Heritage Ireland · TheJournal.ie

# heritage-ireland - All time

A ghostly Famine-era village and a Pirate Queen castle: Put Achill on your 'to-do' list

Apr 1st 2018, 8:45 AM 24,658 Views 19 Comments

Archaeologist Neil Jackman explores the historical treasures of Achill Island as part of his new book on the Wild Atlantic Way.

One for the weekend: A trip around the historic Beara peninsula

# Easter Trip

One for the weekend: A trip around the historic Beara peninsula

Mar 30th 2018, 8:00 PM 21,974 Views 12 Comments

Exclusive extract from archaeologist Neil Jackman’s new book about the historical treasures of the Wild Atlantic Way.

9 essential tips for surviving this summer with kids

# The Longest Days

9 essential tips for surviving this summer with kids

Jul 5th 2017, 4:35 PM 5,817 Views 2 Comments

From green fingers to the Lazy Day Rule.

Volunteers are reclaiming this motte and bailey after decades of neglect and bonfires

# Improving Ireland

Volunteers are reclaiming this motte and bailey after decades of neglect and bonfires

Oct 1st 2016, 7:00 PM 13,221 Views 7 Comments

Several sites around Ireland are being ‘adopted’ by their local communities.

No plans for the long weekend? Here's 16 brilliant Irish things to see

# Heritage Ireland

No plans for the long weekend? Here's 16 brilliant Irish things to see

Oct 23rd 2015, 8:30 PM 26,617 Views 10 Comments

No matter where in the country you are…

Poisoned by a priest or an unknown illness? The mysterious death at Lough Oughter

# Heritage Ireland

Poisoned by a priest or an unknown illness? The mysterious death at Lough Oughter

Oct 9th 2015, 9:00 PM 22,433 Views 11 Comments

Plus: the rise of the river Shannon.

The king in 'high spirits' who arrived to Ireland stuffed with goose pie and Irish whiskey

# Heritage Ireland

The king in 'high spirits' who arrived to Ireland stuffed with goose pie and Irish whiskey

Sep 18th 2015, 9:00 PM 17,173 Views 10 Comments

Plus: Being young in the1980s and coveting a football-shaped radio.

The bizarre way this castle protected itself from deadly attackers

# Heritage Ireland

The bizarre way this castle protected itself from deadly attackers

Sep 4th 2015, 9:15 PM 33,545 Views 22 Comments

Plus: a group of aristocratic playboys who drank, caroused and got up to all manner of blasphemy and badness in Ireland.

Brian Boru's 'Island of Churches' is the perfect place to relax and unwind

# Heritage Ireland

Brian Boru's 'Island of Churches' is the perfect place to relax and unwind

Aug 21st 2015, 9:15 PM 18,694 Views 6 Comments

Plus: the ancient monastery of Iniscealtra.

The widowed Máire Rua married Cromwell's junior officer to keep her Burren house

# Heritage Ireland

The widowed Máire Rua married Cromwell's junior officer to keep her Burren house

Aug 7th 2015, 9:30 PM 20,385 Views 5 Comments

Plus: The tomb effigy of Conor O’Brien, King of Munster, who was killed in a battle in 1267.

The doctor who wanted to turn a castle into a mental asylum but blew it up with dynamite

# Heritage Ireland

The doctor who wanted to turn a castle into a mental asylum but blew it up with dynamite

Jul 24th 2015, 8:15 PM 28,955 Views 17 Comments

Plus: The castle owner and King’s manin Carlow who married the Pirate Queen’s granddaughter

One of Ireland's best medieval castles was the scene of a bitter showdown between two brothers

# Heritage Ireland

One of Ireland's best medieval castles was the scene of a bitter showdown between two brothers

Jul 10th 2015, 7:00 PM 45,679 Views 14 Comments

Archaeologist Neil Jackman explores Cahir in Tipperary, home to one of Ireland’s best-preserved medieval castles.

One of Ireland's best high crosses is 1,200 years old and hidden in a small Kildare village

# Hidden Heritage

One of Ireland's best high crosses is 1,200 years old and hidden in a small Kildare village

Jun 26th 2015, 8:30 PM 22,394 Views 13 Comments

Archaeologist Neil Jackman explores a medieval house in Cork and a remarkable high cross in Kildare.

The best medieval statue in Ireland is 8ft tall and in a ruined church in Kilkenny...

# Heritage Ireland

The best medieval statue in Ireland is 8ft tall and in a ruined church in Kilkenny...

