Places to visit

Dublin - Baile Átha Cliath

Hapenny Bridge Dublin

Dublin (Baile Átha Cliath) is the captal city of Ireland (Irish: Éire).The name Dublin derives from the Irish name Dubh Linn (black pool). The city grew from a Viking settlement on the River Liffey. Due to its compact size Dublin is easy to explore. It is steeped in history and has a host of architectural sites to visit.  Dublin also has much to offer for those looking for art, culture and good food.

Maynooth Castle - Caisleán Maigh Nuad

Maynooth Castle in 1885

This is a late twelth - early thirteenth century castle in the town of Maynooth (Maigh Nuad) in County Kildare (Irish: Contae Chill Dara) in the province of Leinster (Irish: Laighin). It was home to the Fitzgerald family until it fell to English forces after the 'Silken Thomas' rebellion, and the entire defensive garrison was killed in 1535. Silken Thomas refers to Thomas Fitzgerald 10th Earl of Kildare who was executed in London in 1537.

Croghan Hill - Cruachán Bri Eile

Croghan Hill (Irish: Cnoc Cruacháin or Brí Éile) is a hill standing at a height of 234 metres (768 ft) in County Offaly, Ireland Irish: Contae Uíbh Fhailí,Éire). The site was first used in Neolithic times, dating back to around 2000BC. There are a number of burial mounds within and around the site of a fort. The fort is circular with four embankments and ditches, which was further secured by its location in an area of bog land. The remains of 'Old Croghan Man', a well preserved Iron Age bog body who is believed to have died (possibly as a sacrifice) between 362 and 175 BC, was found in a bog close by. The remains are in the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin.

Dún Naas

Nass Moat Image Courtesy Naas Local History Group

Naas (Irish: Nás na Ríogh, or An Nás) is the county town of County Kildare, Ireland (Irish: Contae Chill Dara, Éire). In the town is Dún Naas or Mote of Naas was a fortification associated with Luighdech Eithlenn, King of Leinster. It was built in 140 AD on the location of a previous fortification and was itself subsequently destroyed and rebuilt by Princess Tailtinn. It is situated on Abbey Road beside the Moat Club. The site now consists of two north and south earthwork motes (earthwork mounds) the largest one remaining at the north. It is thought, that what can now be seen could have been built in Viking or early Norman times, but on the site of the Dun of the Kings of Leinster.  

Punchestown Longstone

The stone stands about six meters high and has a pronounced lean towards the west. It is the tallest standing stone in the southwest of Ireland. The stone is made of local granite and is estimated to weigh over 9 tonnes. It is located in a field just off the Craddockstown road, about 3.5 km (2 mi) southeast of Naas, and about 600 m north of Punchestown Racecourse in County Kildare (Irish: Contae Chill Dara). The stone is thought to date to about 2450–1900 BC

Dún Ailinne

This is the largest hillfort in Ireland and dates from the Neolithic period. A low embankment encloses an area of over thirty four acres and the site is thought to have fulfilled a ritual and ceremonial purpose rather than residential. Within the enclosure is some archaeological evidence of a small group of structures.

Athgreany Stone Circle - Piper's Stones (Clocha an Phíobaire)

Athgreany Stone Circle is also known as the Piper's Stones (Irish:Clocha an Phíobaire) and consists of some fourteen stones. There would have been more stones at one time, but over the years, prior to being protected as a monument, some could have been removed to be used for other purposes. Athgreany means “Field of the Sun”. It is thought that the circle was constructed in alignment with the sun and acted as an a calander based on astronomical observation. It is estimated to date from 1400-500 BC.

Glendalough Cross and Deer Stone

Glendalough Cross and Deer Stone

This is an early Christian site in the Glendalough Valley. The monastery at Gleann Dá Loch (glen of two lakes) dates from the sixth century. On the site is the conical shaped Deer Stone, the high cross of St Kevin standing about eleven feet in height from the tenth to eleventh century, a thirty metre high round tower from the same period, and the remains of the Cathedral and Church.

Avondale House and Forest Park

Avondale House and Forest Park

Avondale House Avondale House, in Avondale, County Wicklow, Ireland (Irish: Contae Chill Mhantáin, Éire) is the birthplace and home of Charles Stewart Parnell (1846-1891), who was the Irish nationalist political founder and leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party. He died at the age of 45 years after a heart attack and his funeral at Glasnevin Cemetery drew a crowd of 200,000 people. The house at Avondale was built in 1777 and set in the 500 acre Avondale Park. The house is normally open to the public from Easter until 31 October. It is located south along the R755 from Laragh to Rathdrum. Located one mile south of Rathdrum in County Wicklow along the R752.

Haroldstown Portal Tomb

This is a Portal Tomb, which comprises of two large cap (roof) stones on ten supporting uprights reaching to about 1.8 metres in height. It has been said that for a period in the mid 19th century that a family set up home in the tomb. For that period of occupation the gaps in the tomb would have been filled with mud and other material to try and make it is as warm and weatherproof as possible. It is estimated that Portal tombs such as this date to the Neolithic period between 4,200 –2,400 BC.

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