Hidden Gems
Maybe you’ve already visited our most iconic sites. Or maybe you just like to dig a little deeper to discover a truly unique experience. If you prefer to set trends instead of following them, check out our hidden gems. These off-the-beaten-track destinations are just as fabulous as our better-known attractions, offering all of the wow at a less hurried pace. Be sure to visit soon, though – such fantastic places can’t stay secret for long.
Altamont Gardens
Old-world gardens with an atmosphere all of their own
Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre – Oldbridge Estate
Where two kings fought for Europe’s future
Castletown House and Parklands
Ireland’s first and finest Palladian mansion
Céide Fields Neolithic Site and Visitor Centre
The world’s most extensive Stone Age monument
Corlea Iron Age Roadway and Visitor Centre
A pathway into the past
Daniel O’Connell House – Derrynane House
The childhood home of Daniel O’Connell
Desmond Castle Newcastlewest
Where sounds of medieval revelry echo around the walls
Doe Castle
A waterside citadel with a thrilling history
Doneraile Court and Estate
North Cork’s ‘real-life Downton Abbey’
Farmleigh House and Gardens
An eclectic Edwardian mansion and the Irish state guesthouse
Glebe Gallery and Garden – Derek Hill House
Explore a world-class collection of art
Jerpoint Abbey
Where Irish medieval sculpture reached new heights
National Botanic Garden of Ireland – Kilmacurragh
An oasis of rare horticultural delights
Old Mellifont Abbey Monastic Site
Visit Ireland’s very first Cistercian foundation
Ormond Castle
Discover a Tudor gem
Parke’s Castle
Walk in the footsteps of planters and Gaels
Pearse Museum – St. Enda’s Park
An enthralling chapter in the story of 1916
Portumna Castle and Gardens
Seventeenth-century splendour on the shores of Lough Derg
Scattery Island and Visitor Centre
Discover the History, Myth and Legend of Scattery Island