A beacon of love The Maiden Tower was built in the late 16th century as a beacon to aid sailors navigating their way up from the mouth of the River Boyne into Drogheda. [...]
One of Ireland's most visited waterfalls Torc Waterfall is some 70 feet high and is fed by the Owengarriff river. Its name comes from the Irish translation for a 'wild boar' and has [...]
You are now entering Mac Jordan Country Ballylahan Castle was constructed in 1239 on the south bank of the River Moy by Jordan de Exeter. The Exeters came to Ireland during the first Norman [...]
The only fortified tower house built on an island in a river Carrigadrohid Castle is a rare example of a 15th-century fortified tower house due to the fact that it is built on a [...]
One of Munster's most important burial grounds The Kilcrea Friary is a medieval abbey located near Ovens in County Cork. It takes its name from a 6th-century saint named Cyra who is said to [...]
Ireland's first Eco-Village The Cloughjordan Ecovillage is an internationally recognized destination for learning about sustainable living. The pioneering idea behind this project started in 1999 with the aspiration of low-carbon living. After many [...]
A newly excavated portal tomb The Tirnony Dolmen is located about 1 mile north of Maghera. Recently its capstone collapsed and archeologists were given the chance to dig a portal tomb for the [...]
Once one of the most important friaries in Ireland This elegant Gothic belfry tower dates to 1370 and are the only remains of what was once the Dominican Friary of Saint Mary Magdalene. Lucas [...]
Navan's key location Athlumney Castle is located just outside Navan Town in a key strategic location where the Blackwater River drains into the Boyne. Its placename derives from the Irish for "Loman's ford" [...]
Ireland's finest classical church This cathedral is dedicated to Saint Mel who came to Ireland with St. Patrick and who was ordained Bishop of Ardagh. It was designed by Jospeph B. Keane in [...]
Hike like the ancients The Clew Bay Archaeological Trail is a spectacular heritage trail around the base of Croagh Patrick. It has been divided into 4 stages that cover 6000 years of human [...]
A famine memorial to 400 souls The 25km Doolagh Pass is one of the most dramatic landscapes in Ireland and the scene of one of its great tragedies. In 1849 during the Great [...]
One of Ireland's finest High Crosses St Columcille founded 26 monasteries before he reached the age of 25. Durrow was one of the first and was also regarded as one of the most [...]
Boutique hotel on the shores of Lough Swilly Rathmullan House can be found on the south coast of Lough Swilly and is surrounded by mature gardens, mountains, loughs, and beaches. This was originally [...]
A strange gabled wall in a picture-perfect graveyard St Mary's Church is located in the coastal town of Dungarvan. Its graveyard is worth a visit for the beautiful views alone which were much admired [...]
Bad luck if you don't stop! Biddy's O' Barnes is located in a deep glaciated ravine in the Bluestack Mountains and is named after one of its famous landladies. This is one of [...]
Picture perfect church Gougane Barra is a wild and wonderful glaciated valley located in the Shehy Mountains in West Cork. The name translates to mean 'Finbarr's Rock' and is named after a 6th-century monk [...]
Donegal's 5-star beauty Lough Eske was once part of the domain of the powerful O’Donnell clan who ruled from the nearby Donegal Castle for hundreds of years. After the Flight of the Earls in [...]
One of the finest examples of a Cistercian monastery in Ireland Boyle Abbey was established in 1161 under the patronage of the MacDermott's and was completed in 1218. It was the first Cistercian [...]
Ireland's finest ancient court tomb The Creevykeel Court Tomb dates from the Neolithic period (c.2500-4000 BC) and consists of a wedge-shaped cairn and an oval-shaped court. The court area measures 15m X 10m [...]
The only surviving 15th-century sculptured altar in Ireland Sligo Abbey is located right in the middle of Sligo Town. It was built by Maurice Fitzgerald for the Dominicans in 1252 and includes a [...]
Semi-tropical Ireland! The beautiful village of Glengariff and Garinish Island are located in a sheltered harbor off Bantry Bay in West Cork. The gardens on Garinish Island are a little piece of 'tropical [...]
Colorful castle & An awesome national park Glenveagh Castle was built in 1867 by John George Adair, a wealthy land speculator from Co. Laois. His dream was to create a beautiful hunting estate [...]
Huge passage tomb on top of the Wicklow mountains This large passage tomb sits at 1700 feet above sea level high up in the Wicklow Mountains. It measures 75 feet in diameter, is [...]
