A Brief History of Ireland

The Celts arrived in Ireland somewhere around 300 BC and ruled the country for next 1000 years, leaving behind marks of their art and culture which can be found even today. Christianity came to Ireland only around the 3rd and 5th centuries. The Vikings ruled from the 8th century onwards until it became a part of the English kingdom in 1169. A long struggle for independence ensued until in 1922, after the Irish War of Independence, the southern twenty-six counties of Ireland seceded from the United Kingdom (UK) to become the independent Irish Free State, and after 1948, the Republic of Ireland. Six counties in the north east known as Northern Ireland remained part of the UK but instability in the North began to reveal itself in the 1960s. For many years, there was violent conflict between those campaigning for a united Ireland and those wishing to stay in the United Kingdom and this came to be known as the Troubles. Irish governments have sought the peaceful reunification of Ireland and have usually cooperated with the British government. On July 28, 2005, the Provisional Irish Republic Army (PIRA) announced the end of its armed campaign and on September 25, 2005 international weapons inspectors supervised the full disarmament of the PIRA.

ras an Uachtarin ras an Uachtarin, formerly the Viceregal Lodge, is the official residence of the President of Ireland. It is located in the Phoenix Park on the northside of Dublin. Carlingford, Co Louth Carlingford is situated on the shores of Carlingford Lough, directly across from Co. Down. The preservation of its medieval character has ensured it to prevail among Irelands finest Heritage Towns. Its many archetectural features include the Thosel, the Mint, Taaffes Castle and the Dominican Friary. The combination of a medieval past with modern conveniences makes Carlingford an essential place to visit. King John's once might fortress, now in ruins, commands the entrance to the lough. The town itself is a huddle of old streets, which grew around the castle. Carlingford was a wealthy place during the Middle Ages, famed from its oysters. The town is a recommended place to start the 19-mile Tin Trail, which heads northwest through thick forest and returns from the southwest along the ancient Golyn Path between the peaks of Slieve Foye and Barnavave. Drumlane Round Tower Drumlane Church and Round Tower were part of an Augustinian abbey foundation. The siting of the monastery was inspired, as the 14th century church and earlier tower are beautifully situated between Drumlane and Derrybrick lakes. An unusual feature of the Round Tower is the engraving of a cock on the north face, thought to symbolise the resurrection. The present buildings occupy the site of a 6th century monastery founded by St. Mogue, a pupil of St David of Wales. The oldest building on the site is a round Tower with round-headed door way and windows. On the north face, about six feet above the ground, are much weathered carvings of birds (cock and hen?). Beside the tower stands a medieval church, possibly late 13th century in date, though much altered in the 15th century. The west doorway preserves some fine stonework. Unusual features are the heads (probably 15th century) of bishops or abbots, a king and others on the outer side of the door and windows. The first monastery here was founded in the Early Christian period, but in medieval times it was taken over by the Augustinian Canons from Kells. In 1431 an appeal was made for alms to build a cloister and refectory, and some of the church probably dates from this period of building. The western half of the church, however, may at least part date from the 17th century.

