The Ring of Kerry is a hugely popular road route through the southwest of Ireland that encompasses some of Ireland’s best scenery and heritage. Beginning in the town of Killarney, the Ring of Kerry comprises three roads — the N70, the N71, and the R562 — that together form a circuitous route through the Iveragh Peninsula.
Around 5,000 years old, the Hill of Tara was the seat of power for ancient Ireland’s high kings. A high concentration of ancient ceremonial monuments have been uncovered at the location, which has not been thoroughly excavated. Mound of the Hostages is a neolithic passage grave is the oldest monument excavated at the site. Archaeologists believe that it was constructed circa 3000 B.C. The Mound of the Hostages contains a chamber that is designed to capture the light of the rising sun on two specific dates: 1st of February, the pagan festival of Imoblc (which later became St. Brigid’s Day), and 1st of November, the pagan festival of Samhain (which became Halloween).
Built 1,000 years before Stonehenge, Newgrange is Ireland’s best-known prehistoric monument. Located in the Boyne Valley, County Meath, it is arguably Europe’s finest example of a megalithic passage grave. According to the most reliable Carbon 14 dating technique carried out at Newgrange, the structure was erected around 3200 BC, 600 years before the Giza Pyramids in Cairo.
The word Cashel is derived from a Gaelic word meaning “fortress” and it’s not hard to see why. The Rock of Cashel lays claim, with much justification, to the title “most spectacular archaeological site in Ireland”. Situated just outside Cashel town in County Tipperary, this limestone mound rises 200 feet into the air, giving an ominous and towering presence to the fortifications perched on top. These include the ruins of a castle, a cathedral, an abbey, a chapel, a round tower, high crosses and several other structures, all of which are enclosed within an impressive stone wall.
Blarney Castle in Cork is most famous for its “Stone of Eloquence”, known internationally as the Blarney Stone. A castle erected on this site in the 11th century. It is believed to have been a wooden structure, since no evidence remains of it today. Around 1210 A.D. this was replaced by a stone structure, which in turn was destroyed in 1446.It was rebuilt again soon after by Cormac Laidir (meaning Cormac the Strong) MacCarthy, fourth Lord of Muskerry, who died in 1495.
The Giant’s Causeway is a unique and spectacular geological formation.The rocky structure is nestled beneath the sea cliffs of the north Antrim coast.
■ This bizarre structure consists of around 40,000 polygonal rock columns protruding from the sea
■ The tops of the columns form stepping-stones that lead outwards from the cliffs and eventually disappear under the sea
■ Northern Ireland’s number one tourist attraction, the Giant’s Causeway was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986
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