Irish Tourism
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Ancient Rock of Cashel – A fortified myth
Read more: Ancient Rock of Cashel – A fortified mythEach year, as we approach Christmas, many of us will don the charade of Santa Claus for our children, portraying a wonderful joy-wrapped lie. We put out our shortbread and milk, hang up the stockings, possibly even ring a few bells to pretend the reindeers are nearby. The wonder and excitement of our children fuels…
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Highways of Ancient Ireland
Read more: Highways of Ancient IrelandEarlier this summer I watched the road outside my home slowly broken up and resurfaced. The many weeks of hard labour (granted they took far longer than needed), disruption and chaos created, and the army of trucks carrying materials, all got me thinking about how such roads were built and used in our ancient past.…
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Gods of Ireland: The Tuatha De Dannan
Read more: Gods of Ireland: The Tuatha De DannanIf I were to list out the Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Norse cultures, I can almost guarantee that their respective pantheons will come to mind. But if I now add the Irish to this list, I wonder how many would be able to list even one of their gods. Even as someone who grew up…
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Dunseverick Castle – Ulster’s hidden treasure
Read more: Dunseverick Castle – Ulster’s hidden treasureThere are few more iconic sites than the lone, solitary stones of a once great castle standing tall above the sea. Dunseverick, as it is known today, is but a shadow of its former glory. Now a National Trust site, all that remains are but a few stone walls displaced along a small headland –…
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Mount Sandel: Ireland’s ancient beginnings
Read more: Mount Sandel: Ireland’s ancient beginningsTracing our family history has become one of the most popular pastimes across the world. This is particularly true for the many millions (estimates vary between 50-80million) of people claiming Irish ancestry. Meticulous detective work reveals all sorts of fascinating personal histories tracing back generations to their roots. But what about 400 generations? For that’s…
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Newgrange – the prehistoric whodunnit
Read more: Newgrange – the prehistoric whodunnitThe world record for the heaviest weight ever lifted by a human is a staggering 2.4 tonnes. With years of training, specialized dieting, and intensive preparations, this is the greatest weight a single human has ever lifted. And yet, the passage tomb of Newgrange consists of a colossal 97 stone slabs, all weighing more than…
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Fort Navan: Ulster’s Ancient Capital
Read more: Fort Navan: Ulster’s Ancient CapitalThe Tain1 is one of Ireland’s most vivid ancient tales centering around the theft and subsequent conflict over a mighty bull. The famed Ulster hero Cu Chulainn, known as the “Hound of Emain Macha,”2 sets out to reclaim the bull himself, and (after the Ulster army are stricken with a debilitating sickness3) he single-handedly holds…
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The Giant’s Ring: Belfast’s Neolithic Roots
Read more: The Giant’s Ring: Belfast’s Neolithic RootsWhen we look at the ancient stone monuments, thousands of years old, which dot our landscape, it is difficult to truly comprehend what we are seeing, never mind comprehend their significance. There’s no questioning that they have inspired generations of writers, artists, and thinkers: with fantasy genres full of scenes centred around these mysterious sites,…
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The Hill of Tara: Ireland’s Historical Scar
Read more: The Hill of Tara: Ireland’s Historical ScarHistorical landmarks can, in themselves, become symbols and even metaphors for an entire historical period: whether it’s the Coliseum in Rome, the Parthenon in Athens, or the Pyramids in Egypt. These sites take on a character beyond the mere stones and presence they embody, becoming immortalized in the myths, legends, and histories which surround them.…
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Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre
Read more: Battle of the Boyne Visitor CentreGrowing up in Northern Ireland, for many around me the infamous Battle of the Boyne was more akin to a religious doctrine than a historical event. Many worshiped this mysterious figure on a white horse much like they did their saints, more so even. But like any historical event which becomes a political narrative, the…