Christ Church Cathedral

Christ Church is officially claimed as the seat (cathedral) of both the Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic archbishops of Dublin. The cathedral was founded probably sometime after 1028, with a complete rebuilding in the 1180's. The cathedral was extensively renovated and rebuilt from 1871 to 1878. Christ Church also contains the largest cathedral crypt in Britain or Ireland, constructed in 1172-1173, but renovated in the early 2000s. It contains the mummified remains of a cat and a rat that were trapped in the organ.

Dublin Castle

Dublin Castle was first founded as a major defensive work on the orders of King John of England in 1204 and was largely complete by 1230. Extensive rebuilding transformed it from medieval fortress to Georgian palace. No trace of medieval buildings remains above ground level today, with the exception of the great Record Tower (ca. 1228-1230); Its battlements are an early 19th-century addition.

St. Patrick's Cathedral

Saint Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin, also known as the National Cathedral and Collegiate Church of Saint Patrick, Dublin, was founded in 1191 and built between 1191 and 1270. Little now remains of the earliest work beyond the Baptistry. It is the largest church in Ireland and one of Dublin's two Church of Ireland cathedrals. In 1769 the cathedral spire (43 metre, 140 ft) was added.

Boyne Valley - Celtic Heritage Tour

Hill of Tara and Bective Abbey

The Hill of Tara is the most sacred site in ancient Ireland and the seat of the High Kings. Getting its name from Teamhair na Ri meaning the Sanctuary of the Kings, Tara is the traditional inauguration site of the ancient High Kings and historically the most important site in Ireland.

The abbey at Bective was founded in 1147, though much of the remaining ruins date from the 15th century. Bective Abbey was one of the country's most important monastic settlements. The abbey closed after its suppression under Henry VIII. Due to its castle-like qualities, the site was also chosen as a location for the 1995 film 'Braveheart'.

Trim Castle

Trim Castle, the largest Anglo-Norman castle in Ireland, was constructed over a thirty-year period by Hugh de Lacy and his son Walter. Construction of the massive three storied Keep, the central stronghold of the castle, was begun c. 1176 on the site of an earlier wooden fortress.

Monasterboice

Monasterboice is home to an impressive collection of ruins and is most famous for its spectacular high crosses, especially the cross of Muineadach, an outstanding example of high crosses of the early Christian period, noted as being the tallest in Ireland. It is monolith, 5 metres high, which features many detailed scenes from the Bible. The crosses stand in the shadow of a magnificent Round Tower, about 300 metres high. Monasterboice was a thriving centre of religion and learning until 1142, when the Cistercians arrived at the nearby Mellifont Abbey.

St. Peter's Church, Drogheda

St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church in Drogheda Town was constructed using local limestone in 1884. The site previously housed a church built in 1791 and parts of that structure were incorporated into the present building, The church is famous for housing the shrine of St. Oliver Plunkett. He was hanged for treason in 1681. Pope Paul VI declared him a saint in 1973, and his preserved head forms the centrepiece of the shrine.

Antrim Coast - Northern Ireland

Dunluce Castle

Dunluce Castle is one of Northern Ireland's most iconic historic monuments, perched on the north Antrim coastline on a dramatic rocky promontory. This strong defensive location has seen occupation for over 1000 years. The dramatic history of Dunluce is matched by tales of banshees, mermaids and the story of how the castle kitchens fell into the sea one stormy night in 1639. Dunluce is also regarded as the possible inspiration for Cair Paravel in C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia.

Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

Suspended almost 100 ft (30 m) above sea level, the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge was first erected by salmon fishermen 350 years ago. Today it attracts thousands of thrill-seekers (and birdwatchers!) to the North Coast every year. The 65 ft (20 m) bridge, stretches from the mainland to 'Rocky Island', where there are fantastic views of Rathlin Island, Scotland and the Causeway Coast. Looking down there is a bird's-eye view of the clear, green water flowing around the ancient caves and caverns far below.

Giant's Causeway

60 million years ago magma from deep inside the earth spewed through cracks in the surface. It cooled in contact with air and rock, hardening into basalt. When the earth cracked open again and more lava forced its way out, the lava cooled slowly and evenly in a deep pool. Cracks travelled through the cooling rock, creating the columns that stretch up and make the honeycomb pattern seen today. There are over 40,000 columns at the Giant's Causeway, most are six-sided, but others have fewer or more sides.

Beaghmore Stone Circles and Tombs

Beaghmore is a complex of early Bronze Age megalithic features, stone circles and cairns. The stone circles and cairn are attributed to the earlier part of the Bronze Age c. 2,000-1,200 BC. Three of the stone rows point to the sunrise at the time of the solstice and another is aligned towards moonrise at the same period. Because of the number of stone cairns on the site it is possible that at least part of the function of the site was burial. Some cairns have been found to hold cremated human remains.