Heritage Sites Of Ireland

The Heritage Sites of Ireland offer a splendid opportunity to visit the sites designated by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands as important monuments, inland waterways, parks, gardens and nature reserves of the Irish people. There are over sixty unique places to visit and experience and to learn a tremendous amount of the unique history of this wonderful country.

Don't think that these sites are only old buildings and castles. Not at all! They run the gamut from gardens to castles to arboretums, and of course, castles.

Just in the Dublin area it's possible to visit a fine neo-classical building from 1759 (Casino); one the largest unoccupied gaols - jails - in Europe (Kilmainham Gaol); a 10th/11th Century round tower, medieval belfry and 19th Century church (Lusk Heritage Center); the only remaining medieval parish church in Dublin (St. Audoen's Church); and the National Botanic Gardens.

Go for a short drive and day trip northeast of Dublin and explore the Hill of Tara, the seat of the High Kings of Ireland and considered to have been the most important center of political and religious power in pre-Christian Ireland. Not far and just south you can discover Trim Castle, the largest Anglo-Norman caste in Ireland, constructed in the 12th and 13th centuries, but more famous as the filming site of the movie Braveheart.

If you're visiting Galway, a short trip away is Athenry Castle, a charming 13th century three-story tower house. When we visited, we were treated to a wonderful video of the history of the castle and surrounding area. Take a short ferry ride from Galway to Inishmore to visit Dun Aonghasa, the largest of the prehistoric stone forts of the Aran Islands.

These are only a few of the fascinating sites throughout Ireland that are more than well worth a visit.

For more information, check out the website: www.heritageireland.ie . You'll find a full listing of the sites, with information about fees and visiting times. You can view all the sites, listed alphabetically or by region. They also offer a card good for a full year of admissions to the sites, priced quite reasonably. As of this writing (April 2007), the cost for an adult is only $21 euro. The family admission rate is $55 euro, and it covers 2 adults and "a reasonable number of children" under 18.

By using these Heritage Sites as your starting point, many fine vacations can be planned.