Jun 12th 2015, 8:00 PM 28,294 Views 30 Comments

Want to explore Ireland’s history? Archaeologist Neil Jackman has two suggestions for you to visit in Kilkenny.

The huge 17th century fort in Cork where a key battle between two English kings was fought

# Heritage Ireland

The huge 17th century fort in Cork where a key battle between two English kings was fought

May 29th 2015, 8:00 PM 22,658 Views 8 Comments

Archaeologist Neil Jackman explores a huge fort in Kinsale and one of the most exquisite romantic gardens in the country.

"A place of sacrifice": Tour the stone circle that freaked out a 1930s psychic

# Heritage Ireland

"A place of sacrifice": Tour the stone circle that freaked out a 1930s psychic

May 15th 2015, 8:15 PM 32,354 Views 25 Comments

Archaeologist Neil Jackman explores one of the country’s finest stone circles and the quiet final resting place of a remarkable penal times priest.

Ireland's largest Norman castle was built by a womaniser who ended up being decapitated

# Heritage Ireland

Ireland's largest Norman castle was built by a womaniser who ended up being decapitated

May 1st 2015, 9:15 PM 37,473 Views 41 Comments

Archaeologist Neil Jackman explores two of Ireland’s most beautiful castles – Emo Court in Laois and Trim Castle in Meath.

These mysterious caves in a Sligo hillside carry secrets from the Ice Age

# Heritage Ireland

These mysterious caves in a Sligo hillside carry secrets from the Ice Age

Apr 17th 2015, 9:30 PM 39,994 Views 21 Comments

Archaeologist Neil Jackman explores two of Ireland’s most intriguing ancient sites – the Caves of Keash and Dun Aonghasa.

Step from Ireland's pre-Famine past to life in the New World in the Sperrins

# Heritage Ireland

Step from Ireland's pre-Famine past to life in the New World in the Sperrins

Apr 4th 2015, 9:15 AM 13,136 Views 9 Comments

Fancy stretching the legs over the Easter weekend? Archaeologist Neil Jackman has more suggestions for great historical sites to visit around the island of Ireland.

See the house built by Clonmel schoolmasters to show off their love of history

# Heritage Ireland

See the house built by Clonmel schoolmasters to show off their love of history

Mar 21st 2015, 9:15 AM 26,612 Views 5 Comments

The Careys had a round tower, a medieval Norman-style hall and Gothic and Romanesque arches in their palatial 19th century pad.

This dramatic Derry clifftop estate was a magnet for high society

# Heritage Ireland

This dramatic Derry clifftop estate was a magnet for high society

Feb 21st 2015, 9:15 AM 12,349 Views 12 Comments

Archaeologist Neil Jackman finds medieval magic in Limerick and a splendid demesne in Derry.

Ever heard of Darby's Bed? Diarmuid and Gráinne 'slept' here...

# Heritage Ireland

Ever heard of Darby's Bed? Diarmuid and Gráinne 'slept' here...

Feb 7th 2015, 9:15 AM 19,861 Views 19 Comments

Discover this magical ancient site in Co Limerick, and a monastic complex that saved locals from slaughter in Kilkenny as Neil Jackman’s Heritage Ireland returns.

Heritage Ireland: Deserted medieval towns, the Hellfire Club and Lady Rohesia's gem

# Discover Ireland

Heritage Ireland: Deserted medieval towns, the Hellfire Club and Lady Rohesia's gem

Nov 1st 2014, 9:45 AM 18,504 Views 18 Comments

Archaeologist Neil Jackman leaves us for the winter with a bumper trip around Ireland.

Heritage Ireland: This may be the most stunning location for a castle

# Winter Is Coming

Heritage Ireland: This may be the most stunning location for a castle

Oct 18th 2014, 9:45 AM 19,316 Views 28 Comments

Archaeologist Neil Jackman tours Dunluce Castle in Antrim, the ‘least-understood’ of the Boyne Valley tombs, and the wonderful Drumcliff in Sligo.

Heritage Ireland: A born fighter, bloody battles and the castle at the heart of it

# Hidden Ireland

Heritage Ireland: A born fighter, bloody battles and the castle at the heart of it

Oct 4th 2014, 9:45 AM 13,539 Views 4 Comments

Archaeologist Neil Jackman criss-crosses the country to bring you a massive cairn in Sligo, a castle in Antrim with a bloody past, and a dolmen with an interesting supersition…

Heritage Ireland: The church at the crossroads of Dublin's ancient past

# Hidden History

Heritage Ireland: The church at the crossroads of Dublin's ancient past

Sep 20th 2014, 9:15 AM 13,783 Views 7 Comments

St Audoen’s in Dublin city centre stands by the most ancient road into Dublin. (And learn, too, about where the monks from Skellig Michael fled from their lonely rock in the sea.)

