Ubiquitous stone fences snake across Ireland’s idyllic pastoral countryside. Although many towns have transformed themselves into tourist hot spots, many remain virtually untouched by modern influences.
Although dolmens, large Neolithic tombs crafted from stone, are common in the Irish countryside, perhaps the most famous is County Clare's Poulnabrone, which translates to “hole of sorrows.” Excavations in the 1980s found that the imposing stones served as a marker for the graves of 16 to 22 people.
Photograph by Jim Richardson/National Geographic Stock
The craggy Cliffs of Moher wrap around the western coast of County Clare, providing a stunning view of the Atlantic Ocean. The rocky cliffs reach 702 feet (214) meters at their highest point and stretch nearly 5 miles (8 kilometers) across.
Visitors to Dublin’s historic Trinity College marvel at the vaulted ceilings of the Old Library Building’s Long Room, which houses the Book of Kells and a rare first edition of Dante's Divine Comedy. The library serves as the primary place of study and research for the more than 15,000 students that attend Ireland’s oldest university.
Photograph by Medford Taylor/National Geographic Stock
The number of visitors to Dingle skyrocketed after the scenic harbor town served as the setting for the Academy Award-winning Ryan’s Daughter, a 1970 film starring Robert Mitchum. Today, the town officially goes by the Gaelic name of An Daingean (“the fortress”) and relies heavily on the annual summer influx of tourists.