Crystal has been made in Ireland since the late 1700s, when the development of lead crystal made it possible to shape and cut glass as never before.
This is a look not just at the history of glass making in Ireland but at the story of how each individual piece of glass is painstakingly made by hand.
Read MoreThis is Ireland’s biggest annual celebration of Irish traditional music, singing and dance and draws massive crowds each year. In 2011 it returns to Cavan for a second year.
While the main events of the Fleadh are competitive – with competitions for instrumentalists, singers, dancers and groups – there is always lots of music on the streets and sessions in just about every pub.
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Killykeen is a large forested area beside Lough Oughter in Co Cavan, which as well as good walks has an interesting ruined castle on an Island and a number of ancient megalithic structure, the largest of which is the Gartnanoul Court Tomb.
The park is in the care of Coillte, the Irish Forestry Board, and is also a popular area with anglers and bird watchers. Admission to Killykeen is free.
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These somewhat strange carvings of women are widely found in Ireland and while in times past people found them horrifying, even disgusting, there is now much interest in them.
Although often found in churches it is generally agreed that they are pre-Christian in origin, but exactly what they signify is not known.
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It’s one of the great tragedies of Ireland that a once extensive local railway network was allowed to disappear.
Some are being restored by bands of enthusiasts, and this is one of the best, a restored narrow gauge railway on which old locomotives run, taking passengers on trips down memory lane, via the local countryside.
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Teddy bear paradise in Ireland at this workshop and exhibition space where visitors can see teddy bears being painstakingly created by hand.
It’s a delight for kids (of all ages!) and a must-see for teddy bear lovers.
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Cavan County Museum will primarily be of interest to those with a connection to the area, but it is a good local museum which tells the story of Co Cavan through many historic items discovered or collected locally.
In addition to the museum there is a good craft shop and a particularly nice cafe that’s worth dropping into if you are in the area.
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Home of the O’Reillys, many of whom still live there, Cavan is at the heart of Drumlin country, an area of low hills and innumerable lakes.
It’s well off the normal tourist trail, though popular with anglers, but visitors who want to experience ‘the real Ireland’ will find it a good place to stay a while.
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