Connachtin piilotetut helmet

Hidden Gems of Ireland

Explore the secluded landscapes of Western Ireland, from the dramatic sea stack at Downpatrick Head to the sheltered Blue Flag waters of Keem Beach. This selection features historic landmarks including the 16th-century ivy-clad ruins of Menlo Castle and Thoor Ballylee, the former summer residence of poet W.B. Yeats. Learn about Irish heritage at the National Famine Museum in Strokestown House, wander through the seasonal Celtic landscapes of Brigit’s Garden, or visit the cross-border waters of Lough Melvin.

LuciaRuane / CC BY-SA 4.0

A

Keem Beach

Keem Bay is located past Dooagh village in the west of Achill Island in County Mayo, Ireland. It contains a Blue Flag beach.

Denise Figueiredo / CC-BY-SA

B

Downpatrick Head

Coastal headland featuring Dún Briste, a 50-meter-high sea stack separated from the cliffs in 1393. The site includes a stone marker dedicated to St. Patrick and the remains of a medieval church.

Sharonlflynn / CC BY-SA 4.0

C

Menlo Castle

Menlo Castle or Menlough Castle, also called Blake's Castle, is a 16th century castle situated on the bank of the River Corrib near Menlo…

Jerzy Strzelecki / CC BY-SA 3.0

D

Thoor Ballylee

Thoor Ballylee Castle is a fortified, 15th-century Anglo-Norman tower house built by the septs de Burgo, or Burke, near the town of Gort in…

Winnie45 / CC BY-SA 4.0

E

Strokestown House

The National Famine Museum is located at Strokestown Park, County Roscommon, Ireland.

Sheila Russell / CC BY-SA 2.0

F

Brigit's Garden

Celtic-themed landscape featuring four distinct gardens representing the seasonal festivals of Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, and Lughnasa. The site includes a nature trail, ancient sun dial, and a traditional thatched roundhouse.