This is the drop down menu for about curious ireland
One of Ireland's finest examples of a fortified tower-house Narrow Water Castle is located just outside the town of Warrenpoint on the banks of Carlingford Lough. It is regarded as one of the [...]
O'Boyle's secret ringfort Doon Fort is an ancient ring fort hidden away in Doon Lough near the coastal village of Portnoo. It dates from the 5th century and was probably built as a [...]
One of the few 17th-century mansions to survive in Ireland The beautiful Beaulieu House is located 3 miles from the town of Drogheda on the north side of the River Boyne. This is [...]
Once one of Dublin's finest residences Monkstown Castle has been owned and occupied by some of the most prominent people and establishments in Irish History. This was once the the centre of a [...]
A castle once converted into tenements Slade Castle was built by the Laffin family in the late 1400s in a charming little fishing port. The Laffins were among the first wave of Anglo-Norman [...]
Ireland's only triple-walled wedge tomb The Kilmashogue Wedge Tomb dates to c.2000 BC and would have originally been much larger and covered by a cairn of stones. The tomb had a main chamber [...]
The official start of the Wicklow Way Marlay Park was originally an Anglo-Norman farm on the border of Dublin. The original house here was built by Thomas Taylor and was known as 'The [...]
The Great Liberator The O'Connell Statue was commissioned in 1880 to commemorate Daniel O'Connell (1775-1847). It is located on O'Connell Street, the street also named after him. O'Connell was born in Kerry and [...]
One of the 4 Fassaroe Crosses The Rathmichael Cross is one of 4 distinct-looking crosses that are collectively known as the Fassaroe Crosses. They are generally wheel-shaped with a depiction of the crucifixion [...]
Site of one of the largest European battles The Battle of the Boyne was fought between the armies of King William of Orange and his father-in-law, King James II of England. Billy had [...]
Zig-zags, cup marks and swirls The Ardmore Gallen Stone stands in a field near the village of Muff in Co. Donegal. More than 10,000 standing stones have been recorded in Ireland which were [...]
The oldest monument on the Inishowen Peninsula The Morton God Dolmen may date back to 3500 BC and is one of the most overlooked ancient monuments in Inishowen. This portal tomb was believed to [...]
Once the stronghold of the O'Donnells Donegal Castle was built by the O'Donnell Clan around 1470. It stayed in their hands until 1607 when many Irish chieftains including Red Hugh O'Donnell fled Ireland [...]
One of Donegal's earliest 'Big Houses' Buncrana Castle is located near the mouth of the Crana River beside a small castle known as 'O'Doherty’s Keep’. These lands and most of Donegal were seized [...]
Ireland's first stone-built church The name Duleek derives from a word meaning 'house of stone' and this is the first reference in Ireland to such a church being made from stone rather than [...]
Location of the Asgard ammunition dump Howth Harbour Lighthouse is a beautiful little structure with strong circular walls and a gun position. The lighthouse keeper’s Georgian Style residence was occupied up until 1955 [...]
The oldest scientific institution in Northern Ireland Armagh Observatory was established by Richard Robinson, Archbishop of Armagh, in 1789. This was the 2nd observatory in Ireland to be established after Dunsink in Dublin. [...]
Dublin's most architecturally significant building Custom House Quay was built between 1781 - 1791 and is regarded as a masterpiece of European neoclassicism. It was designed by James Gandon (1743 – 1823) who [...]
Thousands of mini-standing stones uncovered in a bog The mysterious Beaghmore Stone Circles date from between 2900 BC to 1200 BC. They were uncovered by local peat cutters in the 1940s and are [...]
The only Corinthian column in the world you can climb inside This monument was built in 1841 and stands over 94 ft high on Carrigadaggan Hill in County Wexford. Its design replicates Pompey's [...]
A bird lovers paradise Inch Island is located in the middle of Lough Swilly in County Donegal. It is not a ‘true’ island anymore because, in 1855, The Lough Swilly Railway Company drained [...]
The largest collection of medieval architecture in Ireland The Rock of Cashel is one of Ireland's most striking monuments. It was previously known as St Patrick’s Rock as it was reputed to be [...]
Ireland's finest example of a 'transitional castle' Portumna Castle was built during a period when fortified tower houses were slowly transforming into large country manors. It was built for Richard de Burgo, the [...]
One of Ireland's most beautiful beaches Ballymastocker Bay is also known as Portsalon Beach. This is a truly spectacular Blue Flag beach located on the Fanad Peninsula in north county Donegal. It was [...]
