These gardens are on the peninsular of Howth which forms the extremity of the north-east boundary of Dublin. It’s an easy day trip on any tours of Ireland. Howth is prominent in Celtic history and has been inhabited from the earliest times. At a period approximate to the...
This Georgian mansion lies on the shores of Clew Bay if your tours of Ireland take you in that direction. The present house dates from around 1730 (start date) and is built on the site of one of the O’Malleys castles. The O’Malley name is that of...
At Roonagh Quay you can take the ferry to Clare Island. In summer, there are a number of ferry sailings from Roonagh Pier to Clare Island. The boat crossing takes about 25 minutes. In the winter, there are usually only two boats a day (morning and...
Grace was the daughter of a Connacht chieftain. She provided the strongest opposition to foreign rule in the West of Ireland during the 16th century. When Queen Elizabeth the first launched a campaign in 1568 to finally subdue the rebellious West, most of the ruling class, including Graces...
Clare Island, set in Clew Bay, is dominated by two hills, and a square 15th century castle commands the headland and harbour. In the 16th century the island was the stronghold of Grace O’Malley, pirate queen and patriot, who held sway over the western coast....
A few minutes’ walk west of the village, is an irregular battlemented structure dating from 1564, but much restored by Francis Bindon in 1738 (his portrait of Swift hangs in the Castle) and by Morrison and Lutyens (1911) who added the pseudo-medieval west tower. Seat...
Although only 3 miles long, this little island off the coast of Galway has quite varied landscapes. Across the middle is a broad saddle of pasture, divided by stone walls and dotted with conical haystacks. The eastern side has beaches of fine white sand and...
If you’re looking for gold at the end of the rainbow, look no further than the Republic of Ireland. Whether you’re race-horse-crazy, golf-mad, or a dedicated gourmand, love wild and wonderful scenery or prefer life in the City, look no further than a vacation on...
The island lies low in the sea off the Galway coast surrounded by reefs and flanked by uninhabited Inishark. The cliffs on its Western end are wild and windswept but the Eastern end has sheltered beaches. Its turbulent history is recalled by the ruined castle which...
County Mayo is a maritime county in the province of Connacht in the West of Ireland with picturesque scenery and a must see on your tours of Ireland. The third largest county in Ireland , Mayo has a population of 117, 428. It is bordered...