12 Beautiful Places in Ireland Connected To St. Patrick

Ireland Travel Guide to St. Patrick Historical Sites

The saying goes that everyone’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, but the reverse is also true: when you’re in Ireland every day can be St. Patrick’s Day! No matter your Ireland itinerary, you never have to travel far in Ireland to cross paths with St. Patrick. In even Ireland’s most remote corners, mountains, churches, monasteries, and more claim a connection with the fifth century saint.

Sure, these days we mostly associate St. Patrick with green clothes and pub crawls, but there was a time when we didn’t just use him as an excuse to dye rivers green. St. Patrick crisscrossed the Emerald Isle during his lifetime, leaving behind a legacy.

But just who was St. Patrick and where can you find historic Irish places connected to him? I’ve rounded up my very favorite St. Patrick sites in all of Ireland. We’ll travel to some of Ireland’s most unique, secret places with this saintly Irish travel guide.

12 St. Patrick Sites in Ireland

1. Croagh Patrick – County Mayo
2. Boheh Stone – County Mayo
3. Ballintuber Abbey – County Mayo
4. Kilgeever Abbey – County Mayo
5. Downpatrick Head – County Mayo
6. Rock of Cashel – County Tipperary
7. St. Patrick’s Well – County Tipperary
8. Hill of Slane – County Meath
9. Slemish – County Antrim
10. Saul – County Down
11. St. Patrick’s Grave – County Down
12. St. Patrick Cathedrals – County Armagh

1) Croagh Patrick

This stunning peak rises 2507’ from Clew Bay’s southern shores to dominate the surrounding County Mayo landscape. Many people refer to Croagh Patrick as “the Reek,” but whatever you call it, this mountain has been holy to Irish people since prehistoric times. During his travels, St. Patrick spent 40 days and 40 nights fasting at the top of this mountain. Today, you’ll find a small chapel at the peak, as well as striking views of Clew Bay and its 365 islands.

You’ll be forgiven for thinking Croagh Patrick is Ireland’s tallest mountain. (That designation belongs to Carrauntoohil in County Kerry.) However, it probably is Ireland’s most hiked and photographed mountain.

It’s only a 7 km hike round trip to the top of Croagh Patrick. However, this popular pilgrimage shouldn’t be done on a whim. A steep grade greets you the minute you step onto the well-worn path. You’ll find a little relief from the ascent (and probably a lot of wind) when you reach the saddle. But brace yourself for the final uphill. Loose shale covers the summit of Croagh Patrick and you’ll need to watch your footing very carefully.

While I can’t imagine doing this hike in anything other than your sturdiest hiking boots, don’t be surprised if you’re passed by barefoot hikers. In fact, on Reek Sunday, the last Sunday of July, thousands hike to the mountain, many in bare feet. The bare feet both honor the saint and act as penance and – like so many things connected with St. Patrick – are probably an adaptation of a prehistoric ritual.

If you visit Croagh Patrick: Located about 6 miles west of Westport in the small village of Murrisk. While free to climb, there’s a parking fee for the lot next to the Croagh Patrick Visitor Centre. Most people do the hike in about 3.5 – 4 hours.

 2) Boheh Stone

Just behind Croagh Patrick sits another County Mayo landmark connected with St. Patrick. The Boheh Stone is a large carved rock dating back to Neolithic times. Never mind that the stone predates St. Patrick by upwards of 4000 years . . . .

When Christianity reached western Ireland, the rock got a rebrand as “St Patrick’s Chair.” It serves as a waypoint on Tóchar Phádraig, a 22-mile pilgrimage from Ballintubber Abbey to Croagh Patrick.

If you stand at the Boheh Stone and look at Croagh Patrick, twice a year – around April 18 and August 24 – as the sun sets, it appears to roll down the side of the holy mountain. Ancient inhabitants of County Mayo may have used these dates to mark the start of sowing and harvest seasons.

If you visit Boheh Stone: Located approximately 6 miles south of Westport on N59 outside the village of Brackloon. You can park near the Brackloon Community Center and make an easy 1 km hike down a narrow county lane to reach the stone. FYI: a private house sits right next to the stone so you may prefer to visit as part of a guided hike.