Northern Ireland's No.1 tourist attraction This incredible piece of architecture is Titanic Belfast which was designed by the American-born architect Eric Kuhne and built by Harcourt Developments. It takes you on a journey [...]
Connemara's stunning fjord In geology, a fjord is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created by a glacier. Ireland has 3 true examples which are Lough Swilly, Carlingford, and Killary. [...]
Ireland's highest waterfall Powerscourt Waterfall cascades down 398 feet into a stunning glaciated valley covered in beech, oak, larch, and even giant redwoods. This area of outstanding natural beauty could have also been [...]
The oldest operational lighthouse in the World Tradition states that Dubhán, a missionary monk, established some sort of beacon at this location as early as the 5th century AD. Interestingly, the word 'dubhán' [...]
Some of the highest sea cliffs in Europe The Slieve League Cliffs are amongst the highest sea cliffs in Europe rising 1972 feet above the Atlantic Ocean (making them nearly 3 times higher [...]
The O'Neill Dynasty was according to legend founded by Niall of the Nine Hostages who ruled from Tara in the late 4th or early 5th century. Myth has it that he was descended from [...]
Palladius was an early Irish missionary and the first bishop of Ireland. He was probably of British or Roman descent and the immediate predecessor to St. Patrick by about 30 years. He was possibly [...]
What's so special? Nothing much - except being the Patron Saint of Ireland! Saint Patrick, the son of a Welsh Roman and a former slave was born in c.387 a.d and died 460 [...]
Saint Brigit of Kildare is one of Ireland's patron saints along with Patrick and Columba. Her name is also variously spelled as Brigid, Bridget, Bridgit, Bríd, and Bride and is sometimes also known as [...]
Saint Ciarán of Clonmacnoise was supposedly the son of a carpenter and was one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. His name has produced many variant spellings, including Ceran, Kieran, and Queran. He was [...]
The largest collection of rare whiskeys in the country In 1599, Sir William Temple, a renowned teacher, and philosopher built a house here on newly reclaimed land from the River Liffey. In 1656, [...]
Voted Ireland's 'Building of the Century' This stunning and timeless building is St. Aengus' Church located in Burt, co. Donegal. It was built in 1967 and was designed by local award-winning architects Frank [...]
The Beaker culture is the name of a cultural phenomenon which occurred in large parts of Western Europe during the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age period. The term was coined by John Abercromby, [...]
A beautiful abbey founded by the greatest Norman knight Tintern Abbey was founded in 1200 by William Marshall, the 1st Earl of Pembroke. Marshal had set sail for Ireland on his first visit [...]
In Irish mythology, the Fomoire or Fomorians were a semi-divine race and were believed to have been one of the first tribes to inhabit Ireland in ancient times. They are believed to be the [...]
James Gandon is today recognized as one of the leading architects to have worked in Ireland. He was born in Bond Street, London - 29th February 1742, at the house of his [...]
In ancient times, the Fir Bolg were the rulers of Ireland before the arrival of the Tuatha Dé Danann. The origin of the Fir Bolg name is, as usual, the subject of [...]
Brian Ború was born near Killaloe in 941 and is regarded as Ireland's greatest High King. He was a member of the O'Brien dynasty and an ancestor of the Kings of Thomond. He was [...]
Richard de Clare (Strongbow) was a Welsh lord and the Earl of Pembroke. In 1169, Dermont MacMurrough, the king of Leinster was defeated by Roderic, the king of Connacht. Dermont went to Wales and [...]
Saint Columba was an Irish abbot and missionary. He founded the important abbey on Iona, which became a dominant religious and political institution in the region for centuries. He was highly regarded by both [...]
One of Ireland's most remarkable abbeys Kylemore Abbey was built in 1871 as a private residence for Manchester industrialists and multi-millionaires Mitchell and Margaret Henry. They came to this area on their honeymoon [...]
Diarmait MacMurrough was born in violent times and was unexpectedly made King of Leinster after his father and brother were killed in battles. During this period rival kings from all over the country were [...]
A cathedral in miniature Kylemore Abbey Church was built in 1881 in memory of Margaret Henry. It is sometimes referred to as Ireland's Taj Mahal. Margaret Henry was the beloved wife of Mitchell Henry, [...]
Ancient meeting point for the United Irish League These granite rocks are the remains of a burial chamber known locally as the Temple of Deen. It is located near the village of Culdaff [...]