East Ireland's Castles & Ancient Settlements

Trim Castle is the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland. Hugh de Lacy and his son Walter built it over a 30 year period, finished in 1206.

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Perhaps best known internationally as an outdoor rock/pop music venue, the open-air castle grounds and the main building (serving as a studio) have played host to the likes of U2, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Guns 'n' Roses, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, David Bowie, Queen and REM.

But U2's Unfortgettable Fire is not the only conflagration to have left its mark here. Following a major blaze in 1991, the iconic castle building was closed for restoration until a full decade later.

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Today, guided tours of the castle are popular with visiting tourists who enjoy the famous whiskey tasting here as much as the legendary interiors and ancient ramparts.

An ancient monastic settlement, Glendalough (meaning: Valley of the Two Lakes) presents today's visitors with a chance to walk not only through the idyllic hills of Ireland's East, but also through the rough-hewn landscapes of ancient Irish history. Founded in the Sixth century by St. Kevin, who as a boy was sent to Glendalough where he later returned to found the monastery. His writings, which include the fighting of "knights" at Glendalough, are today understood to mean St. Kevin fighting his own personal temptations. As his fame grew within holy circles, so too did his followers. After St. Kevin's death in 618, the monastery prospered over the following six centuries. At its zenith, Glendalough was one of the most powerful religious centres in Europe.

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The Irish annals, a chronicle of Irish history, contain mentions of raids on the settlement and the deaths of its abbots. By the start of the Fifteenth century, this stronghold was in decline but the stone monuments and buildings remain as evocative and powerful today as they surely must have been then. In 1042, the second-longest Viking longship ever recorded was built using oak timber from Glendalough. Today, there is a replica of the ship, built in 2004, in Roskilde, Denmark. Glendalough is a destination on many of our tours of Ireland.

A thousand years older than Stonehenge, Brú na Bóinne is a huge Neolithic necropolis, built to house the bodies of the social elites who ruled this region of ancient Ireland. Covering a large area, Brú na Bóinne is perhaps best known for three main sites - Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth (Dowth is closed to tourists). A must-see on any Ireland Tour. As well as being older than Stonehenge, Newgrange is also older than the Egyptian Pyramids. It is made up of roughly 200,000 tonnes of rock and other materials. At its widest point, it reaches 279 feet. Built between 3200 and 3100 BC, the majority of the 547 slabs that form the inner passage are thought to have come from sites 5 km away and some coming as far as 20 km away.

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Archaeologists believe that Newgrange would have taken the local Neolithic people a minimum of 30 years to finish. The original purpose of the structure is not clear. Some believe that it was used for burial purposes while others believe that it was used solely as a place of worship. Another theory is, that as the Neolithic people were sun worshippers, and that the sun's rays are perfectly captured through the passageway on the shortest day of the year (the Winter Solstice), that Newgrange was built as a way of paying homage to the sun.

The exhibition at the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre tells the history of Newgrange, Knowth and Dowth. You will find a full-scale replica of the chamber of Newgrange here and a full model of a smaller tomb at Knowth. The visitor centre has recently received a major update.

Perched on the banks of the River Shannon, Clonmacnoise is perhaps the foremost of Ireland's many monastic cities. For those interested in early Christianity, it is a must-see destination. Enclosed within the ancient city walls are various ecclesiastical ruins including a cathedral, seven ancient churches, three high crosses, round towers and the largest collection of Early Christian grave slabs in Western Europe - all remarkably well-preserved and fascinating to anyone, not just those with a special interest in Ireland's religious history.

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The cathedral is perhaps the most logical starting point after the museum. Built in 909AD, it has been significantly altered over the years. The 15th Century Gothic doorway with carvings of St Francis is worth a few minutes of closer scrutiny.

Clonmacnoise's small churches are known as temples; a derivation from the Gaelic teampall. Each has its own distinctive character, and states of preservation vary significantly. Giving each of these sites the attention they deserve, not to mention the many sites outside the city walls, will not be easy for those bringing young families. But, for grown-ups interested in history, Clonmacnoise is a fascinating and vivid realisation of Ireland's past.

The Hill of Tara was once the seat of the High Kings of Ireland. According to legend, a quarter of all the landscape of Ireland can be seen from atop the hill and, at one time, every road in Ireland led there. Before it was used by the High Kings of Ireland, archaeologists believe that the focus of the area was a Neolithic passage tomb, dating back to 3,200 BC. The inauguration stone of the King of Tara, known as the Stone of Destiny, still stands today, in an area known as The Royal Seat.

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The Battle of Tara, which took place on the 26th of May 1798, saw the United Irishmen & Defenders suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of government forces. Two headstones on the hill commemorate the battle.

From 1899 to 1902 the land around the Hill of Tara was extensively excavated by a group known as the British Israelites. The excavations resulted from the group's belief that the Holy Covenant was buried there, based on a connection between the Bible, Ireland and Egypt. Nothing of interest was found.

Visitors who set off in search of ramparts and turrets are likely to walk past Dublin Castle in search for something more medieval-looking. So, be warned that there won't be jousting and suits of armour. For 700 years, the bastion of British rule in Ireland, the castle is really a Victorian architectural mish-mash, and wouldn't look out of place in London or Paris.

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This is perhaps one of the more sedate attractions you'll find set against Dublin's bustling backdrop, and it's certainly not a day out for the kids, but the 45-minute tours are frequent and informative. A visit to the castle will appeal to anyone who has a keen interest in Irish history.

Leap Castle is privately owned by Irish musician, Sean Ryan, who has been restoring the property since he bought it in the early 1990s. Said to be haunted by a sadistic chieftain, the original 16th century fortress is mostly ruins. But the Ryan family have filled the main house with historical artefacts from around the globe, providing a fascinating basis for the rich and informative tours which Sean is happy to offer in person.

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This may be among Ireland's more eccentric castle tours but very few guests leave disappointed, having received a warm Irish welcome into what is ultimately a private family home.

Rock of Dunamase has a rich, many-layered history. Believed to have been first settled by Christians in the Sixth Century, it was invaded by Vikings in 842AD. The Tenth and Eleventh Centuries then saw the site lie vacant before the castle, whose ruins crown the Rock today, was built in the second half of the Twelfth Century.

If a fascinating history brings first-time visitors here, it's the amazing views that bring them back. The hilltop location presents a series of stunning panoramas which, on a clear day, are truly breathtaking.

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Amateur photographers will be glad they packed their cameras in a location which is a dream for anyone with an eye for a creative shot.

Visitors to Loughcrew Cairns will be glad they put on their walking boots and climbed up to find these ancient neolithic burial chambers that seem to reach skyward from their hilltop location. The burial chambers date back to 3300BC and feature stone carvings as well as rock paintings.

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Those looking to connect with the spirituality of this ancient site will be struck by how much quieter it is than Newgrange, its more tourist-friendly cousin. For everyone else, the quiet here is still very much a positive as you drink in the stunning views on offer here.