Most trips around Ireland don’t include a look at mummies under a Dublin church, visiting a seal colony on the Aran Islands, or a climb to a fairy fortress in Galway. Only the locals tend to know about stops like these… or the occasional traveler who happen to stumble upon them.
Here are often-missed ten places from the Ireland Travel Kit, the location-based website and smartphone app highlighting unusual places:
Relics of the True Cross
Catching a glimpse of the relics of the True Cross at Holy Cross Abbey in County Tipperary are interesting in their own right, but the a look around the restored 800-year-old church offers a glimpse at medieval craftsmanship as well.
www.irelandtravelkit.com/relics-of-the-true-cross-holy-cross-co-tipperary/

The World’s Tallest Round Tower
At 34 m (111 ft), the round tower at Kilmacduagh in County Galway rises above the countryside, and like the tower at Pisa, this spire also has a distinct lean.
www.irelandtravelkit.com/kilmacduagh-abbey-co-galway/

The Donkey Sanctuary
Having rescued more than 3,600 donkeys since 1983, the Donkey Sanctuary near Liscarroll in County Cork invites guests to meet their current hoofed residents.
www.irelandtravelkit.com/great-for-families-the-donkey-sanctuary-in-county-cork/

Father Ted’s House
For fans of the Irish sitcom Father Ted, a photo with the solitary rectory in the background doesn’t require a boat ride to the ficticious Craggy Island, just a detour near Glenquin, County Clare.
www.irelandtravelkit.com/father-teds-house-glenquin-co-clare/

Seal Colony
While on Inis Mor, a side road between Kilronan and Eoggaacht leads to the beach at Portmurvy where, if you look closely, you’ll spot more than rocks on the shore; the site is home to a colony of seals.
www.irelandtravelkit.com/see-the-seals-seal-colony-inis-mor-co-galway/

Fairy Fortress
A walk along the trail at Knockma Woods in County Galway takes visitors to a moss covered collection of stone steps and stacked branches that are said to be the home of Finnbheara the Fairy King of Connacht.
www.irelandtravelkit.com/fairy-fortress-knockma-woods-co-galway/

Dunbrody Garden Maze
While a visit to Cistercian abbey at Dunbrody will hold your interest, wandering the intricate garden maze provides a real treat in County Wexford.
www.irelandtravelkit.com/the-dunbrody-abbey-co-wexford/

Barrack Obama’s Roots
The village of Moneygall has seen a bit of a boom since the US President paid a visit in 2011; in addition to Barrack Obama’s ancestral home, there are three other sites in the area connected to the leader.
www.irelandtravelkit.com/author/megan/

Blennerville Windmill
It’s over 200 years old, but the windmill at Blennerville, County Kerry, still works and is available for tours from its spot along Tralee Bay.
www.irelandtravelkit.com/blennerville-windmill-tralee-co-kerry/

Mummies at St Michan’s
While St. Michan’s church in Dublin houses an organ played by Handel, it’s the mummies in the crypt below that keep visitors coming back.
www.irelandtravelkit.com/treasure-in-the-crypt-at-st-michans-church-smithfield-co-dublin/
Check out a sampling of more places featured in the Ireland Travel Kit app at www.IrelandTravelKit.com.
** Image Credit: imagea.org via Flickr **