The Best Ruins

Glendalough (County Wicklow): Nestled in "the glen of the two lakes," this important monastic settlement was founded in the 6th century by St. Kevin, who was looking for tranquil seclusion. Its setting is disarmingly scenic, exactly the opposite of the harsh environment you'd expect ascetic medieval monks to have sought out. Although quite remote, Glendalough suffered numerous assaults from the Vikings and the English, and eventually dwindled into insignificance. Today its picturesque ruins collude with the countryside to create one of the loveliest spots in Ireland.

Jerpoint Abbey (County Kilkenny): Jerpoint is perhaps the finest representative of the many Cistercian abbeys whose ruins dot the Irish landscape. What draws visitors are the splendid cloister, the most richly carved in Ireland, and the impressive tomb sculptures. The abbey's tower is the tallest of its kind in Ireland.

The Rock of Cashel (County Tipperary): In name and appearance, "the Rock" suggests a citadel, a place more familiar with power than with prayer. In fact, Cashel (or Caiseal) means "fortress," and so it was. The rock is a huge outcropping -- or rather upcropping -- of limestone topped with some of the most spectacular ruins in Ireland, including what was formerly the country's finest Romanesque chapel. This was the seat of clerics and kings, a center to rival Tara. Now, however, the two sites vie only for tourists.

Skellig Michael (County Kerry): Thirteen kilometers (8 miles) offshore of the Iveragh Peninsula, rising sharply 214m (714 ft.) out of the Atlantic, is a stunning crag of rock dedicated to the Archangel Michael. In flight from the world, early Irish monks in pursuit of "white martyrdom" chose this spot to build their austere hermitage. Today the journey to Skellig, across choppy seas, and the arduous climb to its summit are challenging and unforgettable.

Inishmurray (County Sligo): This uninhabited island nearly 6.5km (4 miles) off the Sligo coast is home to a most striking monastic complex, surrounded by what appear to be the walls of an even more ancient stone fort. Despite its remoteness, the Vikings sought out this outpost of peace-seeking monks for destruction in 807. Today its circular ruins and the surrounding sea present a stunning sight, well worth the effort required to reach the shores.

Clonmacnois (County Offaly): This was once one of Ireland's most important religious, artistic, and literary centers, a place of pilgrimage and high culture. Founded in the mid-5th century at the axis of the River Shannon and the medieval east-west thoroughfare known as the Eiscir Riada, Clonmacnois thrived for centuries until its prime riverfront location brought repeated raids that nearly proved its undoing. Even in ruins, Clonmacnois remains a place of peculiar beauty and serenity.

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