Built in 1210 by the Bishop of Norwich, John de Gray, the castle was commissioned by King John of England. For a period of time in the 16th century, Athlone Castle accommodated the Presidents of Connacht. The complex was attacked and severely damaged during the first Siege of Athlone (1690) and also the second [...]
The largest town and county seat of County Laois, Portlaoise was formerly called Fort of Maryborough, and founded in 1556 by Queen Mary. The town’s name was officially changed to Portlaoise, which in Gaelic means “Fort of Laois,” in 1922.
The name is derived from the town’s historical reputation as the fortress or protector of the [...]
Situated on the South West Coast of Cork, is the picturesque Harbour town of Kinsale. It is commonly known as the gourmet capital of Ireland, famous for it’s fresh fish and seafood. It has a wide variety of Restaurants to suit all taste buds, at least 30 pubs and an excellent selection of accommodation to [...]
This performing arts centre in Manorhamilton is located in a former Methodist Church built in the 1820s. It houses facilities for theatre productions, recording studios, offices and rehearsal spaces. It offers classes and lessons in music, youth theatre, and arts and crafts.
Musical performers come here from all around Europe and the United States, and Glens [...]
Extending along much of the eastern coast of County Down, Strangford Lough is long and shallow. Much of the waterway is greatly affected by the tidal cycles, with large exposed sand flats that can be seen in low tide and then flood with water when the high tide comes in.
The southern entrance to the sea [...]
Armagh County Museum is a treasury of history and art that uniquely reflects the character of the region known as the “Orchard County”. Built in 1834, the building was first used as a school. Some years later, it was occupied by the Armagh Natural History and Philosophical Society. Many of the items included in the [...]
The word ‘trian’ (pronounced tree-an) means ‘layer’ in Gaelic. During the Middle Ages, the city of Armagh was divided into three trians. They were represented by three districts - Trian Mor, Masain, and Sassenach. Today, the boundaries of these trians are marked by English Street, Irish Street, and Scotch Street.
The Armagh heritage experience called St. [...]
Widely considered the birthplace of St. Columba, the area around Gartan Lough encompasses some of the most beautiful mountain country in Ireland/donegal/. Just south of Glenveagh National Park, it is technically within the park but also connected to Church Hill Village.
A large cross alongside the footpath that leads to Glenveagh National Park commemorates St. Columba’s [...]
Tory Island, also known as Toraigh Island, has been populated for nearly four thousand years, since the time of the Neolithic farmers. This tiny, barren land mass is situated nine miles off the shore of Ireland’s northern peninsulas. It is about three miles wide and one mile long.
The ‘Tor Mor’ Ferry carries passengers to and [...]
On the northwest corner of Donegal Square sits the Linen Hall Library, a private collection founded in 1788 and housed in a building designed by Charles Lanyon. This is the last subscribing library in Ireland as well as the oldest library in the city of Belfast.
The interior is beautifully decorated by a variety of Belfast [...]