Magical Places: Thoor Ballylee, Co. Galway

This 16^th century tower on the banks of the river Streamstown near the market town of Gort in Co. Galway was once the home of no other than Nobel laureate for Literature and Ireland’s most famous poet, William Butler Yeats.

Magical Places: Cahergall Stone Fort, Co. Kerry

Cahergall is an impressive example of an early medieval stone fort, located in the tranquil landscape of the Iveragh peninsula in Co. Kerry. The name stems from the Irish Chathair Gheal, meaning “the bright stone fort”.

Magical Places: Poulnabrone Dolmen, Co. Clare

This ancient portal tomb, built by Neolithic farmers more than 5,000 years ago, is not only the second largest in Ireland, it’s also one of the best preserved of its kind in the country.

Along the Wild Atlantic Way: Dunguaire Castle, Co. Galway

If the walls of this picturesque medieval tower house could speak, they would tell a colourful tale of Kings and Mayors, well-known poets and the Celtic Revival Movement at the beginning of the 20th century. 

 

Magical Places: Drombeg Stone Circle, Co. Cork

The Drombeg Stone Circle, locally known as the "Druid's Altar", consists of seventeen tall standing stones located amid picturesque fields of green with views of the Atlantic ocean near the fishing village of Glandore in Westcork.

 

Magical Places: The Grianán of Aileach, Co. Donegal

The impressive ringfort on top of the Hill of Greenan is one of the oldest royal sites in Ireland, its history goes back to the Bronze Age and maybe even further... The structure standing there today is only the reconstructed part of what was once a much larger pre-historic complex on top of this prominent hill.

Along the Wild Atlantic Way: Ballybunion Cliff Walk, Co. Kerry

The scenic walk along the Ballybunion Cliffs in North County Kerry offers views of spectacular seascapes and hidden beaches, as well as a bit of local folklore and history. 

Along the Wild Atlantic Way: Burrishoole Friary, Co. Mayo

When Sir Richard de Burke joined the Dominican Order he built a Friary on the tranquil banks of the Burrishoole Channel, a tidal inlet on the north side of Clew Bay. However, in his planning he forgot a crucial detail...

Magical Places: Dunlough Castle, Three Castle Head, Co. Cork

It's hard to imagine a more remote and dramatic setting for a fortress: Dunlough Castle sits perched on the edge of a cliff at the most northerly tip of the Mizen Peninsula in County Cork.

Magical Places: Rathfran Priory, Co. Mayo

On the banks of the tidal Cloonaghmore River where it flows into the Atlantic Ocean lie the remains of Rathfran Priory, also known as the 'Priory of the Holy Cross'. It is one of the earliest monastic foundations in the Province of Connacht.

 

Along the Wild Atlantic Way: The mighty Slieve League Cliffs, Co. Donegal

They are the jewel in the crown of County Donegal: the spectacular Slieve League cliffs are among the highest and most impressive marine cliffs in Europe.

 

Along the Wild Atlantic Way: Banba's Crown, Malin Head, Co. Donegal

Banba's Crown, named after the mythological patron goddess of Ireland, at the tip of Malin Head marks the most northerly point on the irish mainland. The rugged coast is rich in wildlife, has an intriguing maritime history and offers some of the most dramatic panoramas along the epic Wild Atlantic Way.

 

Magical Places: Timoleague Friary in West Cork

Built on the site of an earlier monastic settlement the imposing ruins of Timoleague Friary sit on the banks of the Argideen River where it flows into Courtmacsherry Bay.

The Pirate Queen's fortress - Rockfleet Castle in Clew Bay, Co. Mayo

Rockfleet Castle, hidden away in an inlet on the northern shores of Clew Bay was the stronghold of the infamous Pirate Queen of Connacht - the fearless Grace O'Malley, who didn't just take on the might of the english Navy, but Queen Elizabeth I. herself.

 

Magical Places: The Abbey of the Four Masters, Co. Donegal

The Franciscan Friary overlooking scenic Donegal Bay is best known for "The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland" or the "Annals of the Four Masters" - one of the most important records of the history and mythology of Ireland that was compiled and written down here. 

 

The Battle of Ventry, Co. Kerry

The beautiful stretch of sandy beach nestled in the tranquil horseshoe-shaped Ventry Bay on the Dingle Peninsula is the backdrop for one of the longest and bloodiest battles described in Irish Mythology - the epic "Battle of Ventry". 

 

Carbery's One Hundred Isles, Co. Cork

Scattered throughout Roaringwater Bay in the south-west of Ireland lie Carbery's One Hundred Isles. The name stems from the medieval "Barony of Carbery", a semi-independent kingdom that was once ruled by different seafaring Clans until the early 17th century. Granted, most of the "one hundred" isles are mere rocks, but many of the larger islands are still inhabited and enchant with a mixture of wild romantic solitude, stunning scenery, a rich wildlife and their intriguing history.

Carbery's Isles

Magical Places: Sherkin Island, Co. Cork

Only a short boat ride from the mainland, Sherkin Island feels like a world apart. The tranquil little island lies in Roaringwater Bay on the south-western fringes of Ireland and is a nature lover's paradise: stunning seascapes, cliffs and rocky shores, beautiful sandy beaches, lush woodland and an abundance of wildlife.

 

Cycling around Inis Oírr, Aran Islands, Co. Galway

The Arans - three windswept islands off the west coast of Ireland, on the edge of Europe.  Inis Oírr is the smallest of the three and a great way to explore the island is by bicycle. Join me on a bike trip around Inis Oírr - a place of peace and tranquility.

Sligo Abbey - the Fires and the Shadows

Irish history is full of terrifying and violent events - invasions, battles, raids, enslavement, pestilence, famines,  pillages, blood and thunder. The Dominican Friary of the Holy Cross in the heart of Sligo town has seen all of the above.