Choose Ireland » Visitor Centres

The Book of Kells

Michael Heraghty — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:39:46 +0000

The Book of Kells remains, after many centuries, one of Ireland’s most popular attractions. Housed at Trinity College in Dublin, people willingly stand in long queues; waiting to see just a portion of one of the most richly decorated manuscripts on earth.
The Book of Kells is named for the town where it was discovered in County Meath, northeast of Dublin. It was here that Saint Columba established a monastery sometime during the sixth century. Three hundred or so years later, a group of monks arrived from Iona, in Scotland, seeking a safe place to reside after being routed by the Danes.
They remained at the monastery at Kells, where they are said to have completed the illustrated and “illuminated” manuscript of the four Gospels in Latin. It was discovered, strategically hidden for safe keeping, in an area bog and removed to Trinity College during the 17th century.
The manuscript of the Book of Kells is filled with symbolism and intricately detailed medieval art. The text is written in flowing Celtic script filled with skilled calligraphy and embellished with human and animal characters. The drawings are rich in symbolism, which scholars have spent years interpreting. Portraits of each of the evangelists precede their gospels. Analysis of the dyes used to add color to these impressive works of art has determined that they came from as far away as the Middle East.
The Book of Kells can be found at the Old Library at Trinity College in Dublin, where visitors can examine the original pages, on display in groups of just a few at a time. A copy of the entire manuscript can be seen at Kells, in St Columba’s Church, which is open to the public on a daily basis.

Mullingar Bronze and Pewter Centre

Brian — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 11:53:05 +0000

Pewter craft has been in existence for more than 800 years in Ireland, and it is still practiced at Mullingar Bronze and Pewter Centre.
In the earliest times, pewter was popular for use in making candlesticks, cups, plates and other tableware. It was originally used mostly by the rich, popular at castles and in homes of the powerful. As the craft spread, fine pewter was used by more common folk and in taverns and pubs.
At Mullingar Bronze and Pewter Centre, visitors can tour the facility and visit the workshop where fine pewter creations are still molded and hand finished. Bronze items are also made, and gifts for every occasion are available in both pewter and bronze.

Athlone Castle and Visitors Centre

Brian — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 11:45:46 +0000

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 siege in 1691.
The Castle at Athlone was extensively fortified during the Napoleonic years. It is now a national monument, after serving for centuries as a renowned military barracks.
The modern visitor centre is located in the guardhouse, offering tourist information and a wide variety of souvenirs in its charming shop. The walls of the castle that survive from medieval times are enclosed in glass to preserve their integrity.
A tour of the exhibitions might include an introduction to Athlone and the Castle itself, as well as a dramatic audiovisual presentation that recounts the story of the Siege of Athlone.
Exhibits focus on John McCormack, also known as Count McCormack, who lived from 1184 to 1945. He was a famous tenor from Athlone, and his life and performances are presented in short film. Various personal items, including his gramophone, sit on display at the museum.
Military history is explained from the viewpoint of the Irish Army as a peacekeeping force for a period of nearly 300 years. One display includes models of soldiers dressed in authentic uniforms that once walked the streets of Athlone, which was long regarded as a prominent military town.
A local history section, located in the polygon-shaped keep, houses extensive natural history exhibits of animal and plant life along the River Shannon. Other exhibits include information about archaeological finds in the Shannon Basin and a short history of transportation and hydroelectric power production along the river.
A tearoom containing an art gallery is a relaxing and esthetically pleasing place for visitors to relax and take a break from their travels. Views from points all around the castle are noteworthy, as well as guns from the 18th century that still outfit the fortress.

Tyrone Crystal

Brian — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:33:43 +0000

Tyrone Crystal Factory at Dungannon specializes in making one-of- a- kind pieces. Visitors to the facility can witness the entire process, watching as the crystal objects mouth blown, and then cut and finished by hand.
The state of the art factory that stands here today has a long history of craftsmanship. It was founded in 1771 in a nearby, still standing glasshouse, by Father Austin Eustace to help local youngsters learn a profitable trade and make their living. They began to learn their craft as a small group using makeshift tools.
In later years, once an actual factory and furnaces were built, a master glass blower from Austria came to Tyrone to pass on his art. Tyrone Crystal then moved into the circle of world-class artisans, where the company remains to this day.
The company currently enjoys the convenience of a modern factory, where all operations are housed under the same roof. Tyrone Crystal gained the distinction of ISO 9000 for its quality products in 1988.
Highly skilled artisans are employed here, and as many as 26 of them may be involved in the creation of one unique crystal masterpiece. Visitors come from places near and far, take the tour, and then enjoy shopping at the craft centre located on the factory premises.

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.

Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre

Brian — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 11:36:50 +0000

Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey is famous across Ireland and around the world. This centre focuses on the distilling process of Tullamore Dew and another local product, Irish Mist liqueur.
Visitors are taken along on a guided tour of the facility and offered a sample of Tullamore Dew at the end of the outing.

Trim Visitor Centre

Brian — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 11:57:16 +0000

Housed in the Old Town Hall Building, the centre’s main attraction is a featured audiovisual presentation called The Power and the Glory. Here, visitors can learn more about life in medieval Trim and Meath County, as well as more about how the coming of the Normans affected the area.

