Places to visit

Proleek Portal Tomb

Proleek Dolmen consists of a large capstone of about 40 tonnes. It rests on two portals of over two metres in height and a backstone.  It dates to around 3000 BC. The site is south along the N1 from Moyry Castle and south of Ravensdale and about two miles north of Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland  (Irish: Dún Dealgan, Contae Lú, Éire). It is by the R173 in the grounds of the Ballymascanlan House Hotel. It is thought that the tomb could be aligned so that its portal points toward Slieve Gullion (Irish: Sliabh gCuillinn) so also facing the setting sun at the summer solstice.

Cloughoughter Castle - Cloch Locha Uachtair

Cloughoughter Castle - Cloch Locha Uachtair

This ruined thirteenth century circular castle is located on an island in Lough Oughter. It is about  4 kilometres (2.5 mi) east of the village of Killeshandra (Irish: Cill na Seanrátha) in County Cavan, Ireland (Irish: Contae an Chabháin, Éire). The building was completed by the O'Reilly clan who retained control of the castle for a number of centuries. The castle came into English hands after the Flight of the Earls in 1607 and the Plantation of Ulster. After the 1641 Irish Rebellion the castle was taken back under the control of the O'Reilly's but eventually fell again at the time of Cromwell's Invasion.

Clochafarmore Standing Stone - Cloch an Fhir Mhóir

Cúchulainn's Death illustration by Stephen Reid 1904

Clochafarmore (Irish: Cloch an Fhir Mhóir) is a menhir (standing stone) located about 1.4 km (0.87 mi) east-northeast of the village of Knockbridge (Irish: Droichead an Chnoic) which is about  5.5km south-west of Dundalk (Irish: Dún Dealgan)  on the left bank of the River Fane, County Louth, Ireland (Irish: Abhainn Átha Féan,  Contae Lú, Éire). This National Monument  is 3 m (10 ft) tall and 1.3 m (over 4 ft) wide. It is thought to date to the Bronze Age (2,400 - 500 BC). This standing stone is traditionally associated with the death of the legendary Irish hero Cúchulainn who also appears in Scottish and Manx folklore.

Newgrange - Sí an Bhrú

Newgrange (Irish: Sí an Bhrú) prehistoric monument is in County Meath, Ireland (Irish: Contae na Mí, Éire). It is located about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) west of the eastern coastal town of Drogheda (Irish: Droichead Átha) and on the north side of the River Boyne (Irish: An Bhóinn or Abhainn na Bóinne). It was constructed around 3200 BC, making it older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids. The site is within the Brú na Bóinne complex which is a World Heritage Site.
Brú na Bóinne is famous for the passage tombs of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth. These ceremonial structures are among the most important Neolithic sites in the world. They also contain the largest collection of megalithic art in western Europe. Newgrange passage tomb is within a large mound that is approximately 80m in diameter. It is surrounded at its base by a kerb of 97 stones. One of which is the highly decorated Entrance Stone.

Sheela-na-gig carving Balgeeth, Ardcath

Sheela-na-gig carvings are likely based on ancient Celtic fertility symbols and portray exaggerated female elements. There are a number in Ireland and the image above is one at Fetard in Co. Tipperary. However, but the example in Balgeeth is on the wall of a farm yard in the townland of Balgeeth (Baile na Gaoithe) which is close to the village of Ardcath, County Meath, Ireland (Irish: Ard Cath, Contae na Mí, Éire). Although these carved images are not exclusive to Ireland, the greatest number of surviving sheela na gig carvings can be found in Ireland. You can find out more about the Ardcath Sheela-na-gig carvings with information and photos at Knowth.com Sheela-na-Gig

Fourknocks Passage Grave - Tuama Pasáiste na bhFuarchnoc

Fourknocks Passage Tomb (Irish: Tuama Pasáiste na bhFuarchnoc) is located 2.7 km (1.7 mi) northwest of the village of Naul (Irish: An Aill) close to a hilltop overlooking the Delvin River, County Meath (north part of Fingal), Ireland  (Irish: An Ailbhine, Contae na Mí, Éire). The tomb dates to 3000–2500 BC and has a short passage leading into a wide round chamber with three smaller offset chambers. When investigated it was found that the original roof was possibly a wooden structure or animal skin supported by a central pole. After excavation a concrete roof was placed over the chamber for protection.

Hill of Tara - Cnoc na Teamhrach

The Hill of Tara (Irish: Teamhair or Cnoc na Teamhrach) is a hill and ancient ceremonial and burial site near Skryne, County Meath, Ireland (Irish: Scrín Cholm Cille, Contae na Mí, Éire).  It contains a number of archaeological monuments and is traditionally linked to the High Kings of Ireland who were said to rule over lesser kings from Tara. It is associated in mythology with the Tuatha De Danaan peoples and is an important Celtic heritage site.

Trim Castle - Caislean Bhaile Atha Troim

Trim Castle (Irish: Caisleán Bhaile Átha Troim) is located in the town of Trim, County Meath, Ireland (Irish: Baile Átha Troim, Contae na Mí, Éire). This castle was built from the early 12th century on the site of an earlier wooden structure and stands on the south bank of the River Boyne (Irish: An Bhóinn or Abhainn na Bóinne). The site was chosen because it is on raised ground, overlooking a crossing point on the river. It was buily by Hugh de Lacy and his son Walter over a period of thirty years and is the largest Anglo-Norman fortification in Ireland.

Ardgillan Castle

Ardgillan Castle

Ardgillan Castle is an 18th Century country house and grounds. It was originally called Prospect House and boasts spectacular views over Drogheda Bay to the hulking Mourne Mountains in the north. The interior of the house was painstakingly restored to its historic designs in the early 1990s. The name Ardgillan comes from the Irish name 'Ard Chioll' meaning High Wood. The house and grounds, which cover 194 acres of woodland, pastures and gardens, were bought by Fingal Council in the 1960s and are open to the public.

Swords Castle

Swords Castle is located in Swords (Irish: Sord or Sord Cholmcille) and is open to the public. This is the county town of Fingal in north Dublin and Swords Castle is two miles from Dublin Airport. The castle that was built over a period of four hundred years starting at about 1200AD and has a perimeter wall of about 260 metres. It was once the fortified residence of the Archbishop of Dublin. As stated in the Swords Castle website:

"The extensive complex of buildings is in the form of a rough pentagon of 0.5 hectares and is enclosed by a perimeter wall of 260 meters. It is a National Monument, and it is the best surviving example of an Archbishop’s Palace in Ireland. The curtain walls enclose over an acre of land that slopes down to the Ward River. This complex of buildings is made up of many phases of reuse and redesign reflecting its long history and changing fortunes."

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