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EVERY CORNER OF Ireland has something unique to showcase – but how much of it have you seen?
TheJournal.ie has been chatting to heritage officers in every part of the country to compile their top five picks that they think you might enjoy visiting this summer.
Heritage includes monuments, archaeological or architectural objects, seascapes, wrecks, geology, inland waterways, gardens and parks.
We are publishing recommendations for every local authority area over the course of a fortnight, along with the details you need to know to plan your visit.
Get motoring!
This neolithic burial site was built over 5000 years ago and involves a cluster of megalithic cairns dotted around the Slieve na Caillaigh hills at Loughcrew.
Within the site, visitors can see ancient markings on the backstone which show how cairns had a clear astronomical purpose. The cairns were discovered in 1863.
Amenities: There is no wheelchair access due to steep terrain. There is a small car park near the site.
Opening hours and costs: The Cairn T site is open daily from 10am-6pm FREE of charge and tours can be arranged in advance. To visit the site a key must be taken from Loughcrew gardens nearby.
Kells is an early Christian monastic site which was dedicated to St Colmcille and became the birthplace of the book of Kells.
Here visitors can see a round tower, while the heritage centre offers interactive exhibitions.
Amenities: There are toilets on site and wheelchair access.
Opening hours and costs: Admission is FREE and the centre opens daily from 9.30am-5.30pm.
3. Trim Castle
This medieval town contains the large castle built by Hugh de Lacy and his son over a 30 year period beginning in 1176.
Visitors can explore the grounds and the keep during the guided tour and there is a heritage centre on site.
Amenities: There are toilet and car parking facilities on site. There is wheelchair access to the grounds only.
Opening hours and costs: The castle is open daily from 10am-5pm. Guided tours are €5 per adult, senior/group €4, child/student €3 and family €13.
The site was used for crowning kings during the Iron Age and medieval period and was seen as the symbolic capital of Ireland.
The site is an important archeological site and was used as a burial site during the Bronze Age.
It is linked to figures of Irish mythology such as Fionn mac Cumhaill and Cormac Mac Airt.
Amenities: There is no wheelchair access due to steep terrain and there is a visitors’ centre on site.
Opening hours and costs: The hill is FREE to visit and accessible daily while the visitor centre is open 10am-6pm.
5. Brú na Bóinne, Newgrange
Built 5000 years ago, the ancient burial site contains carved stone artwork and archaeological investigations have revealed much about life and death in prehistoric Ireland.
The visitor centre has exhibitions that describe the society that created the neolithic tombs, from their homes to their dress, food, tools and weapons.
Amenities: The visitor centre is full accessible while the monuments are unsuitable are wheelchair users.
Opening hours and costs: The site is accessible daily from 9am-7pm and admission is €7 per adult and €16 for family to access the visitor centre exhibition and Newgrange. Booking in advance is advised.
Thanks to Meath County Council heritage office for recommendations.
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Lived there for many years. Left after 3 muggings……1 at knifepoint. Most knife crime there is focused in a certain community but people and police are reluctant to point this out as they fear being called racist
Stab capital London. No end in sight
@GloryManUnited2019: it was never as bad here as it is there in fairness!
@Dave Dublin: Be fair Dave, Not all English people are like that.
That’s what you call a scatter gun approach.
That would be justified if the victim had 39 stab wounds
@Paul: one is guilty the others are preventing the police from finding out the truth. They be charged with, with holding evidence, interfering with an investigation etc.
@Paul: what a stupid comment…..
@Jim Buckley Barrett: One or more may the alleged attacker/s. No guilty until tried and convicted
@Paul: be
@Pat O Brien: I hope the victim recovers but I think arresting 39 people at a party who may know nothing is a bit excessive
@Paul: or who may know everything
@Paul: all were in proximity to the alleged attackers and all refused to cooperate, which makes all potential accessories after the fact.
39 people arrested for attemped murder. Sounds like the plot of an Agatha christie novel.
How big was the knife?
Was he Julius Caesar?
Arrested 39 people my arse.
@Bluey: your point? Try and use full meaningful sentences.
@Jim Buckley Barrett: Did it upset you Jim?
@Bluey: are you implying that they didn’t in fact arrest 39 people and despite initially refusing to cooperate that they all then simultaneously had a change of heart and voluntarily accompanied the police to various stations to give statements?
@Jim Buckley Barrett: I think his point could be he believes the police to be economical with the truth. That’s what the “39 my arse” would indicate to me anyway could be wrong like
have your say