Kinsale

lisa — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 13:48:30 +0000

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 suit all budgets.
Kinsale is also a popular place for activities such as golf, sea angling, yachting and Dolphin and Whale Watching trips. There are also a number of art galleries and craft shops scattered around the town. During the summer months Kinsale is host to a number of Regattas and Festivals. The town lies between the hills and the seafront, and is a maze of colourful buildings and narrow winding streets. The perfect place for exploring, it has barely changed in a 100 years.
A garrison town for over 300 years, the Battle of Kinsale was fought in 1601 and was a turning point in Irish History. The harbour is guarded by two fortresses built in the 17th century. A guided tour of Charles Fort is a must see, as are trips to Desmond Castle (now a wine Museum), the museum at the old Courthouse, St Multoise Church (which is still in use) and The Almshouses. The Lusitania was sunk off the Head of Kinsale in 1915, and a visit here is recommended for the outsanding cliff top views.

Carrick-on-Shannon

Brian — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 14:21:20 +0000

Carrick-on-Shannon is the county town of Leitrim, also its largest town and centre for commerce, trade and tourism. It is currently the boating capital for the inland waterways of the Irish midlands, featuring a number of modern harbours and marinas. The regional office of the newly created All Ireland Waterway Authority is located here as well.
Historically, Carrick-on-Shanon was a huge trade depot for all sorts of goods coming in from the ports of Limerick, Athalone and Dublin. The depot received building supplies, hardware, and large quantities of Guinness stout. When the Grand Canal Company closed in 1960, trade in this area as a major economic force declined.
The trade business was soon replaced by tourism, as the River Shannon and connecting lakes and waterways became the centre for holiday cruises. Cruise companies took advantage of the area’s unspoiled natural beauty to build a paradise for boaters and anglers. Visitors enjoy a variety of cruises that depart from this gateway to the almost 300 miles of continuous lakes and rivers that extend from Belleek in County Fermanagh to Killaloe in County Clare. The waters are peaceful, clean and quiet, making this region a popular vacation destination.
Famous Residents of Carrick-on-Shannon include John McGahern and M.J. McManus. John McGahern, an internationally recognised author, was educated at Presentation Brothers’ College for a career in teaching.
M.J. McManus was born in Carrick-on-Shannon at the Workhouse, which is now St. Patrick’s Hospital, in 1887. His parents were members of the Workhouse staff. He was an avid student of history and left town to study at Farnham College and at London University. McManus taught briefly and then turned to writing, and was a contemporary of Yeats, Shaw, Chesterton and other famous scribes of the period.
In 1916, he returned to Ireland and did much of his writing in and for the benefit of his homeland. His accomplishments include – founding editor of the Irish Free Press, author of its “This Happened Today” section, published poet, and biographer of DeValera. He spent the rest of his career in Irish journalism, and died in 1951. His grave is located at Glasnevin Cemetery in Dublin.

Lullymore Heritage and Discovery Park

Brian — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 14:21:15 +0000

From replicas of ancient dwellings to walks though the surrounding boglands, this park is situated on a small island within the Bog of Allen, the country’s largest peatland.
The park was officially opened in 1993 by Mary Robinson. It focuses on the history of Ireland and its people, spanning a time period of nearly 9,500 years.
Displays and Topical Exhibits include:
•A Neolithic Farmstead, complete with the round dwellings, depicting a settlement from 6,000 years ago, where rudimentary crops were grown and animals such as goats, pigs and cows were raised for meat. Accompanying exhibits from this same period include a Celtic Astrology garden and fairy bower from the Newgrange tomb era, when mystic culture was prominent in the lives of the people.
•The Early Christian Visitor Centre, which focuses on the times of great transformation from the mystic to the Christian beliefs. It tells the story of Erc, the druid, who met up with St. Patrick, was converted and built a large monastery at Lullymore. The exhibit items flesh out the story – a stained glass window depicting Erc himself, an oak model of an early monastic settlement, materials on St. Brigid, who was associated with Erc, and a replica of Ogham Stone, the oldest example of Irish writings.
•The 1798 Exhibition depicts the life of John Doorly, a Lullymore man who went on to join the United Irishmen in County Kildare, and fought in many historic battles of 1798. He built a reputation as a rebel leader, and did not surrender with his men in the summer of 1798, but tried to escape by crossing the River Boyne. He was captured and hung at Mullingar Jail, so quickly that his clothes were still wet from his attempted river crossing.
•The Lullymore Road Train offers visitors an opportunity to view the entire park as well as scenic areas of the Bog of Allen.
•The Famine Commemoration area contains a depiction of a period mud house as a well as a graveyard with 47 model graves built in remembrance of 1847, the year that recorded the highest number of famine deaths in the area.
•The Eviction Scene and Soup Kitchen are contained in an indoor exhibit, complete with audiovisuals explaining the famine and outlining its many effects on the people of the area for generations afterward.
•Various folklore sites are sprinkled through the woodlands, focusing on the mystic beliefs and traditions of the ancient tribes, including the Fairy Bower, a tiny village dedicated to the Tuatha De Danann, a people who supposedly ruled Ireland until they were defeated and changed into fairies, tiny beings that may have been a representation of their otherworldly spirits.