3) Ballintubber Abbey

Ballintubber Abbey hasn’t missed a mass in 800 years. Even under Cromwell’s Protestant militantism, Ballintubber kept its doors open. The current abbey dates back to the 13th century. You’ll find remains of the site’s first church, formed by St. Patrick in about 441 AD, in the abbey graveyard.

An ancient well known as the Well of St. Patrick also sits on the grounds. St. Patrick might have baptized pagans here, although the well definitely predates Christianity. The name “Ballintubber” stems from Irish words Baile Tobair Phádraig, which translates into “Townland of St. Patrick’s Well.”

Today, Ballintubber Abbey serves as the starting point for the Tobair Phádraig pilgrimage. Pilgrims check in at the Abbey and pay a small fee before departing on the 22-mile trek. Along the way, they pass Boheh Stone before ending at Croagh Patrick. While these modern pilgrims follow the route St. Patrick took to the holy mountain, it’s likely that Patrick himself simply followed an ancient path.

If you visit Ballintubber Abbey: Located about 8 miles (13 km) south of Castlebar, Ballintubber Abbey is free to visit and open to all.

4) Kilgeever Abbey

St. Patrick was a busy guy in County Mayo’s Clew Bay region. The abandoned 12th century Kilgeever Abbey rests in the western shadow of Croagh Patrick. In addition to the abbey ruins, the site hosts two cemeteries. An older cemetery surrounds the abbey ruins, while a modern cemetery sits nearby at the top of the hill. The site also hosts a holy well, two 7th century cross slabs, and a large rock known as St. Patrick’s Rock.

It’s said St. Patrick knelt on this rock to pray when he visited the site in 460 AD, leaving an imprint of his knees. I’ll admit, I didn’t notice the knee imprints. However, a simple cross carving makes it easy to identify the rock.

Pilgrims used to stop at Kilgeever Abbey to pray a station on their pilgrimage from Croagh Patrick to the monastery on Caher Island. People still come here to pray. An attractive slate sign on the Abbey gate outlines the elements of the traditional station prayed here. Pilgrims start by circling the site’s holy well and then move around the site, stopping at various landmarks, such as St. Patrick’s Rock.

If you visit Kilgeever Abbey: Located 2 miles outside of Louisburgh. Park near the modern cemetery at the top of the hill, then hike down a narrow lane to reach the ancient site.

 5) Downpatrick Head

St. Patrick didn’t just establish churches on basically every square inch of County Mayo. He’s also credited with forming one of Ireland’s most dramatic landforms: Downpatrick Head. Located in north Mayo, this spit of land juts out into North Atlantic Ocean. A gigantic sea stack almost 50 metres tall called Dun Briste stands just off Downpatrick Head in the middle of the often churning ocean.

It’s said that St. Patrick formed the sea stack in an epic showdown with notorious Irish pagan chief, Crom Dubh. In the battle, St. Patrick created the sea stack to cut Crom Dubh off from his fort. The saint also formed Poll a’ Sean Tine, a blowhole that goes straight through the cliff to reveal the ocean below. After he’d finished with Crom Dubh, St. Patrick formed a church on Downpatrick Head. (I mean, of course he did.) The peninsula’s borne his name ever since.

FYI: if you’re wondering where all those snakes went when St. Patrick shooed them off the island, some legends say they ended up on Dun Briste . . . . While you probably won’t see any snakes on the sea stack, keep your eyes peeled for puffins and other sea birds!

If you visit Downpatrick Head: Located about 6 kilometers outside of Ballycastle, Downpatrick Head has its own designated car park. From the car park, you’ll hike approximately 10-15 minutes. The cliffs are extremely steep and prone to erosion, so respect all fencing and signs. Use extra caution if visiting on a windy day.

6) Rock of Cashel

This stunning abbey rises above the small town of Cashel in County Tipperary on a hill called St. Patrick’s Rock. It’s said that St. Patrick first used a shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity during a sermon at the Rock of Cashel. The Rock also served as the traditional seat of Munster kings for several centuries.

Legend credits the Rock of Cashel’s very existence to St. Patrick. Apparently, St. Patrick banished the Devil (aka Satan) from a cave about 20 miles north of Cashel. The enraged devil took a bite out of the closest mountain, broke his tooth, and spat out that bit of mountain to form the Rock of Cashel. You can visit Devil’s Bit Mountain to see the distinct gap in the mountain’s profile.

