10 Churches You Should Visit in Ireland

Visiting churches in Ireland? Then you want to see the best, but it can be difficult to choose, as it sometimes feels as if you can't throw a pebble in Ireland without putting a church window in danger. Ireland, known as the island of saints and scholars, is dotted with church buildings. From early medieval oratories to Byzantine extravaganzas; from simple tributes to Neo-Gothic fantasies, the following churches would give you a fair impression of the different styles.

01 of 10

Saint Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin

The exterior of Saint Patrick's Cathedral — Bernd Biege

Address

Saint Patrick's Close, Dublin, D08 H6X3, Ireland

Get directions

Phone +353 1 453 9472

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Churches do not come any bigger than this—at least not in Ireland. Saint Patrick's Cathedral is the largest church in Ireland. It is the only Irish cathedral without a bishop and was designated as the "National Cathedral of Ireland" by the Church of Ireland to prevent any Catholic attempts at a takeover. Apart from the imposing building itself, other major attractions are the historic tombs and several statues. Many visitors come specifically to see the graves of Jonathan Swift and his beloved Stella.

02 of 10

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Address

Ballycullen Avenue, Tymon South, Dublin 24, 24, Ireland

Get directions

Phone +353 1 452 4702

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The Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church is famous for holding the relics of Saint Valentine but these need not be the only reason for a visit. Though reminiscent of a forbidding fortress from the outside, the interior of the church is resplendent with colorful decoration and statues.

03 of 10

Saint Kevin's Kitchen in Glendalough

This church, with a small round tower incorporated into the main structure, is one of the few complete monuments in Glendalough, County Wicklow. As the tower looked like a chimney, the whole church was nicknamed "kitchen." This church is not open to the public, but you may test the amazing acoustics through the metal gate protecting the interior from visitors.

04 of 10

Saint Patrick's Cathedrals in Armagh

Armagh, St Patrick's Cathedral (Church of Ireland) — JohnArmagh/CC BY-SA 4.0/Creative Commons

Address

40 Upper English Street, Armagh BT61 7BA, UK

Get directions

Phone +44 7861 729868

Towering on two opposing hills in County Armagh, dominating the "Cathedral City," the Church of Ireland and Catholic Cathedrals are dedicated to Ireland's patron saint. While the old-fashioned cathedral belonging to the Church of Ireland can trace its ancestry back to the saint himself, the neo-gothic extravaganza of the Catholic Church was only built in the 19th century. Both feature several depictions of mainly Irish saints on murals, as statues, and in glorious stained glass.

Continue to 5 of 10 below.

05 of 10

Gallarus Oratory Near Dingle

The keel-shaped stone structure of the Oratory of Gallarus in Kerry County, Dingle Peninsula, — MATTES René/Getty Images

Address

Dingle Penninsula, Gallarus Oratory, Caherdorgan South, Dingle, Co. Kerry, Ireland

Get directions

Phone +353 66 915 5333

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Resembling a boat turned upside-down, this ancient church is one of the historic gems on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry. Nestled organically into the landscape, it would be easy to miss without a guide.

06 of 10

Saint Patrick's Church in Saul

The altar at Saint Patrick's Church with the stained glass window of Saint Patrick — Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

Address

Saint Patricks Road, Saul, Raholp, Downpatrick BT30 7JQ, UK

Get directions

Phone +44 28 4461 5947

Built to commemorate the 1500th anniversary of Saint Patrick's mission (working from the assumed date of 432), this small church in County Down is remarkably restrained. The campanile, or bell tower, is in the classical shape of an Irish round tower and seems to be the only fanciful bit of architecture. A small stained-glass window picturing Patrick himself is the only decoration—a fitting tribute to a man who saw himself as the humblest servant and built his first church here.

07 of 10

Saint Colman's Cathedral in Cobh

Address

5 Cathedral Place, Kilgarvan, Cobh, Co. Cork, Ireland

Get directions

Phone +353 21 481 3222

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Built on an artificial bed of sandstone and erected between 1859 and 1919, this cathedral exemplifies the French Gothic style. This County Cork cathedral features rose windows, high pointed arches, octagonal towers, and several fine gargoyles. These features combine for a very continental, even Mediterranean effect—especially noteworthy is the Sacred Heart Chapel, decorated with Italian marble and a fine mosaic floor.

08 of 10

Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin

An exterior view of Christ Church Cathedral — Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Address

Christchurch Place, Wood Quay, Dublin 8, Co. Dublin, Ireland

Get directions

Phone +353 1 677 8099

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This was the first stone building in Dublin, erected by the conqueror "Strongbow" for his close associate, Archbishop Laurence O'Toole. O'Toole, now a saint, is still in residence—his mummified heart can be seen in St. Laud's Chapel, near to the mummified bodies of a rat and a cat which were both found in an organ pipe around 1860. Christ Church is unusual in having a huge crypt, with cellars being a rarity in Dublin. Today, the crypt is a museum of the cathedral's long history.

Continue to 9 of 10 below.

09 of 10

Saint Columba's House in Kells

Address

Saint Columbas Terrace, Co. Meath, Ireland

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Hidden away between the busy N3 and Kells' round tower in a narrow back-lane of County Meath, this little gem is fairly representative of early Irish churches. The steep roof and rugged construction make for an unusual, if not exactly attractive picture.

10 of 10

University Church in Dublin

The colorful interior of University Church — Bernd Biege

Address

87 Saint Stephen's Green, Saint Kevin's, Dublin, D02 K230, Ireland

Get directions

Phone +353 1 475 9674

Web Visit website

Well-hidden and passed by thousands who never even notice the entrance at Saint Stephen's Green South, this is one of the strangest churches in Dublin. Built at the height of the Catholic Revival to serve the new university, it was decorated in a Byzantine style, thus looking almost out-of-place in Dublin City. The long, narrow, and high church has strange proportions but a wealth of decorative detail.