The east coast has far more to offer than a quick overnight before heading west. Ireland's Ancient East runs from the Boyne Valley down through the medieval southeast, and it holds the oldest built things on the island - Newgrange is older than Stonehenge and older than the pyramids at Giza.
The Headline Sites
Glendalough in Wicklow is an hour south of Dublin - an early Christian monastic site in a glacial valley that's one of the most photogenic spots in Ireland.
The Boyne Valley in Meath has Newgrange - a 5,000-year-old passage tomb that predates the Egyptian pyramids by 700 years.
The Rock of Cashel in Tipperary is one of Ireland's most dramatic historical sites - a cluster of medieval buildings perched on a limestone outcrop overlooking the Golden Vale. It's every bit as impressive as anything on the coast.
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a medieval city with a stunning castle, excellent craft beer scene, and some of the best food in the southeast. It feels like a city from another era - medieval lanes, a Norman castle, and one of the best craft beer scenes in Ireland.
Why It Matters
Most visitors drive straight from Dublin to the Wild Atlantic Way, skipping everything in between. That's a mistake. If you have the time, give the east a day or two.