Cliffs of Moher, Co. Clare on the west coast of Ireland are one of the most outstanding coastal features of Ireland and bigest Tourist Attraction. The cliffs are located just south from the Village of Doolin. Rising slowly from Doolin they ascend to over 700 feet (213 metres) stretching south for nerarly five miles (8km) to Hags head. Being almost vertical, their sheer drop into the heaving Atlantic ocean is a haven for sea birds. One can see the Aran Islands, Galway Bay, as well as The Twelve Pins and the Maum Turk Mountains to the north in Connemara and Loop Head to the South, the top is never tiresome. The Cliffs of Moher is home to a hugh number of nesting seabirds. These include the Atlantic Puffin, Razorbuill, Chough and Common Gull. The area is designated as a Refuge for Fauna since 1988 and as a Special Protection Area for Birds (SPA) under the EU Birds Directive in 1989. St Finbarrs Cathedral Built in 1865, the cathedral remains to be one of Corks most famed landmarks. The cathedral is based on William Burgess French gothic style design. Burges gave the cathedral a Resurrection Angel, made of coppper and gold leaf as a gift and it is located on the pinnacle of the sanctuary. There is a local superstition which states that if ever the angel is to fall from the roof of the Cathedral, this would signify the end of the world. The Church of Ireland (protestant) Cathedral is located in one of the cities oldest areas. It it is notable for its use of various local limestones and for the contribution of its memorable collection of spires to the skyline of the city. On your visit to Cork, make it your business to see the Cathedral as it really is a beautiful spot. Drombeg Stone This lovely recumbent stone circle is locally known as the Druid's Altar, and is located on the edge of a rocky terrace with fine views to the sea about a mile away. The word Drombeg means 'the small ridge'. Of the original 17 pillars of smooth-sided local sandstone erected in a circle of 9.5m (31ft) in diameter, only 13 remain. To the left of the north-east entrance is a portal stone 2.2m (7ft 2in) high; its opposite is the 1.9m (6ft 10in) long recumbent which has two eggshaped cup-marks (one with a ring around it). The circle stones have been shaped to slope upwards to the recumbent itself. The midpoint of this stone was set in line withthe winter soltice sunset viewed in a conspicuous notch in the distant hills; the alignment is good but not precise. Excavations in 1957 and 1958 revealed cremated bones in a deliberately broken pot wrapped with thick cloth and buried near the centre of the circle along with 80 other smashed sherds, four bits of a shale and a collection of sweepings from a pyre (recalling similar deposits at the Scottish recumbent circle of Loanhead of Daviot). About 40m (44yds) to the west of the circle are the remains of two stone-built prehistoric huts joined by a common doorway. The smaller has a cooking place 1.5 x 1.1m (5ft x 3ft 6in) on its eastern side; this was still in use in the 5th century AD.

Lough Hyne
A nature lover's paradise, Lough Hyne and its beauty is so enchanting and its marine life so unique and varied, it became Ireland's first and only Marine Nature Reserve in 1979. Lough Hyne Cottage and Lands are also within the proposed National heritage and Scientific Area of Ireland.

Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin In Dublin is the elder of the city's two medival cathedrals, the other being St. Patrick's Cathedral. Saint Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, formally known as The National Cathedral and Collegiate Church of Saint Patrick, Dublin or in the Irish language as rd Eaglais Naomh Pdraig, founded in 1191, is the larger of Dublin's two Church of Ireland cathedrals, and the largest church in Ireland. Ha'penny Bridge The Ha'penny Bridge (Irish: Droichead na Leathphingine), known later for a time as the Penny Ha'penny Bridge, and officially the Liffey Bridge, is a pedestrian bridge built in 1816 over the River Liffey in Dublin, Ireland.[1] Made of cast-iron, the bridge was cast at Coalbrookdale in Shropshire.[2] Sugarloaf Mountain The Garden of Ireland, as Wicklow is known, is just south of Dublin, and makes a lovely day trip from the city. Dominated by the Sugar Loaf Mountain, which overlooks rolling hills covered in heather and gorse, are the lakes and woods of Glendalough, the Lugnaquilla Bog, Blessington lakes, Avondale Forest Park and Powerscourt Waterfall. Dublin-The Long Room Library Trinity College was founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university",[3] and is the only constituent college of the University of Dublin. Dunmore Caves Dunmore Cave is a limestone cave in Ballyfoyle, County Kilkenny, Ireland. It was the site of a Viking massacre in 928. A tourist centre has been established at the site

An evening view on Galway Bay at Oranmore Angling at Tr Beg, Dingle Peninsula, Co. Kerry Interior of Tumulus, Newgrange, Co. Meath King John's Castle Kilkenny Castle Rock of Cashel, Co. Tipperary Waterford Castle River Liffey, Dublin River Shannon-Cruising Rainbow at Dunlewy, Co. Donega Site of the Battle of the Boyne, Co. Meath