Celtic Recipes

Dunluce Castle - Dún Libhse

Dunluce Castle - Dún Libhse is spectacularly built of a rocky outcrop and accessed by a bridge from the mainland. This is a ruined medieval and seventeenth century castle. Parts of the castle can be dated back to the fourteenth century and in the early sixteenth century it is recorded as belonging to the MacQuillan and then later the MacDonnell clans. It is located in County Antrim (Irish: Contae Aontroma) in Ireland (Irish: Éire) between Portballintrae (Irish: Port Bhaile an Trá) and Portrush (Irish: Port Rois).

Castle Caulfield

Castle Caulfield is a large house built in the early seventeenth century on the site of a previous castle belonging to the O'Donnelly family. In the Irish rebellion of 1641, the house was burnt down and, although partially rebuilt after that, fell into disuse at the end of the seventeenth century. Even though a ruin, there are substantial remains. It is located in the village of Castlecaulfield in Couty Tyrone, Ireland ( Irish: Tír Eoghain, Éire).

Crom Castle - Caisleán na Croime

Crom Castle - Caisleán na Croime is a relatively recent Victorian structure; however, the site is also home to the ruins of a much old castle tower house. Whilst Crom Castle itself is not open to the public, the grounds, which are called Crom desmesne and managed by National Trust for Ireland, are open from March until the end of October. Crom demesne is a nature conservation area covering about 810 hectares. It is an area of outstanding beauty with boats for hire, woodland walks and nature trails and guided walks that include the old ruined castle. 

Florence Court

Florence Court is owned and managed by the National Trust and is a large eighteenth century house and estate. The house is noted for it's decoration and interiors and is set in parkland in the foothills of the Cuilcach Mountains.  It is about eight miles southwest from Enniskillen/Inis Ceithleann off the A32 in County Fermanagh (Irish: Contae Fhear Manach).

Castle Coole - Caisleán Cúil

Castle Coole takes its name from the neighbouring lake Lough Coole. The house as it is today was built in the 1790's, but there were two previous houses on on the site before the present one.  The first building at Castle Coole was a fortified tower built in 1611. Then a new house, which became known as the Queen Anne House, was built on the site in 1709-10. It burnt down in 1797 as the new present house was being built close by. This was completed in 1798. The house is owned by the National Trust and open to the public. There are extensive grounds providing walks, including around Lough Coole. The house is located in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh (Irish: Inis Ceithleann Contae Fhear Manach) in the north of Ireland.

 

Beltany Stone Circle

To the southwest of the Ulster city of Derry in County of Donegal, near the town of Raphoe, is a Neolithic Celtic monument known as the Beltany Stone Circle. The Beltany Stone Circle is estimated to have been constructed approximately 5000 years ago based on recent archeological research funded by the Irish Heritage Council.  Dating Beltany from about 3000 BC makes this monument older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids (some published sources conversely date the construction of the stone circle at between 1300 and 800 BC).

This is a Neolithic stone circle of about 147 feet in diameter made up of in excess of sixty remaining stones. The name is linked to the Celtic Beltane fire and fertility festival.

Ardmore Muff Stone - Ardmore Gallan Stone

The Ardmore Muff Stone also known as the Ardmore Gallen Stone stands in a field near the village of Muff, Co. Donegal, Ireland (Irish: Magh, Contae Dhún na nGall, Éire). This rectangular standing stone with carvings is about seven feet high and three feet wide. It is decorated with forty cup-marks a number of which are surrounded by one, two or three rings. Is thought to date to the Bronze Age, which in Ireland lasted from about about 2000 BC to 500 BC. It is unlikely that we will ever understand the belief systems held by the people who erected and carved the stone. There are many theories suggested for its purpose and meaning. Including those that think it could have been a boundary marking that is decorated for art; ceremonial purposes; linked to mark seasonal changes; or observation of astronomical phenomena. It could be all of these things. 

Bocan Stone Circle

Bocan Stone Circle is a Neolithic/Bronze Age monument that has a diameter of about 18.3 metres. It has the remains of a ring cairn with seven large stones still standing. Others, of would have been a circle of  around 30 stones, are now fallen. Two bigger stones mark the entrance. It is located near the village of Culdaff (Irish: Cúil Dabhcha)  on the Inishowen (Irish: Inis Eoghain) peninsula, in County Donegal, Ireland (Irish: Contae Dhún na nGall, Éire). It is off the R238 road south of Culdaff at Bocan.

Grianan of Ailech - Grianán Ailigh

Grianan of Ailech (Irish: Grianán Ailigh) is a stone fort dating back to the sixth or seventh century which has had significant reconstruction. The walls now stand at about five metres in height and four and a half metres thick in places, which is higher than originally. Within the structure are the remains of terraces and stairs and galleries. The origins of a fort on the site are thought to go back to 1700 BC. It was thought to be the seat of the Kingdom of Ailech who were the over-kings of the medieval Irish province of Ailech in north-western Ireland.The site is located at the top of Greenan Mountain Inishowen (Irish: Inis Eoghain) in County Donegal (Irish: Contae Dhún na nGall) . It is south of the N13 at Speenoge west of the County Derry/Contae Dhoire border and the City of Derry/Diore.

Doe Castle - Caisleán na dTuath

Doe Castle, or Caisleán na dTuath, near Creeslough, County Donegal,(Irish: An Craoslach, Contae Dhún na nGall). This castle was built in the fifteenth century. It has a central tower surrounded by defensive wall and overlooking the sea on three sides. It was the seat of the Clan Suihbne and where Owen Roe O'Neil landed to lead the Irish rebellion in 1642.

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