103 Old Ruins to Explore in Munster

A beautiful Meditation Retreat centre situated on the wild and beautiful Beara Peninsula in south-west Ireland. It sits high on cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean with breathtaking views of sea and sky. It is home to the Spiritual Care Centre, which was opened by Mary McAleese on 12 September 2007.

Eask Tower is an 18th century stone tower that was built as a beacon for guiding ships coming into Dingle bay. It overlooks the small fishing port of Dingle and seems to silently watch over the ocean, and its approaching boats. The Tower is of solid stone. The building of it on Carhoo hill, 600 feet above sea level, provided work during the Great Famine, at the instigation of Reverend Charles Gayer, Leader of the Protestants, in an attempt to win converts.

Ennis Franciscan friary was built on an island at a point where the river Fergus divides. This island is now incorporated into the streetscape of the modern town but remnants of the medieval settlement are evident. Among the remains, visitors can view various 15th and 16th century sculptures, the figure of St. Francis displaying the stigmata, an image of Ecce Home, the McMahon tomb and more. It is a National Monument of Ireland.

This 3.5 acre walled artists garden and 3 acre woodland garden laid out between the ruins of a former woollen mill, is situated on the River Dawn. Unusual plants, trees and special water features. Featured in books, magazines and on television. Stones from former buildings have been recycled into walls, raised borders, obelisks and magic standing stones.

Famine Warhouse 1848, traditionally known as the Ballingarry Warhouse or The Widow McCormack's House, is an Irish farmhouse famous as the site of a skirmish in the Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848, at which the Irish tricolour was flown for the first time. It became a National Monument in 1989, was renovated in 2000–01 and was renamed "Famine Warhouse 1848" in 2004.

Fantstown Castle is a tower in Limerick. Fantstown Castle is situated nearby to Foley’s Cross Roads, east of Mount Coote. It is a five storey fortified tower house about 56 feet high, and although in ruins, it is in fairly good condition. It is a five storey fortified tower house about 56 feet high, and although in ruins, it is in fairly good condition.

A majestic ruin of a crude stone church believed to have been built between the 6th and 9th centuries, and is still in remarkably unchanged condition.The local tradition prevalent at the time of Charles Smith attributed it to one Griffith More, being a funerary chapel built by him or his family at their burial place. This 17-foot tall oratory has a single-room structure, consisting of a rounded triangular shape with a doorway on one end and a small window built into the other end.

The Gaulstown Dolmen dates to c.3000-4000 BC and is regarded as one of the finest portal tombs in Ireland. The east-facing portal stones stand eight feet high and the capstone is 14-feet long and possibly weighs over 40 tonnes. It is likely that the structure was once enclosed by a mound or cairn, which has since been removed or eroded away. There is evidence that some of the upright stones may have moved over time, as the shape of the chamber has been impacted.

Geneva Barracks in County Waterford, Ireland, was a barracks created in 1783 by converting a settlement which had been created for an 18th-century colony of disaffected citizens of Geneva following the Geneva Revolution of 1782. Built near Passage East, the colony was commissioned by the Irish Parliament and approved by British Royalty.

Glenquin Castle is a tower house and National Monument located in County Limerick, Ireland.This castle was a fortified dwelling, for the protection against raids and invaders, more correctly described as a Tower House. It is one of the finest tower houses to survive from the 16th century and is open to the public during the summer months.

Grantstown Castle is a 15th-century castle for self-catering holidays, set at the heart of the Golden Vale, County Tipperary. It was originally built by the Burke family but by the 1500's it was in the hands of the Earl of Ormond. Extensive restorations took place in the early 2000's and all reconstructions have been carried out with respect for the original construction.

Holy Trinity Abbey Church is now the Roman Catholic parish church in the centre of the picturesque nineteenth-century estate village of Adare. The foundation date of Trinitarian order at Adare is unknown. The church underwent considerable restoration in the nineteenth century which incorporated remains of the medieval church including the nave, chancel and tower.

This is a Cistercian monastery in Holycross near Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland, situated on the River Suir. It takes its name from a relic of the True Cross or Holy Rood. Today this working parish church is a peaceful landmark and a place for quiet contemplation and historical discovery. As well as inspecting the relic of the cross, you can marvel at the building’s ornate stonework.

Kanturk Castle is an impressive ruined mansion located about 1.5km from the market town of Kanturk in County Cork. The castle is a rectangular four storey high Tudor-style mansion made from limestone rubble from a nearby quarry. This fortified house was built in c. 1601 for MacDonogh McCarthy as a defence against English settlers during the Plantation of Ireland.

The Kenmare stone circle is one of the largest stone circles in south West Ireland measuring 17.4 x 15.8m and unlike any other ring in Muster, this one is egg-shaped. Stone Circles were built during the bronze age believed to be for ritual and ceremonial purposes. It is one of the iconic attraction in this area and there are also many similar things in this surroundings.

Kilcash Castle is an Irish ruined castle in County Tipperary. Situated on the N24 road west of Ballydine, it is believed to date from the 16th century and was gradually extended over the following centuries. This building was partially repaired in the 1980s and is now safe to visit. In the graveyard, the mausoleum contains the tombs with headstones carved with elaborate scenes of the crucifixion.

Kilcooley Abbey is a national heritage site that nobody outside the parish knows much about. It is located near the village of Gortnahoe. The ruins, situated on a lovely expanse of land on the Kilcooley Estate, date back to 1182, when Donal Mor O’Brien gave the property to the Cistercians.

Killahara Castle is a castle in Ireland, located in the Dovea Upper Townland of Thurles. The castle was originally built c. 1550 for Donagh O'Fogartie, the Chief of the O'Fogartie clan who controlled large areas of North Tipperary at that time. The lands and now ruined castle were transferred in the early 18th century to the Trants who already owned large tracts of land in Kerry.

Killarney House is an Irish country home in Killarney. The house and gardens offers a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of the busy town. The restoration of the house and formal gardens has resurrected in part the style of 18th century French chateaux and a 20th century Edwardian property. The restoration work to the landscaped gardens continues.

The Kilmacthomas Viaduct is a former Irish railway viaduct located in County Waterford. It is one of the attractions of the Waterford Greenway, a green cycle route with many tourist sites as stopover points.