Choose Ireland » Rivers and Lakes

Crookedwood

Brian — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 11:57:10 +0000

This ancient town is steeped in old Irish folklore, including the story of the Children of Lir. It is said that they lived as swans on nearby Lough Derravaraugh for nearly 300 years of the 900-year sentence imposed by their wicked stepmother, until a holy man changed them back at some point during the lifetime of St. Patrick.
The village also features the Church of Taughmon, a stone church from the 14th century with a nearby ringfort.
Crookedwood House was formerly a rectory, now a comfortable restaurant with guest rooms and a breathtaking view of the lake, noted for its delicious and unusual culinary creations.

Athlone

Brian — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 11:43:32 +0000

The town of Athlone is situated on the boundary of Counties Roscommon and Westmeath, along the River Shannon at the southernmost point of Lough Ree.
Proclaimed by the local government as belonging completely to County Westmeath, the town’s Irish name is Baile A’tha Luain, which translates to ‘ford of Luan’. Athlone was historically known as an important river crossing point, in fact, the only feasible ford for miles in either direction.
In the 12th century, a wooden bridge across the Shannon was erected, and Turloch Mor O’Conor constructed a fort to guard the crossing area. Later in the century, after periodic battles at the site, the Anglo Normans erected a fort in the motte-and-bailey style. A stone castle was finally built here in 1210 by John deGray.
Today’s Athlone is a thriving commercial centre, hosting major companies such as Ericcson, and is home to the popular Athlone College of Technology.
Leisure activities include visiting the many nearby historical attractions, and participating in river cruises and water sports on Lough Ree.

Wellbrook Beetling Mill

Brian — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:54:35 +0000

The last water-driven beetling mill to survive in Northern Ireland, the Wellbrook Beetling Mill is now a museum dedicated to preserving the old-fashioned linen making process. The term “beetling” refers to the often-noisy process of water-powered hammers pounding the linen cloth to give it a smooth finish.
Located in a scenic wooded area near Cookstown and the Ballinderry River, the mill features guides in costume who conduct demonstrations of the workings of the mill and the actual making of linen.
Built by a family named Black around 1760, the two-story structure once housed seven beetling engines. Two of these remain in working condition. The National Trust now owns the facility.
The surrounding land is popular for nature walks and picnicking by the river. The original mill keeper’s house stands next door.

Strabane

Brian — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:45:59 +0000

Strabane is one of the larger towns in County Tyrone, rich in history and natural beauty. Its Irish name is an Straith Bhan, which translates into Fair River Valley, or White Strand.
The town includes two castles that were built and occupied around strange circumstances. Ogilby’s Castle was intended as the home of James Ogilby, but he decided to forego the family fortune for love of a girl who worked at a local factory. The regal home, built in 1860, was never occupied by the couple, which eloped and moved away to Derry.
Earl’s Gift Castle was begun in 1629 by Sir John Drummond in anticipation of his wedding to a French lady, but he died in a mishap at sea, and his wedding gift castle was never completed. It remains in its unfinished state to this day.
Also found in the Strabane area are the 14th century O’Neill castle known as Harry Avery’s Castle, and a ruin at Newtonstewart called Turlough’s Castle.
Strabane offers various cultural events throughout the year. The educational American Trail Tour traces the regional origins of prominent Irish-Americans, including James Knox Polk, who became the eleventh president of the United States. The tour passes through Polk’s ancestral home, which features a walled garden created in the 1700’s, a tearoom and a craft shop that displays the works of local artisans.
The American Trail Tour also includes the abode of Woodrow Wilson’s grandfather James. The president’s grandfather lived in this traditional thatched cottage, now open for public viewing.
An unforgettable feature in the town is the collection of five steel figures known by locals as the Tinneys. They stand 20 feet tall and were designed by Maurice Harron and erected at the border with Donegal on the site of what was once a British army base. There are two dancers, a flute player, a drummer and a fiddler.
During the period from the 1970s into the 1990s, Strabane was the location of many bombings, riots and attacks related to the Troubles. The permanent military presence of past decades is no longer necessary.