In addition to touring the abbey’s excellently preserved medieval architecture, Rock of Cashel visitors can also enjoy the site’s medieval objects. A 12th century high cross known as St. Patrick’s Cross features prominently in this collection. While we’ll never know for certain who the figure carved onto the cross is, it’s suspected that it depicts the good saint himself.

If you visit the Rock of Cashel: You can’t miss the Rock when you arrive in Cashel. It’s located 500 metres from the city centre and open daily from 09:00 – 15:45. (Closed December 24 – 26.) Admission is €8. While we enjoyed our visit, we had even more fun climbing around nearby Hore Abbey, an abandoned 13th century Ciscertian abbey, in the field below the Rock.

7) St. Patrick’s Well, Tipperary

Nearby Cashel, outside the city of Clonmel, you’ll find perhaps Ireland largest holy well. Although this serene and scenic spot surrounded by woodland didn’t house an abbey until the 15th century, it’s believed that St. Patrick baptized Christian converts here. Prior to that, Druids may have used the spot for their rituals.

Today, people still come to pray and collect holy water. The site features statues and plaques of St. Patrick as well as a small 17th century church. A fifth-century cross stands in the middle of a small pool to complete the picturesque, holy scene.

If you visit St. Patrick’s Well: From Clonmel, take N24 northwest and turn left onto a narrow lane. Drive approximately 400 metres. A small pullover space for parking is on the right. Follow a flight of steps down to the site.

8) Hill of Slane

At the Hill of Slane, St. Patrick lit a bonfire to protest the pagan festival bonfire of King Laoire. Two standing stones still stand on the Hill of Slane, indicating that the hill’s sacred use well predates St. Patrick’s bonfire. You’ll also find the remains of a Franciscan monastery and Norman castle, as well as a statue of St. Patrick, at the top. When you look south, you might spy the Hill of Tara – home of the Irish high king – where King Laoire had his own (albeit it pagan) bonfire burning.

To be honest, ruined monasteries are a dime a dozen in Ireland. If you want to shake things up, I highly recommend heading to nearby Newgrange. An absolutely fascinating example of Neolithic architecture, the entrance to this passage tomb perfectly aligns with the sun at the winter solstice. Although it doesn’t have any direct connection with St. Patrick, it’s a good example of the Irish belief system before Christianity.

If you visit the Hill of Slane: Located about a 45-minute drive northwest from Dublin, the site is free, open to the public, and has a car park.

9) Slemish  

As a young man, St. Patrick tended sheep on and in the vicinity of Slemish, a Northern Ireland mountain near Ballymena. During these six years of enslavement to a man named Milchu, he grew into his Christian faith. It’s hard to imagine a more dramatic backdrop for St. Patrick’s coming of age than this 1500 ft extinct volcano!

The mountain provides a popular, but challenging, 1.5 km round trip hike year-round. Thousands descend on Slemish on St. Patrick’s Day to make a pilgrimage to the top. At the peak, you get sweeping views of County Antrim countryside. On a clear day, you can even spy the west coast of St. Patrick’s likely homeland: Scotland.

If you visit Slemish Mountain: Located about 8 miles east Ballymena, Slemish Mountain is open year-round. A large car park is provided for hikers and there’s no fee to visit the site.

10) Saul

When St. Patrick returned to Ireland as a missionary, it’s believed his boat was blown off course and into  Strangford Lough. Whether or not he meant to start in County Down, we’ll never know. He established his first Irish church in a barn in the small village of Saul. Within his lifetime, a monastery was established in the town and it’s believed he returned there to die. You can still visit Saul Abbey today.

From anywhere in Saul you can easily spot Slieve Patrick, a 120-metre hill topped with a 30 ft + granite statue of St. Patrick. Scenes of the saint’s busy life circle the statue’s base.

If you visit Saul: Located 2.5 miles northeast outside of Downpatrick. Slieve Patrick, aka the St. Patrick National Monument, is open from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily.

11) St. Patrick’s Grave at Down Cathedral

Although St. Patrick shuffled off this mortal coil in Saul, you need to head into the nearby town of Downpatrick to visit his remains. For several centuries following his death, the exact location of St. Patrick’s remains were unknown. With a little divine intervention, it’s thought that a 12th century Anglo-Norman knight named John de Courcy discovered St. Patrick’s remains. de Courcy placed St. Patrick’s remains, along with those of St. Brigid and St. Colomba in a permanent grave in a Benedictine monastery.

