Home>Ireland

Ireland/Éire

Ireland/Éire is a country and island northwest of continental Europe and east of Britain. Ireland/Éire's ancient and beautiful landscape is varied with lakes, islands, mountains. There is a staggering 1448km of coastline with the Atlantic Ocean on the west coast and the Irish Sea to the east. Ireland has a rich Celtic heritage and due to emigration over the centuries there are many people of Irish-Celtic ancestry living all over the globe. More on Ireland/Éire and its history

Irish-Celtic trails

Our tour of Ireland/Éire takes in many of the most significant Celtic sites and gives you a good overview of this country's rich Celtic history. We start and end the tour in Dublin, which has good links to the other Celtic nations for further travel.

Index of sites on the Irish-Celtic trails

• Leinster Central trail:
  • Dublin, Maynooth Castle, Croghan Hill, Dún Naas, Craddocks Town West Standing Stone, Dún Ailinne, Old Kilcullan High Cross, Athgreany Stone Circle, Glendalough Cross and Deer Stone and Avondale House and Forest Park.
• Leinster South trail:
  • Haroldstown, Rathgall Hillfort, Castledermot High Crosses/St Dairmuids Cross, Moone High Cross, Browne's Hill, Kilkenny Castle, Kells Priory, Kilree Round Tower, Irish National Heritage Park and Dunbrody Abbey
• Munster South trail:
  • Harristown Portal Tomb, Gaulstown Burial Chamber, Ardmore Ogham Stone, Blarney Dolmen Portal Tomb, Blarney Castle/Caisleán na Bhlarna, Glantane Tomb and Stones, Millstreet Country Park and Knocknakilla Stone Circle.
• Munster West trail:
  • Dromagorteen Stone Circle, Kenmare Stone Circle, Staigue Stone Fort, Caherdaniel Stone Fort, Caherdaniel Standing Stone, Eightercua Stone Row, Coom Wedge Tomb, Skellig Michael/Sceilig Mhichil Monastery, Cahergal Stone Fort, Leacanabuaile Stone Fort, Parkavonear Castle, Ross Castle/Caisleán Rois, Kinard East Ogham Stone, Ballintaggart Ogham Stones, Kilfountain Cross Slab, Kilfountain Standing Stone, Colaiste Ide Ogham Stones, Kilcolman Cross Ogham Stone, Dunbeg Stone Fort, Cathair na gConchuireach Stone Fort, Gallarus Oratory and Kilmalkedar Early Christian Sculptured Stone
• Munster North trail:
  • Lough Gur/Loch Gair, Rock of Cashel/Carraig Phádraig, King John's Castle, Bunratty Castle/Caisleán Bhun Raithe, Craggaunowen - The Living Past/Open Air Museum, Knappogue, O'Dea Castle, Parknabbinia Wedge Tombs, Creevagh Wedge Tomb, Cahercommuan Hillfort, Ballykinvarga Stone Fort, Ballyganner South Wedge Tomb, Leamaneh Castle/Caisleán Leamaneh, Caherconnell Stone Fort, Poulnabrone Portal Tomb, Baur South Wedge Tomb, Gleninsheen Wedge Tomb, Ballyallaban Ring Fort/An Rath and Caherdooneerish Stone Fort.
• Connaught West trail:
  • Dunguaire Castle, Tyrone House, Turoe Stone, Aran Islands/Oileáin Árann, The Inchagoill Stone, Ashford Castle, Cong North Stone Circle, Cregduff Henge, Croagh Patrick/Cruach Phádraig, Westport House, Céide Fields/ Achaidh Chéide and Ballyglass Court Tomb.
• Connaught East trail:
  • Ballymote Castle/Caisleán Bhaile an Mhóta, Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery, Parke's Castle, and Creevykeel Court Tomb.
• Ulster Northwest trail:
  • Donegal Castle/Caisleán Dhún na nGall, Dún Alt Promontory Fort, Cloghan More Court Tomb, Glencomcille/Gleann Cholm Cille Folk Village Museum, Kilclooney More Portal Tomb II, Doon Fort/Drumboghill, Barnes Lower Standing Stones, Glenveagh Castle/Caisleán Ghleann Bheatha, Doe Castle/Caisleán na dTuath, Grianan of Ailech, Bocan Stone Circle, Ardmore Muff Stone, Beltany Stone Circle, Castle Coole/Caisleán Cúil, Florence Court, Crom Castle/Caisleán na Croime and Castle Caulfield.
• Ulster Northeast trail:
  • Dunluce Castle/Dún Libhse, Dunseverick Castle/Dún Sobhairce, Kinbane Castle/Caislen Ceinn Bán, Ballyvennaght Portal Tomb, Ticloy Portal Tomb, Olderfleet Castle, Carrickfergus Castle, Belfast/Béal Feirste Castle, Ballintaggart Court Tomb and Ballynahatty/The Giants Ring Henge.
• Ulster Southeast trail:
  • Nendrum Monastery, Strangford Castle, Kilclief Castle/Caislean Cill Cleithe, Portaferry Castle, Quoile Castle, Ballynoe Stone Circle, Margaret Castle, Clough Castle, Dundrum Castle, Wateresk Portal Tomb, Drumena Cashel Stone Fort, Moyry Castle/Caisleán na Maighre, Proleek Portal Tomb and Cloughoughter Castle.
• Leinster North trail:
  • Clochafarmore Standing Stone, Newgrange Stone Circle, Ardcath Sheela-na-gig carvings, Fourknocks Passage Grave, Hill of Tara/Cnoc na Teamhrach, Trim Castle/Caislean Bhaile Atha Troim, Ardgillan Castle, Swords Castle, Malahide Castle, Howth Portal Tomb, Howth Castle, Castleknock Castle, Áras an Uachtaráin and Ashtown Castle.