artists’ sculptures. Some of Ireland’s most endangered species are here, living a peaceful and protected life. Among those species there are otters, badgers, hares and the grey partridge, and you will probably see some of them if you decide to visit this calm place where serenity rules and outsiders find the piece they maybe didn’t even know they needed so much. It can be said that Lough Boora Parks has the power to heal the soul and replenish the mind.
5. Hore Abbey, County Tipperary
The most amazing thing you can see here is the Rock of Cashel, an amazing group of medieval buildings, out of which the most magnificent ones may be the round tower from the 12th century, a Gothic cathedral and a castle from the 15th century. These monuments are all located on the top of a limestone outcropping. If you love history, this may be the best place in Ireland you can visit. Hore Abbey is just a moment away from these buildings, and seeing these deserted ruins is really worth your time. It is so undiscovered that there are no maps, no guides, no tourists and you can see all that wonderfulness for free.
6. Glendalough, County Wicklow
This beautiful spot, hidden from urbanization and industrialization is surely something worth seeing, and visiting it should end up on your bucket list, if you like nature, spiritualism, and peace. Glendalough is a valley with two lakes placed in the center of the Wicklow Mountains. This small city has a long history and nourishes spiritual values. It was founded in the 6th century by hermits (who are known for their appreciation for nature and solitude) as a monastic settlement. Today, it has seven churches, all of which are magnificent, and visitors are free to explore and enjoy these medieval churches. But that’s not all as you might also want to check out the town cathedral, the round tower, and many other stone structures built in ancient times.
7. Skellig Michael, County Kerry
Skellig Michael is a monastic settlement for which you will surely have to make a great effort to explore, but it is definitely worth it. It has a long history, but you need to be very lucky and determined if you want to learn about it. To get to this island, you need to hire a fishing trawler to get you there, and then climb the stone steps to come to what you are there for – a group of beehive-shaped stone huts, a place where Christian monks lived back in the 6th century. This is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites, and only a few hundreds of people per day are allowed to visit it, which makes the experience great as you get to see and explore it in peace and solitude.
