I am often asked for recommendations of places to see and visit while in Ireland, that are a little more spiritual and less touristy. And while personally, I think there are magical places dotted all over the island, as a visitor you may not feel comfortable wandering across farmland or driving down winding country roads hunting for a stone circle not marked on any maps! So If you are planning a trip to Ireland in the coming year, or if you live here already and are interested in the history of our spiritual landscape, there are a number of culturally and spiritually rich sites I would highly recommend visiting if you get the chance. They are scattered across the island so it may involve more than a single day trip!

The Hill of Uisneach

The Hill of Uisneach is the oldest spiritual site in Ireland and it is the last one that is still, around five thousand years later, being used in the same way it was originally intended. To this day, people gather on the Hill to welcome in the light half of the year with the Bealtaine fires and to honour the goddess Éiru and our ancestors who came here and created what we know today as Ireland. Unlike other sites, Uisneach is not under the management of the Office of Public Works and is still a working cattle farm, so tours are limited to once per day and as such, dogs are not allowed. Many of the Guides are very connected to the Earth themselves and you will hear wonderful storytelling from them. Plus Lough Lugh is said to be the final resting point of this powerful Sun God!

This is a site that you cannot miss if you are interested in sacred sites in Ireland. And if your visit is in May, absolutely check out the Fire Festival!

The Hill of Tara

Unlike Uisneach, unfortunately, very little takes place on the Hill of Tara today. However, it is still a very magical place to walk around and one that I highly recommend visiting. This site is managed by the Office of Public Works, whose remit is to protect and preserve, and so much of the archaeology is still under the ground. But you can purchase a guidebook in the gift shop that might help you along. I suggest you read up a little on the site before your visit, figure out where the Dining Hall was and enjoy a picnic on the land!

Admittedly, there really is not much information available to the casual visitor. But on the plus side, you can access the Hill of Tara at any time, day or night, just park up and walk through the gates. So time your visit well and it could very well be the most magical of them all.

Rathcroghan

Rathcroghan was the royal seat of the famed Iron Age battle queen Meadhbh or Maeve, as well as the home of the Morrígan, the Battle Queen Goddess of ancient Ireland.

There is a small visitor centre that explains the story of the Tain, or the Cattle Raid. This is one of our most famed myths and features many characters such as Cúchulainn and Ferdia, the Morrigan, and Conchubar. After the audio visual presentation you will climb aboard a small bus to visit the many ruins scattered across the area. Make sure to ask the Guide about the Cave of Cats or Owenegat Cave.

This is where the Morrigan emerges from each Samhain. Known as the Gateway to Hell by the Christian Church, it is actually a beautiful natural womb. The Womb of the island itself. There are tales of warriors going down into the cave and going mad such is its power! And while it may seem a little daunting to climb down this narrow passageway. Once you stand in the dark, deep within the land itself, you will feel something powerful come over you. And emerging back out into the light is almost like a rebirth. For anyone who has gone through big life changes and wants to honour being a “new you” I cant think of a better way!

Brownshill Portal Tomb

I’ll admit that this one is one I wouldn’t normally include except that I have heard from other visitors how amazing they found it. To me, this is a place sitting on the very cliff point of the old world and the new. Situated along a busy and industrial road is the largest Dolmen in Europe. And it is bloody massive! Pictures just do not do it justice. The granite capstone is said to weigh over 100 tons, the Portal Stones and Door Stone are all over 3 meters in height. What makes it all the more incredible is that it was built over 5000 years ago. By hand, with no machinery. Back then this area would have been surrounded by a think deep forest. Who was it built for and why? We can only muse and ponder!

Again no guide or visitor centre, but you can access the site at any time, look out for the information board as you park up.

Glendalough

The reason I started my Glendalough Goddess tours was as a response to the Office of Public works sole focus at this site being on Saint Kevin and the Monastic city. While this aspect of history is interesting, to me, its pre-Christian history is far more interesting!

From the ancient Holy Well, the Rag Trees, the ancient Oaks and Yew and of course the Sacred Vagaina at the Upper Lake, Glendalough is an incredible place for storytellers. For millenia people gathered here to celebrate the harvest in August, from the Iron Age up until the mid 1800s in fact! Lughnasa was one of the four Quarter Festivals and were always held high in the mountains, as close as you can get to the sun!

Sit at the upper lake, take in the landscape and try to see the woman’s form in it. See if you can find the Druids Altar, wonder aloud what the stone circle was used for, or better yet come for a walk with me and hear it first hand!