Heritage Ireland: Why you need to see the Copper Coast

# Hidden History

Heritage Ireland: Why you need to see the Copper Coast

Sep 6th 2014, 9:15 AM 18,307 Views 8 Comments

Archaeologist Neil Jackman transports us to another batch of wonderful Irish historical gems in Sligo, Dublin – and that incredible southerly Copper Coast.

Heritage Week: Here's how to kick off your weekend

# Heritage Ireland

Heritage Week: Here's how to kick off your weekend

Aug 23rd 2014, 9:15 AM 9,629 Views 1 Comment

In this special edition of our Heritage Ireland series, Neil Jackman takes his pick of Heritage Week events and fun…

Heritage Ireland: The lonely Kilkenny cave that witnessed a massacre of 1,000 people

# Hidden History

Heritage Ireland: The lonely Kilkenny cave that witnessed a massacre of 1,000 people

Aug 9th 2014, 9:45 AM 51,604 Views 14 Comments

Dunmore Cave has a chilling tale to tell visitors.

Heritage Ireland: The oldest lighthouse still in use in the world

# Hidden History

Heritage Ireland: The oldest lighthouse still in use in the world

Jul 26th 2014, 9:45 AM 29,656 Views 20 Comments

Let archaeologist Neil Jackman lead you through the amazing past and present of Hook Lighthouse as well as trips to a major ancient monastery and Georgian splendour.

Heritage Ireland: Who is this man with the frightfully fancy tomb?

# Hidden History

Heritage Ireland: Who is this man with the frightfully fancy tomb?

Jul 12th 2014, 9:15 AM 20,255 Views 14 Comments

Archaeologist Neil Jackman brings us on a round tower with a view and a fantastically flamboyant neo-gothic mansion.

# Heritage Ireland

Heritage Ireland: A magnificent doorway into Laois's sacred past

Jun 28th 2014, 9:15 AM 9,234 Views 6 Comments

Archaeologist Neil Jackman guides us to an ancient monastery with breathtaking sculpture, a medieval fortress built by an Irish lord – and a manor house fit for a queen…

Digging Tlachtga: Discovering secrets from Ireland's past

# Heritage Ireland

Digging Tlachtga: Discovering secrets from Ireland's past

Jun 14th 2014, 9:15 AM 12,060 Views 6 Comments

Archaeologist Neil Jackman with the final part of his three-part series on the momentous dig on the ancient site of Tlachtga in Meath.

Digging Tlachtga: Getting into the trenches with Ireland's past

# Heritage Ireland

Digging Tlachtga: Getting into the trenches with Ireland's past

May 31st 2014, 9:15 AM 9,716 Views 7 Comments

Archaeologist Neil Jackman with part two of his three-part series on the momentous dig on the ancient site of Tlachtga in Meath.

Dig this: How we plan to get to heart of one of Ireland's most mysterious sites

# Heritage Ireland

Dig this: How we plan to get to heart of one of Ireland's most mysterious sites

May 17th 2014, 9:45 AM 25,061 Views 15 Comments

The first in a series of three articles which follows the discoveries being made at Tlachtga – one of Ireland’s most enigmatic archaeological sites.

Heritage Ireland: Discovering the ancient Slí Mhór among the bluebells

# Take A Walk

Heritage Ireland: Discovering the ancient Slí Mhór among the bluebells

May 3rd 2014, 9:45 AM 14,133 Views 12 Comments

Archaeologist Neil Jackman guides us through an ancient roadway that traversed Ireland, a fine medieval priory and an intriguing hermit cell hidden in a church.

Heritage Ireland: 3 amazing sites to see this Easter weekend

# History

Heritage Ireland: 3 amazing sites to see this Easter weekend

Apr 19th 2014, 9:45 AM 13,214 Views 13 Comments

Lovely Doneraile Park, ancient Derrynaflan and iconic Clonmacnoise – archaeologist Neil Jackman guides you through these magical sites.

Hidden Ireland: Where was St Brigid's firehouse and why did the flame go out?

# Heritage

Hidden Ireland: Where was St Brigid's firehouse and why did the flame go out?

Apr 5th 2014, 9:45 AM 13,511 Views 8 Comments

This week, archaeologist Neil Jackman guides us through a mysterious and massive Bronze Age complex in Tyrone and medieval treasures in Kildare and Kilkenny.