The best magazine
Holy Cross Abbey Holy Cross Abbey is located in Co Tipperary.
It's a beautifully restored church where there are several relics were kept ie.
the True Cross which was brought here in 1233.
It also became a place of medieval pilgrimage.
You can still visit it because it's an active parish.
At 2pm every Wednesday and Sunday there are free guided tours.
It's a good example of the Irish Gothic craftsmanship.
Unfortunately it was abandoned but in 1880 became a National Monument.
It took another 80 years to get back its original shape.
2.
Kilmacduagh Round Tower Kilmacduagh Round Tower is located in Co Galway and it's actually the tallest round tower in the world.
It's a pretty impressive sight because it's 34m tall and it has a lean like the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
This monastic site is not as popular as Clonmacnoise although it's older than that; from the 7th century.
If you would like to see the museum room and the enclosed areas then there is a key which you can pick up in the bungalow across the road.
Be aware that the graveyard is still in use so please show respect when visitors are around.
3.
Meet the donkeys Probably not the most popular place in Ireland but it's still worth to visit.
In County Cork, just outside of Liscarroll you will find the Donkey Sanctuary.
There are approximately 3600 donkeys and mute were rescued in the past 28 years.
If you travel to Ireland with kids don't miss this place because children love donkeys.
They are really cute and they really appreciate hugs and petting.
It's free to visit.
Open from Monday to Friday between 9.
00am to 4.
30pm; Saturday and Sunday from 10.
00am to 5.
00pm, on Bank Holidays between 10.
00am to 5.
00pm.
4.
Father Ted's House When I lived in Ireland I always watched the sitcom called Father Ted.
I think it's absolutely brilliant.
The good news is that you don't have to travel to Craggy Island (it's just fiction anyway) you only have to go to County Clare, to Glenquin.
It's not that complicated to find it.
Here are the directions to Father Ted's house: you will find it on the Killinaboy to Boston Road.
From Corofin the easiest option to take the R476 to Killinaboy.
You will see a ruined church, you have to turn right then past the school.
It will be a stream on your left and if you follow the road you will find the house on the left.
You can have a tea there which you will never forget.
They make delicious brown bread, scones, homemade jams and desserts.
They will also tell you the story of their Father Ted experience.
Father Ted's House had some famous guests too ie.
Steven Spielberg.
If you want you can participate on a guided tour of the farm too.
5.
Seals in Ireland Ireland is a great place to spot seals, especially when you visit the Aran Islands.
On the island of Inishmore, on the beach called Portmurvy where a colony of seals live.
They look like big rocks so you have to watch them carefully until they flip their tails or they move.
They really like "sunbathing" here.
How to find Portmurvy beach: You'll find a side road to the right between Kilronan and Eoganacht that will lead you to a very long beach.
One of them is Portmurvy where the seals live.
6.
Knockma and its fairy legend According to the legend, Fairy King of Connacht called Finnbheara lived and built his fortress in Knockma Woods.
The Queen of Connacht called Maeve is buried at the top of Knockma Hill.
There's also an interesting story behind the moss-covered stones of Knockma - in 1846-47 during the potato famine people were blamed for disturbing the stones which caused the famine itself.
Knockma Woods is located actually in County Galway and you can go for a lovely walk there.
Most of the trail is uphill but it's really worth a visit.
Once you reach the top of the hill you will see really mysterious fairy forts, stone walls and stone structures as well.
The view is absolutely wonderful from here.
Close to the carpark you can also see the remains of Castlehackett.
7.
Dunbrody Abbey Dunbrody Abbey is a wonderful Cistercian Abbey which is 800 years old.
It's in County Wexford and there's also a beautiful garden that you can visit.
Give yourself plenty of time to visit the abbey and the garden because there are many things to see.
If you get tired after a long walk then you should visit the lovely tearoom.
If you visit it with children be sure to keep an eye on them all the time because the hedges are pretty high.
You can visit Dunbrody Abbey from Mid May until Mid September.
8.
Barack Obama and Ireland There is a little Irish town called Moneygall in County Offaly that is actually Barack Obama's ancestral home where the Kearney family lived.
He visited Moneygall in 2011 and since then the tourism is booming in town.
There are different places in town that are connected to Obama ie.
the ancestral cemetery in Cullenwaine and the ancestral church in Templeharry.
9.
Blennerville Windmill Blennerville Windmill is located in County Kerry and it's more than 200 years old.
Believe it or not it is still working and it's the largest mill in Ireland.
It was actually built in 1800 and unfortunately it was in a really bad state by 1846 but luckily the Tralee Urban Council bought it and renovated it in 1981.
There is also a visitor centre where you can see the flour making process and machinery.
It's really interesting.
The easiest way to get here is to drive from Tralee towards Dingle on the N86 for about a mile.
When you cross the bridge you will see the mill and then you have to turn left.
10.
Mummies in Dublin Yes, you read it right there are mummies in Dublin, in St.
Michan's Church.
There is also an organ there supposedly played by Handel.
There are many people who visited the church's crypts, even Bram Stoker who created the Dracula stories.
There are five long burial vaults where members of Dublin's most influential families were buried like the Shears brothers.
The constant dry air helped the mummies stay in this state.
It's a very strange yet interesting experience.
If you are claustrophobic avoid the crypts because of the low headroom.
Source: ...