Castle Ward sits on the south shore of Stangford Lough, nestled amid woodlands, gardens and the beauty of the lakeshore. This manor house is unique because it is made up of two completely different styles of architecture and décor.
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Monasteries
Castle Ward
St Mullins Monastery
St. Moling, who in his time served as Bishop of Ferns and Glendalough and led a life of many documented miracles, established this monastic community in 696.
In the graveyard near the abbey, the Kings of South Leinster, the…
Jerpoint Abbey
This Cistercian monastery, built in the late 12th century, is one of the finest monastic heritage sites in all of Ireland because it is so remarkably well preserved. The intact worship areas and living quarters reveal an authentic glimpse…
Old Mellifont Abbey
The Old Mellifont ruins are those of the first Cistercian Abbey erected in Ireland. St. Malachy, the Archbishop of Armagh, founded the Abbey and monks from France inhabited it in 1142. It was consecrated amid great ceremony in 1157,…
Monasterboice
Now vacant and serene, this site was once a busy monastery. Visitors come mostly to see its exquisite High Crosses, which rank among the most impressive in Ireland. They also come to enjoy the peace and quiet, and take…
Kells
The town of Kells was originally known as Ceannus Mor, meaning “Great Residence”. Founded as a monastic settlement by St Columcille in the 6th century, it is widely known as the place where the famous Book of Kells was…
Clones
A small and quiet country town, Clones has nevertheless made a great contribution to Irish and other cultures through some of its most famous citizens. They include Thomas Bracken, who wrote the national anthem for New Zealand and makes…
Clonmacnoise
This ancient monastic centre was built at the very center of Ireland, its location chosen by St. Ciaran in 545 A.D. It is believed that he made his decision based on the site’s strategic location – the crossroads of…
Mount Melleray Abbey
When a group of Cistercian monks were expelled from France in the early 1800s, they travelled to this barren wilderness at the foot of the Knockmealdown mountains in County Waterford, and built Ireland’s first post-reformation monastery. Over the years,…
Seven Wonders of Fore
When you visit the village of Fore and roam the surrounding fields, you’ll enjoy a first hand experience with origins of traditional Irish folklore tales that have been around for more than a thousand years.
Just a few kilometres…