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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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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Skellig Micheal off the Kerry coast is a World heritage site, site of an ancient Christian Monastery and an important wild bird sanctuary.
But it’s more than that, it’s an extraordinary place and although the climb to the top is arduous a visit to Skellig Michael is an experience you will never forget.
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The Burren is a unique landscape, a vast limestone plateau stretching inland from the Cliffs of Moher, below which is a subterranean world of caves, rivers and lakes.
In Spring and Summer it is ablaze with flowers, many of them rare, which attract abundant bees, butterflies and birds. There are literally hundreds of megalithic remains here, the most famous being the Poulnabrone Dolmen.
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Once a vast ecclesiastical city, the monastic settlements of Clonmacnoise were among the most important in Europe, and left us a rich heritage of archtecture, art and learning.
Its strategic location on the Shannon, dividing the east and west of Ireland, was a perfect place for such a center of learning, but also made it a target warring Irish tribes and later on invaders, and eventually led to its downfall.
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This beautiful Palladian mansion is one of the finest historic houses in Ireland, and it’s terrible to think how close it came to being lost. That it is in such fine condition to-day is thanks to the devotion of one man – Desmond Guinness.
The house and its occupants have always been at the heart of Irish political, cultural and social life and it’s history is endlessly fascinating. This is a must see.
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The Cliffs of Moher is one of the most visited places in Ireland, featuring on almost every tour itinerary. Once it was remote, lonely and savage place, but a lot has changed with the building of a multi-million Euro visitor centre.
Some would say it’s been spoiled by this centre, and it certainly has lost something, but it’s definitely still worth a visit.
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The natural rock formations of the Giant’s causeway, the result of volcanic activity millions of years ago, are among the most remarkable sights in the world.
If there was only one reason for including Northern Ireland on your tour of Ireland, this would be it – though of course there are many others!
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