Carrick on Suir Heritage Centre

Brian — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 10:55:50 +0000

This centre dedicated to the history and culture of southern County Tipperary is located in a restored Protestant church. The site was formerly occupied by Carrick Mor church, prior to the Reformation.
The town itself was originally called Carrig Mac Griffin, and was actually located on an island until the small rivers surrounding it were diverted, leaving the town only bounded by the Suir. Its records date back to 1247, when it was occupied by the Bottiler family, whose name later became Butler. The family was responsible for most of the large buildings located in the town, and later, in the 1600s, they initiated the wool industry here.
The following centuries witnessed the development of leather tanning, dairy and manufacturing industries, and the Heritage Centre displays relics of these phases of Carrick on Suir history. It also features a plate collection from Butler church and a Tourist Information Centre.
The adjoining churchyard contains many older graves, including the monument to Thomas Butler, the illegitimate son of the 10th Earl of Ormond of the same name. Also buried here is Dorothea Herbert, daughter of a rector, who wrote Retrospections. She lived from 1170-1829.

Dundrum Plantarum

Brian — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 10:55:09 +0000

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 and fairy forts. Water displays are also featured, such as waterfalls and lakes stocked with decorative species of fish.
The plantarum is located near historic Dundrum Village and is inhabited by large numbers of birds and native wildlife. There is also a garden centre on the premises.

Tipperary Town

Brian — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 10:52:40 +0000

This farming town sits at the edge of the Golden Vale, a fertile farming plain that covers much of County Tipperary. The name of the town, as well as that of the county, comes from the Celtic ‘Tiobraid Arann’, which means ‘the well of Era’, or the River Ara. Tipperary Town is located on the banks of the River Ara, close to the hills surrounding the Glen of Aherlow, where beautiful climbing trails can be found.
The dairy farming town features an historic old Butter Market and many restored buildings located in the section called New Tipperary. This area was rebuilt by locals at the time of Ireland’s Land War in 1890-91.
Also located in Tipperary— the grave of Robert Emmett’s grandfather at the graveyard of St. Mary’s Church, Dalton’s Heritage House, and a statue of Charles Kickham. He was a 19th century novelist who wrote about forced emigration and how it adversely affected Tipperary in his book, The Homes of Tipperary.
St. Michael’s Church features a haunting stained glass window that pictures a World War I soldier killed during the fighting.
Genealogy buffs should visit the headquarters of Clann na hEirann, a premier research organization that gathers information on various surnames from all over Ireland.

Dromineer

Brian — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 10:46:57 +0000

Dromineer is a small town in the Shannon River Region of North Tipperary. Formerly called the Port of Ormond, it is famous for its harbour and marinas, and as the headquarters of the Lough Derg Yacht Club. The club was formed in 1836, making it the third oldest organization of its kind in the entire world.
Visitors enjoy cruises on the lake, overlooked by a 13th century castle that once belonged to the O’Kennedy clan. They also enjoy sunbathing, windsurfing and water skiing, as well as visiting the attractions on nearby piers.

The Suck Valley Way

Brian — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 10:42:39 +0000

This oval shaped walking trail travels through the western part of County Roscommon as well as eastern portions of Galway. It also comprises part of the O’Sullivan Beara Trail.
Walkers can enjoy the peaceful beauty of the Irish countryside while following this trail as it passes through forest, field and bog land along the shores of the River Suck and past lakes and streams.
Suck Valley Way also includes numerous sites of archaeological significance, along with villages of friendly townsfolk and a wide variety of plant and animal life.

King House

Brian — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 10:32:55 +0000

On the shores of Boyle River sits the majestic King House, built in 1730 by Sir Henry King. It is an important icon of both period architecture and local history.
The King family moved to Rockingham in 1788, leaving the house to be used as a military barracks for the Connaught Rangers and later the Irish Army.
King House was restored in 1989 by local craftspeople to its original beauty. Impressive features include the main entrance and salon, as well as majestic vaulted ceilings. A large permanent exhibit at the house uses models and visual and sound effects to show what life was like at various stages in the history of the building.
The exhibit, called Kings of Connaught, is divided into four major topical areas:
Kingdom of Connaught – traces history back to the times of kings and powerful clans.
The King Family – chronicles the influence of the family and descendants from the arrival of Sir John King at Boyle in 1603.
Restoration – this area of the display uses models to demonstrate the techniques used to restore an actual room and furnishings at King House.
The Military Years – this area depicts the lifestyle of members of the military who lived here from 1788 until the modern era.