17 Jul Ardglass, County Down
Ardglass is a fishing village and small resort to the southeast of Downpatrick. It occupies the site of a Viking settlement, and its importance in medieval times is attested by the remains of five 14th– 16th century, fortified merchants’ houses: King’s Castle, Margarets Castle, Cowd Castle, Horn Castle, and Jordan’s Castle. Jordan’s Castle houses the F. J. Bigger collection of antiques.
In Ardtole are the ruins of a medieval church dedicated to St Nicholas of Myra. A cross-slab from here is preserved at Dunsfort Catholic church to the northeast.
To the southwest is Killough, a well laid out fishing village. Near St John’s Point, St John’s Well and remains of a pre-Romanesque church mark an early monastic site. The older graves in the churchyard were disposed radially, as at Kilnasaggart and Kildreenagh.
Ardglass is a hidden gem and worth a visit on your Ireland tours.