Places to visit

Castledermot High Crosses - St Dairmuids Cross & Round Tower

Castledermot Round Tower and High Crosses are in Castledermot (Irish: Diseart Diarmada) in County Kildare ((Irish: Contae Chill Dara). There was a monastery founded here in the early ninth century by the father of  St Dairmuid. In the present churchyard there now stands two ninth century high crosses and a tenth century round tower. The two granite crosses have carved biblical scenes the best preserved of which is the ten foot high north cross. The remains of the round tower is about sixty-five feet in height.

Moone High Cross

Moone (Irish: Maoin or Maen Colmcille) is a small village in the south of County Kildare (Irish: Contae Chill Dara). Approximately 1 kilometre from Moone along the road to Athy is Moone High Cross. It stands within the site of a monastery, which is believed to have been founded by St Columba in the mid-sixth century, is a seventeen foot high cross dating from around the seventh century. It is carved on all four sides with biblical scenes. There are also the remains of another cross, possibly ninth century close by.

Brownshill Portal Tomb - Tuama Ursanach Chnoc an Bhrúnaigh

Brownshill Portal Tomb - Tuama Ursanach Chnoc an Bhrúnaigh

Brownshill Portal Tomb - Tuama Ursanach Chnoc an Bhrúnaigh, is a Portal Tomb with a very large and heavy capstone estimated to weighs about 150 tons, supported by three uprights and two boulders. There is evidence of another upright nearby. It was built between 4000 and 3000 BC. The capstone, described as the heaviest of its type in Europe, is thought to have originally been covered by an earthen mound and a stone blocked the entrance. 

Kilkenny Castle - Caisleán Cill Chainnigh

Kilkenny Castle (Irish: Caisleán Chill Chainnigh) is a castle in Kilkenny (Irish: Cill Chainnigh) in the sout-east of Ireland. The stone castle, first constructed on the site in 1213, replaced an earlier wooden structure. The castle was square with towers at each corner and three of these still remain. The Butler family bought the castle in 1391 and lived there until 1935. In 1967 the castle was given to the Nation and the castle and grounds are now open to the public.

Kells Priory - Prióireacht Cheanannais

Kells Priory (Irish: Prióireacht Cheanannais) is located alongside King's River beside the village of Kells (Irish: Ceanannas) about 15 km south of the city of Kilkenny (Irish: Cill Chainnigh). This is a priory founded in 1193 by Geoffrey FitzRobert. It is a national Monument and has a distinctive series of Tower Houses set along the walls. It had been the site of a number of attacks prior to it's dissolution in 1540.

Kilree Round Tower

Kilree is a former Christian monastery and National Monument located in County Kilkenny, Ireland (Irish: Contae Chill Chainnigh, Éire) and is about is about 2.4 km (11⁄2 miles) south of the village of Kells (Irish: Ceanannas). The name Kilree  is said to originate from the saint Rhuidche. The round tower is about 26m (85 feet) high and dates to the 10th century. There is an old ruined church next to the round tower and Kilree is a former Christian monastery founded in the 6th century.

Irish National Heritage Park Wexford

Irish National Heritage Park is just outside the town of Wexford (Irish: Loch Garman) in the south-east of Ireland. The park takes you through 9000 years of Irish history. A Heritage Trail covering 35 acres will take you through a recreation of places of ritual and historical dwellings. The site is open throughout the year; visit their website for more information.

Dunbrody Abbey & Visitors Centre

Dunbrody Abbey (Irish: Mainistir Dhún Bróithe) is a former monastery in County Wexford, Ireland (Irish: Contae Loch Garman, Éire). Dunbrody was a Cistercian Abbey founded in 1170 and completed in the early thirteenth century and a fifteenth century tower added. It was dissolved under the rule of Henry VIII. Next to the Abbey is Dunbrody Castle and Visitors Centre with a craft shop and small museum. In the grounds is a maze made with 1,500 yew trees.

Kilmogue Portal Tomb

Kilmogue Portal Tomb, also known as Kilmogue Dolmen and Harristown Dolmen. It located in County Kilkenny, Ireland (Irish: Contae Chill Chainnigh, Éire).  This dolmen has a large capstone resting on two large portal stones and a pillow stone resting on a backstone. The entrance faces northeast and points towards the summer solstice sunrise. The majority of dolmens of this type were built in the Neolithic period c. 3000 BC. 

Gaulstown Burial Chamber

The Gaulstown Portal Tomb or Gaulstown Dolmen is thought to date back to 3500 BC. It is made up of a large rectangular capstone, which is 4.2 metres (14 ft) in length, and 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) deep. There are three upright stones supporting it. The tomb faces south east and has two east-facing portal stones standing at about 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in) high, with a door stone. It is located County Waterford (Irish: Contae Phort Láirge) and is at the foot of a hill called "Cnoc an Chaillighe". It is about five miles (7 km) south southwest of Waterford/Port Láirge and northwest of Tramore off the R682 and a minor road southwest of Lisnakill Cross.

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