Located in a scenic area on the northeastern coast of Lough Ennel, this haunting estate was built by Richard Cassels in 1740 for its first occupant, the first earl of Belvedere, Robert Rochfort.
Rochfort married a woman named Mary Moleswoth, who disgraced him by carrying on an affair with Rochfort’s younger brother. After she bore his [...]
Located on the western fringe of the scenic Sperrin Mountains, the trees at Gortin Glen Forest Park were planted with the purpose of producing coniferous trees for lumber. The on site tree farm distinguishes Gortin Glen from other facilities of its kind.
The park is one of a few in Ireland that maintains a drive through [...]
This popular attraction encompasses eight acres of plants, including a two-mile long walk through land covered in beautiful trees and shrubs. There are more than 60,000 individual plants at Dundrum Plantarum, of 2000 different varieties – some of them extremely rare.
The grounds are attractively accented with Celtic themed structures and sculptures that include dolmens, crannogs [...]
Holy Cross Abbey Gardens are located on the grounds of the Cistercian Abbey founded in 1169. They contain a set of Stations of the Cross erected in memory of St. Padre Pio, a Capuchin priest who bore the stigmata (physical wounds of Jesus Christ) for fifty years.
Padre Pio lived in San Giovanni Rotondo, in Italy. [...]
Known as one of Ireland’s most beautiful forest and nature areas, Carnagh Forest Park features walking trails framed by a wide selection of tree species – both deciduous and coniferous. Adjacent lakes are populated with plenty of perch and trout, and the nature reserve is home to many extraordinary birds and insects.
The estate at Hilton Park has been the site of a grand house ever since the early 1600’s. Originally named Kilshanless, it was also called Maddenton before it was christened as Hilton Park in the late 18th century.
A fire in 1803, started by a servant, destroyed the original structure along with the renovated portion added [...]
Heywood Gardens are the most outstanding attraction of Ballinakill, a small town just south of Abbeyleix. The small Georgian village was the home of English Architect Sir Edward Lutyens, who designed the landscape to include formal gardens among the lakes and woodlands in the early 20th century.
Old gothic gates and ancient features embellish the grounds, [...]
The village of Mountmellick is located on the Owenass River. Historically, it was an important centre for woolen mills and sugar beet processing.
But Mountmellick is probably most well known for its lace, and its distinct style of embroidery identified by the following:
•Large floral designs taken directly from nature
•Fringed edges and button holed pieces
•Closed designs
In the [...]
Garadice Lake is a 1200-acre lake in County Leitrim with excellent angling opportunities for a variety of species including roach, perch, pike, rudd and hybrids.
The lake also contains many islands littered with castle ruins and a ring fort dedicated to a sun god named Crom Cruaich who was believed to have been destroyed by St. [...]
The Workhouse was built in 1841 as one of three planned for County Leitrim – at Carrick-on-Shannon, Manorhamilton and Mohill – by the Poor Law enacted in 1838. This workhouse in Carrick-on-Shannon is the only one that survives.
It had a capacity for 800 inmates, which was continually tested in its initial years of operation. It [...]