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St George’s Church
One of Dublins most beautiful buildings is this deconsecrated church, built by Francis Johnston between 1802 and 1813 in Greek Ionic style. It is topped by an eye-catching, 60m-high steeple modelled on that of St Martin-in-the-Fields in London. Alas, it has fallen into serious disr
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Poulnabrone Dolmen
Also known as the Portal Tomb, Poulnabrone Dolmen is one of Irelands most photographed ancient monuments. The dolmen (a large slab perched on stone uprights) stands amid a swathe of rocky pavements, surprising even the most jaded traveller with its otherworldly appearance; the caps
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Cork City Gaol
This imposing former prison is well worth a visit, if only to get a sense of how awful life was for prisoners a century ago. An audio tour guides you around the restored cells, which feature models of suffering prisoners and sadistic-looking guards. Take a bus to UCC – from there w
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Holy Island
Lying 2km offshore from Mountshannon, Holy Island (Inis Cealtra) is the site of a monastic settlement thought to have been founded by St Cáimín in the 7th century. On the island you will see a round tower that is more than 27m tall. Even with the top floor missing, it remains a lan
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St Brigids Cathedral
The solid presence of 13th-century St Brigids Cathedral looms over Market Sq. Look out for a fine stained-glass window inside that depicts the three main saints of Ireland: Patrick, Brigid and Colmcille. The church also contains the restored tomb of Walter Wellesley, Bishop of Kild
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Glenveagh Castle
This showy castle was modelled on Scotlands Balmoral Castle. Henry McIlhenny made it a characterful home with liberal reminders of his passion for deer-stalking. In fact, few rooms lack a representation – or the taxidermied remains – of a stag.Access is by guided tour only. Cars ar
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Fort Dunree
Fort Dunree is the best preserved and most dramatic of six forts built by the British on Lough Swilly following the 1798 uprising of the United Irishmen (which was supported by France), when fears of a French invasion were at fever pitch.The original fort, built in 1813, now houses
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St Columba
The Protestant church of St Columba, west of Kells town centre, has a 30m-high 10th-century round tower on the southern side. It’s without its conical roof, but is known to date back at least as far as 1076, when the high king of Tara was murdered in its confined apartments.In the
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St Werburghs Church
Lying west of Dublin Castle, St Werburghs Church stands upon ancient foundations (probably from the 12th century), but was rebuilt several times during the 17th and 18th centuries. The churchs tall spire was dismantled after Robert Emmets rising in 1803, for fear that future rebels
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Saltee Islands
Once the haunt of privateers, smugglers and ‘dyvers pyrates’, the Saltee Islands now have a peaceful existence as one of Europe’s most important bird sanctuaries. More than 220 species have been recorded here, most of them passing migrants; the main breeding populations include cho
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Muckross House
This impressive Victorian mansion is crammed with fascinating objects (seventy per cent of the contents are original). Portraits by John Singer Sargent adorn the walls alongside trophy stags heads and giant stuffed trout, while antique Killarney furniture, with its distinctive inla
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Rock of Dunamaise
The Rock of Dunamaise, 6km east of Portlaoise, is an arresting sight: a craggy limestone outcrop rising dramatically out of the flat plains. It offered early settlers a superb natural defensive position with sweeping views across the surrounding countryside. Youll need some imagina
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Slane Castle
Still the private residence of Henry Conyngham, Earl of Mountcharles, Slane Castle, 1km west of the town centre, is best known for its outdoor concerts with massive rock-royalty names: Bon Jovi, Eminem, U2, the Rolling Stones, Madonna and Oasis have all performed over the years.Gui
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Dunsany Castle
You can see how the other 1% lives at Dunsany Castle, 5km south of Tara on the Dunshaughlin–Kilmessan road. The residence of the lords of Dunsany, its one of the oldest continually inhabited buildings in Ireland. Construction started in the 12th century, with major alterations taki
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Holy Trinity Church
Right off Main St and reached through a cast-iron gateway, Fethards Holy Trinity Church and churchyard occupy a captivating time warp. The main part of the building dates from the 13th century, but its ancient walls have been blighted with mortar for weatherproofing. The handsome w
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Knocknarea Cairn
Sligos ultimate rock pile, Knocknarea is popularly believed to be the grave of legendary Queen Maeve (Queen Mab in Welsh and English folk tales). The 40,000 tonnes of stone have never been excavated, despite speculation that a tomb on the scale of the one at Newgrange lies buried b
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Dublinia & the Viking World
A must for the kids, the old Synod Hall, added to Christ Church Cathedral during its late-19th-century restoration, is home to the seemingly perennial Dublinia, a lively and kitschy attempt to bring medieval Dublin to life. Models, streetscapes and somewhat old-fashioned interactiv
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Gallarus Castle & Oratory
One of the Dingle Peninsulas few surviving castles, Gallarus Castle was built by the FitzGeralds around the 15th century. Guided tours can be arranged by phoning in advance. Theres no parking next to the castle.The dry-stone Gallarus Oratory is quite a sight, standing in its lonely
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St Fin Barres Cathedral
Spiky spires, gurning gargoyles and elaborate sculpture adorn the exterior of Corks Protestant cathedral, an attention-grabbing mixture of French Gothic and medieval whimsy. The grandeur continues inside, with marble floor mosaics, a colourful chancel ceiling and a huge pulpit and
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Dowth
The circular mound at Dowth is similar in size to Newgrange – about 63m in diameter – but is slightly taller at 14m high. Due to safety issues, Dowths tombs are closed to visitors, though you can visit the mound (and its resident grazing sheep) from the L1607 road between Newgrange
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