A visit here is as much to see the wonderful building as it is the art, though there is an excellent collection both inside and around the grounds.
The building is a former home for old soldiers, very similar to Les Invalides in Paris and now beautifully restored after many years of neglect.
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An interesting old house in a beautiful location with Clew Bay on one side and a serenely lovely lake on the other.
There is a virtual theme park in the grounds, which won’t be to everyone’s taste but is terrific fun for kids.
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The work of architect Charles Lanyon, this Victorian castle is built in an ornate Scottish Baronial style and was completed in 1877.
Outside cat lovers will have a good time finding all nine of the cats depicted in mosaic, painting and sculpture in the gardens, from which there is a great view of Belfast.
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The annual pilgrimage here each June is now a devoutly Christian event, but with origins that stretch back to pre-Christian Celtic Ireland.
It’s an area of astonishing natural beauty, so even if you are not there at the time of the pilgrimage is well worth visiting.
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The city of Kilkenny takes its name from this Cathedral, which was built during the early 13th century on the site of an earlier monastic settlement.
The story of Kilkenny is told inside in the graves of the people buried there, while outside the round tour is one of the few in Ireland that visitors can climb.
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The cluster of ancient structures around Bru na Boinne are designated as a World Heritage Site pre-date the pyramids and are extremely sophisticated in their construction.
They also show that the ancient people who built them had extensive knowledge of celestial movements – all of them are aligned to in some way connect with the Summer or Winter solstice.
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Local lore has it that Christopher Columbus prayed in this church, located in Galway city centre, before leaving on the voyage that took him to America.
It’s been in both Protestant and Catholic hands at various times since it was established in 1320, but always at the heart of Galway life.
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Trinity is one of the oldest universities in the world and probably one of the most beautiful, with imposing buildings around huge squares and leafy grounds right in the centre of Dublin.
Most people visit primarily to see the famous Book of Kells, just one of a wonderful collection of precious books in the Old Library.
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Though believed by many Irish Catholics to be associated with saints these wells are actually remnants of pre-Christian Ireland where they are part of the many myths surrounding Celtic Goddesses.
One of the greatest myths is that drinking the water from a Holy Well can cure illness – in fact it’s frequently contaminated and is more likely to cause it.
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Archaeological excavations in Mayo are uncovering new insights into life in Stone Age Ireland, and what they are finding is having an international impact.
Far from being the uncivilised people we assume they were, the people who lived at this place were sophisticated farmers, had well developed tools and even traded internationally. It’s a true eye opener and a must see.
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WB Yeats is one of the most romantic poets ever and this is his ancestral home, a place he dearly loved and where he is buried.
Add lovely unspoiled countryside, good places to stay and eat and not too many tourists and it’s the perfect recipe for a romantic getaway.
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