In the 17th century, the old monastery site became Down Cathedral‘s home. Today you’ll find St. Patrick’s grave tucked behind the Anglican church, enjoying a peaceful view of the Quoile River. Interestingly, the ancient looking granite stone topping the grave has only been in place since 1900.

If you visit St. Patrick’s Grave: Down Cathedral is located on the western edge of Down, a small town about 21 miles south of Belfast. Down Cathedral is open to all visitors from 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday – Saturday and 1-4 p.m. on Sundays. You can learn more about St. Patrick’s life at the nearby Saint Patrick Centre.

12) Armagh’s St. Patrick Cathedrals

Although it’s officially part of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland has a particularly strong connection with St. Patrick. After all, this is where he lived as a slave and also where he started evangelizing. His importance even transcends religious affiliation.

In the town of Armagh, you’ll even find two cathedrals – one Anglian (Church of Ireland) and one Catholic – both named for St. Patrick. The Anglican church stands on the spot where it’s said that St. Patrick convinced a local chieftain to build a church. The Great Stone Church that arose was notable enough to earn a mention in the 9th century Annals of Ulster.

If you visit the St. Patrick Cathedrals of Armagh: Armagh is located a 45-minute drive southwest of Belfast. The two cathedrals are about 1/2 mile apart on the west side of town.

Who was St. Patrick?

Most people know St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. Credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland, he also serves as the patron saint of Boston, Nigeria, Montserrat, Melbourne, engineers, paralegals, and sins. Got a snake problem? St. Patrick’s the saint to invoke.

Raised Catholic by his deacon father, it’s assumed that St. Patrick spent his childhood in western Scotland. Irish raiders kidnapped him as a teenager and brought him to Northern Ireland where he worked as a slave sheep herder. St. Patrick nearly starved to death and he dug into his Christian faith to survive his enslavement.

Eventually St. Patrick escaped, but after spending some time traveling the European continent he felt called back to Ireland. He traveled all over the island, baptizing and confirming the Irish people . . . and occasionally being tossed in prison. He left churches, monasteries, and a couple geographical phenomenons in his wake.

Although St. Patrick didn’t consider himself very educated, he’s known for his writings and may have brought the Latin alphabet to Ireland. A freelance missionary, it appears he did much of his evangelizing in Ireland without papal support. In fact, he lived before the Catholic Church’s current canonization laws. Despite never being formally canonized, he’s one of the most recognized saints.

It’s generally believed that St. Patrick arrived in Ireland in 431 AD and died on March 17, 461 AD. However, context clues from his surviving writings indicate that he might have lived later in the 5th century. Over time, the legend of St. Patrick entangled with stories about St. Palladius, the first bishop of Ireland. Whether Palladius or Patrick is responsible for St. Patrick’s legendary acts, at the end of the day, it’s St. Patrick’s Day, not St. Palladius Day, we celebrate every March 17th.

What’s up with St. Patrick and the snakes?

Legends surround St. Patrick. You often hear that he miraculously banished all snakes from Ireland. And happily, there aren’t any snakes – venomous or otherwise – on the Emerald Island. However, we can thank glaciers, not saints, for Ireland’s lack of slithering reptiles. Irish natural history experts believe snakes never existed in Ireland after the glaciers receded.

St. Patrick isn’t even the first saint credited with ridding Ireland of snakes. That honor goes to St. Colomba. While neither saint had any influence over Ireland’s reptile population, it could be that we’re taking the story too literally. Perhaps the “snakes” St. Patrick drove out of Ireland were the pagans that he converted to Christianity.

In his quest to save the souls of the Irish people, St. Patrick create a couple symbols we still strongly associate with Ireland. While explaining the Holy Trinity, he picked a shamrock out of the grass at his feet and used the plant’s three leaves to explain the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

He’s also credited with creating the Celtic cross. By keeping a circle in the middle of the cross, St. Patrick merged pagan beliefs that centered around the movement of the sun and other stars with the new Christian faith.

If you like this post about where to find St. Patrick in Ireland, check out my other Ireland posts.

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