The site of the earliest known Irish Parliament Castledermot has many claims to fame. This was once one of the most important ecclesiastical centers in Ireland and you can still see many fine [...]
Ireland's most charming tea room Deenagh Lodge is located at the entrance of Killarney National Park beside the river Deenagh. It was built using the local river reed which being hollow offered excellent insulation [...]
Ireland's best-preserved medieval banqueting hall This hall was built by Thomas ‘the Ape’ FitzGerald in the 13th century. By the 15th century, it was used as a major venue for frequent and lavish [...]
The largest and most accessible stone circle in Munster The Kenmare stone circle is located near the center of Kenmare Town and is locally known as the 'The Shrubberies'. It is one of [...]
Ireland's tallest dolmen This Kilmogue Dolmen is locally known as 'Leac an Scail' meaning the 'The Stone of the Warrior'. It was constructed between c.3000BC & 4000 BC and would have been originally [...]
Ireland's best-preserved medieval town Clonmines was established in the 13th century by the great Norman knight William Marshall as an alternative port to New Ross. The remains of this once considerable town include [...]
Ireland's most spectacular tourist trail The Gap of Dunloe has been one of the most popular tourist destinations in Ireland for 250 years. This stunning mountain pass is about 11km long and traverses between [...]
Dark Sky Ancient Fort Staigue Fort is located in a hidden mountain valley near the village of Sneem on the Ring of Kerry and its name in Irish translates to the ‘fort of [...]
An ancient passage tomb or a Norman motte? The Ninch barrow is located on an estuary of the River Nanny and has spectacular views over County Meath. It has always been assumed that [...]
Ireland's first famine museum Strokestown House was built in 1730 and is regarded as one of Ireland's finest and most intact Palladian mansions. Its center block was completed in 1696 but was extended [...]
The traditional starting point for climbing Croagh Patrick Murrisk Abbey is located on the shoreline of Clew bay at the foot of Croagh Patrick. This is the ancient starting point for pilgrims to [...]
Striking memorial to the victims of the famine The National Famine Memorial sits at the foot of Croagh Patrick with commanding views over the Atlantic Ocean. This striking sculpture was crafted by John [...]
Ireland's most impressive historical courtyard Roscrea is a historic town where you can find the remains of a round tower, a High Cross, and an ancient church. You can also see this impressive [...]
Ireland's most stunning fishing lodge Delphi Lodge was built in the 1830s by the Marquis of Sligo for hunting and fishing and was named after the valley’s alleged similarity to the home of [...]
One of Ireland's most unique ancient tombs The Knockeen Dolmen stands over 4 meters high in the middle of a hedgerow bordering two fields. It dates to c. 3500 BC and differs slightly [...]
Once the residence of the richest family in Carlow Duckett's Grove was built between 1818 and 1850 and was once home to the Duckett family. The Ducketts were Carlow's largest landowners for 300 years [...]
Ireland's greatest female saint St Brigid is one of Ireland's three Patron Saints, along with St Patrick and St Colmcille. She, like St Patrick, was born into slavery in Dundalk in the year [...]
Waterford's ancient stunner The Gaulstown Dolmen is located about 5 miles from Waterford City on the road to Tramore in a beautiful secluded wooded area. It is regarded as one of the finest of [...]
The scenic departure point of the Flight of the Earls Rathmullan is a beautiful seaside village located on the shores of Lough Swilly. This was the scene of one of the most important [...]
One of Ireland's largest and best-preserved castles This area was the stronghold of the O'Briens in the early medieval period. It came into the possession of James Butler Earl of Ormond in 1375 [...]
The most romantic castle in Kerry Ross Castle was built sometime in the late 15th century by the O'Donoghue Ross chieftains and was surrounded by a fortified bawn, curtain walls, and circular flanking [...]
One of the finest examples of a 'cottage-orné' in Europe Swiss Cottage was built in 1812 for Lord and Lady Cahir and was designed by the famous English Regency architect John Nash. The [...]
The first, largest & most important Augustinian House in Ireland Clare Abbey was founded in 1195 and is situated on an elevated site beside the Fergus River. This was the earliest and most important [...]
World famous lighthouse & golf course The Old Head of Kinsale Lighthouse was built in 1853 and is located in one of Ireland’s most spectacular coastal areas. This large promontory juts out into the [...]